A new documentary examines Hitler’s prolific drug use during the Second World War

CRYSTAL meth, tranquillisers, morphine and bull semen are just some of the 70 drugs Hitler abused while in power.

DURING the Second World War, the German people saw Adolf Hitler as a prosperous leader with superhuman strength and vigour.

However, he was actually a hypochondriac who regularly consumed a cocktail of different drugs including tranquillisers, morphine and crystal meth during his reign.

That’s according to reports from Hitler the Junkie, a TV documentary that premiered on Foxtel last night.

Theodore Morell. Picture: National Geographic

The hard-hitting documentary analysed Hitler’s declassified documents — including records and letters obtained from Hitler’s personal physician, Dr Theodore Morell — to examine if drugs played a role in his behaviour and actions.

To maintain his youthful bravado, Hitler claimed the only times he had ever fallen ill was when he was shot and gassed during the First World War.

However, behind closed doors he was a nervous wreck; a trait that would land him in the web of Dr Morell in 1936.

The doctor was an unusual candidate to be included in Hitler’s inner circle and many questioned his commitment to the cause.

“Morell showed no genuine interest in politics and was not a suitable person to be in the entourage of Hitler because he was simply not ideological,” said Professor Sir Richard Evans from Cambridge University.

Many believed the doctor was a less than savoury character who was exploiting his closeness to Hitler for financial gain.

“He slurped and burped and got fatter and fatter and had terrible body odour,” said Mr Evans.

“Eva Braun, Hitler’s partner, complained to Hitler about his body odour and Hitler said, ‘I don’t employ Dr Morell for his fragrance, I employ him to treat me medically.’”

Eva Braun was the mistress of Adolf Hitler.

Throughout the Second World War, the doctor propped Hitler up with a collection of over 70 addictive narcotics, bizarre homemade drugs and alternative medicines.

When he started treating Hitler for stress, Morell used a method derived from the ancient world in which he applied leeches to the leader’s temples.

With the leeches failing to show any long term success, he started medicating Hitler with the same drugs used by vets to put animals to sleep.

“20th of August 1941: Hitler was jittery, his hands were shaking and he was dazed,” Morell wrote in his journal.

“I gave him dessert spoon of Brom-Nervacit and after that he slept fine.”

Brom-Nervacit. Picture: National Geographic

By 1943, Hitler’s health was seriously deteriorating due to the pressures of the war and Morell’s solution was to prescribe more and stronger drugs.

“This began with a powerful painkiller for him stomach cramps called Eukodal,” told the documentary.

“It was morphine based just like heroin and Hitler used it 24 times.”

One of the strangest drugs Morell injected into Hitler was an extract of bull semen.

“It was supposed to be a testosterone boost and was often given when Hitler was with Eva Braun,” said the documentary narrator.

During this period, Hitler, like many of the Germans used an early form of crystal meth called Pervitin.

“Millions of factory workers and housewives used the drug to get through to hardship of wartime Germany,” said the documentary narrator.

“In the summer of 1943, when Fuhrer had a vital meeting with Mussolini, Morell is thought to have given Pervitin to Hitler.

“Likely high on crystal meth, Hitler ranted non-stop at Mussolini for two hours.”

During his final days in the Berlin bunker, Hitler was believed to have had multiple shots of Pervitin.

Hitler admitted the war was lost.

With Berlin was now a bombing field, Hitler granted Morell once last favour and told him to escape the burning city.

On 22 April 1945, Morell boarded one of the last planes to leave Berlin, but was later arrested by US military police who interrogated him.

He was released without charge and returned to Germany where he died from obesity related health problems.

As for Hitler, it appeared his dismissal of Morell was an admission of defeat.

Moments after the doctor left, he broke down in a tearful rage and said he was going to commit suicide.

Then, on 30 April 1945, Hitler killed himself with a gunshot to the head.

The documentary will replay on Tuesday 7 April 2015 at 1:00PM on National Geographic Channel.

Originally published as A new documentary examines Hitler’s prolific drug use during the Second World War