Nazis and the Use of Drugs during the Second World War

The Nazis in the Second World War are infamous for their aggression, military expansion, and atrocious acts of aggression. However, there is one more aspect that is commonly missed, and that is the widespread drug use among the German military and its officials. This paper has outlined how stimulants and narcotics have been a part of the war, from the soldiers on the front line all the way up to Adolf Hitler himself. The Nazis, especially the Wehrmacht (German army), used a lot of drugs to keep their soldiers on the field and their military operations going on. The substances of use were not only restricted to simple stimulants but also encompassed a host of other drugs, which led to drug addiction and substance dependency.

Nazi Soldiers and the Use of Methamphetamine

The most frequently administered drug during the Second World War was methamphetamine, which was sold under the commercial name of Pervitin. This drug, manufactured in large quantities, was a strong energy boost that ensured that soldiers were always awake and active and had little need for sleep. The Pervitin was administered to German soldiers in the form of tablets, and it was dubbed the ‘Nazi wonder drug”. It aided in protracted fights, especially during the Blitzkrieg operations, where quick penetration and prolonged operations with minimal or no break were necessary.

It should be noted that methamphetamine abuse use was not only permitted but mandated for soldiers. Pervitin was given to soldiers, and in 1940 over 35 million tablets were sold. This unchecked drug distribution resulted in what can only be described as a vicious cycle – the soldiers would get high, then crash, become very fatigued, and then have to use more drugs to get back into action.

Cocaine Abuse in the Nazi Military

Although methamphetamine addiction was rampant among the German soldiers, research confirmed that cocaine was also used to boost the soldiers’ combat effectiveness. Cocaine was given to fighter pilots and tank commanders to ensure they remained awake during missions that demanded their full attention for many hours. While not as commercially available as Pervitin, cocaine also formed an important part of the German war machine’s plan to keep the soldiers alert and free from fatigue during the war.

Cocaine addiction became a concern for operatives who used the drug while in the field since they built up a tolerance to the drug and thus needed more to produce the same effect. It caused paranoia, delusions, and erratic behavior, behaviors that would appear more frequently in some units as the war continued.

Addiction in Nazi Officials

Drug use and addiction were not peculiar to the ordinary foot soldiers only. Many of the high-ranking Nazi officials, including Hitler, were well known to have engaged in the use of substances. Controlled by his doctor, Dr. Theodor Morell, Hitler was taking many injections and pills, including methamphetamines and opiates, barbiturates, and cocaine. Morell treated Hitler with daily injections and occasionally with several drugs at once to keep Hitler going as his health declined.

Among the medications that Hitler was prescribed was Eukodal, an opioid analgesic that causes addiction and withdrawal reactions. He used these substances, especially when the war went against Germany in his last years, and his behavior at this time has been blamed on drug use. He abused stimulant and sedative drugs, thus developing a pattern of peaks and troughs, both physically and mentally.

Other Nazi officials were also known to use drugs. Among the examples, we can mention Hermann Göring, one of Hitler’s most trusted friends, the commander of the Luftwaffe (the German Air Force), who had a serious problem with morphine addiction during the majority of the war. Göring, who was injured in the early Nazi coups d’état, the so-called Beer Hall Putsch, was given morphine for pain relief and developed an addiction to it. He became addicted over the years, and it affected his judgment and command within the Nazi administration.

Drug Addiction and its Effect on the War

The use of drugs among the Nazi soldiers and leaders played a crucial role in the second world war Stimulants like methamphetamine gave Wehrmacht some victory in the early stages of the war, especially in the Blitzkrieg campaigns. Still, the drawback of addiction As soldiers became addicted to drugs, they became unpredictable as well as incapable of making the right decisions, and even incapable of operating without drugs. It also caused a great deal of exhaustion, nervous breakdowns, and, in some instances, deaths.

In addition, an addiction that gripped Nazi leadership brought the Zimbabwean paradox to the top decision-maker’s level. For example, Hitler’s drug use may have played a role in him giving more and more pagan and irrational orders as the Third Reich was coming to an end. However, due to cocaine dependency, methamphetamine intake, and other forms of substance abuse, the Nazi war apparatus was weakened by the incapability and instability of soldiers and commanders.

Long-Term Consequences of Substance Abuse

The drug addiction that was so rampant among the Nazi military and leadership affected the course of the war and its aftermath. The soldiers who survived the war had to face the consequences of long-term drug abuse, such as drug dependency, psychological disorders, and physical degeneration. Many of these veterans tried to be productive members of society again but failed because they still had substance abuse problems even when the war was over.

The history of Nazi drug use during the second world war is evidence of how devastating an addiction is, especially when it is made part of the society’s culture and practiced in the course of war. The abuse of drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and other substances led to the fall of the Nazi regime due to the physical and mental state of many soldiers and leaders that were addicted to

If you or someone you love is suffering from an addiction to methamphetamine, you can get information on how to help by visiting Virtue Recovery Center or calling 725-777-5685 today.