Conversations about science, technology, history, philosophy and the nature of intelligence, consciousness, love, and power. Lex is an AI researcher at MIT and beyond.
All content for Lex Fridman Podcast is the property of Lex Fridman and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Conversations about science, technology, history, philosophy and the nature of intelligence, consciousness, love, and power. Lex is an AI researcher at MIT and beyond.
#481 – Norman Ohler: Hitler, Nazis, Drugs, WW2, Blitzkrieg, LSD, MKUltra & CIA
Lex Fridman Podcast
4 hours 31 minutes 21 seconds
1 week ago
#481 – Norman Ohler: Hitler, Nazis, Drugs, WW2, Blitzkrieg, LSD, MKUltra & CIA
Norman Ohler is a historian and author of "Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich," a book that investigates the role of psychoactive drugs, particularly stimulants such as methamphetamine, in the military history of World War II. It is a book that two legendary historians Ian Kershaw and Antony Beevor give very high praise for its depth of research. Norman also wrote "Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age", and he is working on a new book "Stoned Sapiens" looking at the history of human civilization through the lens of drugs.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep481-sc
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.
CONTACT LEX:
Feedback - give feedback to Lex: https://lexfridman.com/survey
AMA - submit questions, videos or call-in: https://lexfridman.com/ama
Hiring - join our team: https://lexfridman.com/hiring
Other - other ways to get in touch: https://lexfridman.com/contact
SPONSORS:
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
UPLIFT Desk: Standing desks and office ergonomics.
Go to https://upliftdesk.com/lex
Fin: AI agent for customer service.
Go to https://fin.ai/lex
Shopify: Sell stuff online.
Go to https://shopify.com/lex
LMNT: Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to https://drinkLMNT.com/lex
Hampton: Community for high-growth founders and CEOs.
Go to https://joinhampton.com/lex
OUTLINE:
(00:00) - Introduction
(01:09) - Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
(09:00) - Drugs in post-WWI Germany
(19:18) - Nazi rise to power
(23:45) - Hitler's drug use
(29:37) - Response to historian criticism
(46:16) - Pervitin
(1:00:15) - Blitzkrieg and meth
(1:18:52) - Erwin Rommel (Crystal Fox)
(1:23:02) - Dunkirk
(1:31:06) - Hitler's drug addiction
(1:47:03) - Methamphetamine
(1:48:57) - Invasion of Soviet Union
(2:07:54) - Cocaine
(2:16:49) - Hitler's last days
(2:36:48) - German resistance against Nazis
(2:58:59) - Totalitarianism
(3:04:09) - Stoned Sapiens - Drugs in human history
(3:19:20) - Religion
(3:30:09) - LSD, CIA, and MKUltra
(3:55:39) - Writing on drugs
(4:08:40) - Berlin night clubs
(4:19:14) - Greatest book ever written
Lex Fridman Podcast
Conversations about science, technology, history, philosophy and the nature of intelligence, consciousness, love, and power. Lex is an AI researcher at MIT and beyond.
