Watch Blitzed: Nazis on Drugs

Blitzed: Nazis on Drugs is a documentary that provides insights into the role of drugs in the Third Reich’s war effort. The documentary is directed by Michael Kloft and was released in 2018. The documentary examines the ways in which the use of stimulants such as methamphetamine and other drugs were used by the Germans to maintain their combat ability and morale during World War II.

The documentary begins with the story of Hitler’s personal physician, Dr. Theodor Morell, who administered a range of injectable and oral medications to the dictator, including amphetamines and barbiturates, in order to manage Hitler’s ailments and maintain his energy and focus. The film argues that Morell’s drugs, originally intended to treat health conditions such as stomach pain or insomnia, played a significant role in the mental and physical deterioration of Hitler during his last years.

Blitzed: Nazis on Drugs then moves on to discuss the widespread use of drugs among German soldiers during the Second World War. The documentary argues that the use of stimulants such as methamphetamine was essential in the Wehrmacht’s rapid conquest of Denmark, Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands in 1940. As the war wore on, the Germans became aware that their soldiers needed drugs to remain alert and maintain morale. With the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, the German High Command began to produce large quantities of the methamphetamine drug Pervitin for distribution to the front lines.

Through first-hand accounts of soldiers who consumed these drugs, the film raises disturbing questions about how the use of these stimulants may have contributed to the atrocities committed by the German forces, particularly during the eastern front in Russia. The troops were often given Pervitin without proper instructions, significantly increasing their dosage or going without food or rest. The film claims that the wide use of these drugs may have imorted the perpatrators' ability to dehumanize the victims and allowed them to perform horrendous acts without feeling remorse.

The film also delves into the use of drugs among civilians during the Third Reich. The Nazis used propaganda campaigns to promote the use of the synthetic opioid Eukodal as a cure for depression and as a way to increase productivity. The film suggests that Eukodal was also used as a tool to exploit German workers by giving them a false sense of satisfaction and compliance with the government. The private letters of famous writers from German-speaking regions of Europe also serce as a window into the widespread use of these drugs.

Blitzed: Nazis on Drugs uses a mix of archival footage, reenactments, interviews with historians, experts, and eyewitnesses to provide an insightful look into how the use of drugs played a critical role in World War II. As such, it delves into various ethical and broader historical themes such as how medical professionals colluded with the regime, Nazi ideology, war strategy, and human sacrifice.

In summary, Blitzed: Nazis on Drugs provides a thought-provoking account that explores the use of drugs by the Nazis during World War II. The documentary shows us how critical a role drugs played in the Third Reich's success and, at the same time, the ethical and moral implications of the use of these drugs on the soldiers and civilians involved.

Blitzed: Nazis on Drugs is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 58 minutes.