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The Medical Casebook of Adolf Hitler: His Illnesses, Doctors, and Drugs

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There are many theories as to what made Hitler the way he was, especially the apparent personality changes after about 1942. These include psychoanalytic theories, Adlerian theories, as well as theories of diseases including encephalitis and Parkinson's disease, etc. The Hestons discuss the pros and cons of all of these theories, and then offer one of their own. They are very thorough in their reasearch and presentation and give a very compelling case for their theory. Albert Speer, in introducing the book states that, after comparing their study with his own notes on Hitler, he believes their theory to be accurate.

Adolf Hitler was variously diagnosed as bipolar, schizophrenic and paranoid schizophrenic. He was also diagnosed as having had Parkinson's disease. Yet Hitler had none of these disorders: he was an amphetamine and barbiturate addict.

This marvelous little book, which reads like a medical mystery novel, slowly dismantles every other explanation for Hitler's increasingly reckless behavior. We can conjecture that he may have triggered barbiturate addiction long before amphetamine addiction. However, the reader is left with no doubt that injections given to him by the doctor without whom he "could not live," Dr. Morell, included large quantities of amphetamine, beginning by 1937. (Because Hitler can be seen moving his hands back and forth on his upper legs in a way consistent with amphetamine use, called "stereotypical behavior," in 1936 Olympic Games videos, use likely began a bit earlier.)

The authors offer numerous clues to addiction. When injections, widely believed to be multi-vitamins "specially compounded for the Fuhrer," ceased on occasion, Hitler experienced severe depression, a common symptom among newly abstinent amphetamine or cocaine addicts. He engaged in all-night monologues with an endless repetition of stories, along with increasingly disorganized thinking and confused syntax. As the authors point out, the latter would not be expected of someone considered to have been a supreme orator. His mood swings became more volatile, paranoia increased (a common side effect of amphetamine addiction) and, while early on he accepted blame for tactical errors, he developed a tendency to project blame onto others, a classic indication of addiction to psychotropic drugs (those capable of causing distortions of perception and memory).

Intravenous injections of the "special compound" increased from one to as many as five daily. While intravenous amphetamine use has the same effect as injecting cocaine, it is much longer lasting: the half-life of amphetamines is twelve times longer. He took barbiturates every night during WW2, no doubt needed to offset the effect of amphetamines to allow for sleep. Hitler also used narcotics from 1938 onward, in particular, Eukodal, an early version of Percodan. A potent mix of drugs such as this has adverse effects on a person's personality, thinking, perceptions and, consequently, behaviors (which I describe in my book, "Hidden Alcoholics").

Over-confidence and intoxication with his early successes, common to early-stage addiction, fuelled a propensity to risk-taking and impulsive behaviors. As his use progressed during WW2 he experienced tremors, often attributed to Parkinson's disease. However, heavy amphetamine use mimics Parkinson's, probably because the neurotransmitter dopamine is affected by both.(Interestingly, Yasir Arafat was also diagnosed by some to have this disease; if we look at Arafat's pupils, however, in almost every photograph they are big as the moon--a classic physical indication of amphetamine addiction.) A stereotypical behavior very common to amphetamine addicts, an incessant scratching (the description offered by amphetamine addicts is "bugs are crawling under their skin"), began by 1943.

The fact that no one figured this out until the first hardback printing of this book in 1979, 34 years after Hitler's death, provides some of the most damning evidence ever of how completely unaware biographers and historians are of the role of addiction in determining the course of events. They don't look for it because they don't know it's relevant. In my first book, "Drunks, Drugs & Debits," I wrote that someday historians and biographers would view their subjects in a new light when looking through the lens of alcohol or other drug addiction. Judging from the treatment of Yasir Arafat even after death, there is still a long way to go.

The only flaw in The Medical Casebook is that barbiturates are only mentioned in passing, explaining that Hitler didn't take them in large enough pharmacologic doses for addiction to have occurred. However, the mix of drugs, the fact that drugs potentiate each other in remarkably potent ways (two plus two equals ten) and continuous use strongly suggests that this addiction intertwined with amphetamine use to create the most reviled monster in history. It is an irony of history that Hitler chose never to drink because of the vile effects that alcoholism had on others, in particular his violent alcoholic step-father.

Although I have little interest in or understanding of this particular subject (medicine, health & illness, etc.) it is quite interesting for me inasmuch as it pertains to the Fuehrer. I was struck by the way the authors treated "Patient Hitler", presenting the facts in a clear and unbiased way.
The book is brief and offers the reader clear-cut medical data and explanations, sans negative commentary and personal prejudices, which I found pleasantly refreshing.
It was particularly insightful reading which drugs Hitler was given and how he reacted to each one. I also found their remarks about Hitler's mental state--especially throughout the last year of his life--of great value historically.
All in all it was really a quite fascinating read.

Heston doesn't write especially well, so expect no fireworks among the pages. However, he has presented an accurate and clinical history of Hitler's health. The most interesting portions relate to Dr. Theo Morell, who became Hitler's personal physician in 1935. Morell was a hygenically-challenged mess whom all in the Hitler inner circle despised. Eva Braun said she would not allow "that pig" to get near her. Still, Morell exerted considerable influence over Hitler, who became physically dependent on the array of drugs Morell injected into him. By 1942, Hitler's physical decline was alarming, and Morell was dousing him with uppers to get up in the morning and downers to allow him sleep.

The "raving lunatic" side of Hitler, always depicted in motion pictures, is a myth. He was nothing like the movie Hitlers, as this book eloquently shows. He was, however, hopelessly addicted to amphetimines and barbituates for many years prior to his 1945 death. Though dry reading, it still will hold your interest.

This is a professional level "work up" of Adolf Hitler's medical situation from about 1936 and Hitler's eventual suicide at the end of WW-II. In the background of this analysis is his family situation, his childhood development, his record as a soldier and WW-I war hero, his lost years as a young loner and artist in Vienna, his stunning (and unaccountable) rise to power from out of nowhere, and his leadership of the German Republic throughout the war. Then in the foreground, the primary focus of the analysis is: the general state of both his physical and mental health throughout his reign, his relationship to his personal physician (an eccentric character named Dr. Theo Morrell), and the drugs used to treat his various illnesses. The gist of this well-documented, carefully written and rigorously defended piece is that, notorious claims to the contrary, Hitler's mental and physical health, sexual habits and family background were normal in every respect -- that is until he met and allowed Dr. Morrell to become his personal physician. After that, his health began to unnecessarily get very complicated and gradually turned decidedly for the worse. The single exception to this tableau of normality is that Hitler's parents, apparently through the incest of his grandparents, were biologically related. However, this genetic fact as far as can be determined, had no discernable medical consequence on the Nazi leader's life.

The bulk of the book is devoted to two aspects of Hitler's health that developed during the early part of his reign and one of which continued throughout the rest of his life and which was treated in direct collaboration with Dr. Morrell: Hitler had recurring, intense but sporadic abdominal pain that eventually led to jaundice. Over a period of about ten years, Morrell treated these symptoms with a combination of Multaflor (bacteria from the feces of a Bulgarian peasant), and Vitamultin (Morrell's own concoction of vitamins, herbs laced with amphetamines). And while the Multaflor appeared to be harmless enough, the amphetamines laced Vitamutin was soon augmented with a full daily regimen of intravenously injected amphetamines. The dependency naturally required that the doses be gradually increased over time with the predictable consequences of toxicity and its attendant side effects, tremors, cardiovascular problems and a whole host of psychological aberrations. Soon (also predictable) the treatment became worse than the illness and took on a life of its own. The over use of, an over-dependence on amphetamines had drastic consequences for both Hitler's mental and physical health. The authors' best medical judgment is that Hitler was actually misdiagnosed and all along had been suffering from gallstones, a well known and easily treatable ailment at the time. And had he been under competent medical care, could have been cured quickly and without any lasting side effects. This however, did not occur. Morrell, for his own reasons of greed and hubris, continued to practice his witchcraft on Hitler until the effects were dire and irreversible.

The authors give guarded but healthy speculation about what this all meant for various pivotal decisions Hitler took during the war. My own view is that despite a very respectable analysis, the speculation must remain just that, speculation. However, the afterword must be taken a great deal more seriously than the medical speculation. As much as we would prefer not to recognize it, Hitler's rise to power from out of nowhere, as the twentieth century's first professional politician and technocrat, has become the prototype for politicians of western societies. And as much as we would like to demonize him for all the mayhem he wreaked on humanity, there is nothing about him that is intrinsically different than any other politician who never had a job other than as a campaigner, glad-hander slick orator, and fundraiser. Also, too little is made of the fact that Hitler was democratically elected, by the German people. Thus, the authors embedded warning below appears in the penultimate sentence in the last paragraph of the book. It is that the political environment created Hitler and not the other way around:

"It encourages highly selected people to make careers in politics and that some of the traits that seem logically strongly selected for are those Hitler also possessed. Unless that environment is altered, there is some danger that in the long perspective of history Hitler may prove to be only the first of his line." Five Stars

The Hestons' work on Hitler's various medical conditions is fascinating at the very least. The author's never never stoop to vacuous sloganeering. They stick strickly to the facts as they know them. I am especially impressed by their extensive highly-detailed research and interviews with surviving protaqonists. Rather remarkably, the lengthy Introduction is written by Albert Speer, himself. As a man who knew Hitler intimately, he agrees with the Hestons' medical findings and conclusions.

Like many other famous and powerful men, Hitler chose an inadequate personal physician, nearly a quack [Dr. Morrell]. Hitler experienced bouts of abdominal pain for years characteristic of cholecystitis with likely cholelithiasis. If there is any question about it, one time during an attack of aabdominal pain, Hitler had a short bout of jaundice, possibly when his common bile duct became partially obstructed by a small gallstone. Despite signs and symptoms a medical student could have diagnosed, Morrell failed to diagnose the symptoms despite the fact that he treated Hitler for years.

More important is Morrell's long term [and illegal] treatment of Hitler with methamphetamine injections and oral preparations 'dressed up' to look like multivitamins. Hitler was almost certainly was complicit with Morrell, no doubt believing the drug enhanced his performance and, perhaps, decreased his perception of abdominal pain. Starting as early as 1937. Hitler received almost daily meth shots and tried to sustain his hyped up mood with meth-containing tablets throughout the day. Not surprisingly--as in most meth addicts--Hitler's thinking became less innovative, more rigid, more paranoid as time wore on. Hiter's rages, which weren't characteristic of the 'early' Hitler, were monumental. He would someimes rage at virtually nothing for hours at a time. His rigidity and rages either speeded up Germany's defeat [probably responsible for the annihilation of the 6th Army at Stalingrad] or perhaps prolonged the war. Apparently the Soviets put out 'peace feelers' even as German Armies were reeling in the East. Logic would have predicted German interest. By this time, however, Hitler was precisely the opposite of logical.

Combined with meth abuse and its associated sleeplessness, Morrell prescribed various sedatives and narcotics to knock Hitler out at night. Hitler followed the pattern of many other 'rock stars'. Cycles of stimulants and sedatives became his increasingly unrealistic existence.

I am in disagreement with the authors in only one area. The authors don't believe that Hitler was bipolar i.e. manic-depressive. I disagree. Hitler wrote 'Mein Kampf' in 1926, many years before he met Morrell or methamphetamine. The book is a pressure-cooker of disorderly ideas. Hitler repeats himself time and again. I believe these are signs that he wrote 'My Struggle' in a hypomanic fugue. The methamphetamines Hitler received later would have really 'lit Hitler's Fire.'

In my opinion, the most important part of the Hestons' work is the 'Afterward' in which they examine the possibility of another charismatic 'Hitler'. I will quote. "He [Hitler] was the first prominent example of the professional politician who has since become prominent in Western societies..........This of course does not mean that today's professional politicians are incipient Hitlers. It does mean that we have created a political environment which encourages highly selected people to make careers in politics and that some of the traits that seem strongly selected for are those Hitler also possessed. UNLESS THAT ENVIROMENT IS ALTERED, THERE IS SOME DANGER THAT .... HITLER MAY PROVE TO BE ONLY THE FIRST OF HIS LINE.

These words were written in the late 1970s, many years before the ascension of our present eloquent, charismatic, professional politician leader.

This small book should be on the reading list of anyone seriously interested in the study of Hitler, the Third Reich or World War II in general. The authors come at Hitler from a purely medical point of view, with little or no political baggage. This approach enabled them to talk to several sources, including Hitler's staff assistants and household help, who saw Hitler on a daily basis but had little interest, after the war, in having their memories dissected by outsiders.

The result is a dispassionate and thoroughly convincing portrait of Hitler as an amphetamine addict. Sometime around 1938-39, when his plans for European expansion "inexplicably" got put on a fast-track timetable, Hitler began exhibiting signs that he was heavily addicted, and that that addiction was leading to behavioral changes. His daily ingestion of amphetamines probably changed world history.

One reviewer says, and I agree, that the book reads like a mystery novel, with the authors slowly accumulating evidence, and considering and rejecting various hypotheses regarding Hitler's health and medical treatment. Another reviewer warns that other world leaders and public figures should also be examined to see the degree to which drug use may be altering their behavior. The reviewer points to Yasser Arafat, but why stop at the political sphere? Look also at Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson.

Don't be put off by the fact that this book avoids politics and concentrates on medical issues. The medical aspects are clearly explained in layman's terms. And the politics shines through chillingly.

FROM THE BOOK JACKET-

Hitler's shocking physical and mental deterioration durning the last years of WWII, spawned many theories explaining his failing health, from Parkinson's disease to progressive mental illness to the stree of world conquest. None of these diagnoses have completely satisfied historians.

Now, in this remarkable work of medical investigation, internaationally known psychitrist Leonard Heston and his wife, medical proffessional Renate Heston, present a convicing and meticulously researched case for a far more sinister explanation.

Drwaing upon declassified documents from the National Archives and the testimony of Hitler's own medical team, the Hestons have reconstructed a pattern of outright criminalnegligence by Dr.Theo Morrell, Hitler's personal physician. Morrell's malpractice led Hitler into a powerful and debilitating amphetamine addication which ended only with Germany's devastating defeat and the Fuhrer's suicide.

Featuring complete records of Hitler's physical and mental exams from 1938-1945 and expert analysis of the diagnoses and the treatments , this is a fascinating look at one of the last mysteries of WWII.

I would recommend you this book, if you are a student of the medical science and/or if you are interested in "the unsolved mysteries" of WWII.
Anyway, you should have some basic knowledge of biochemistry and human genetics to take advantage of this book!
Always remember: the truth is somewhere out there ...

Ich empfehle dieses Buch denjenigen, die Medizin studieren und/oder ein Interesse an den ungelösten Geheimnissen des 2. Weltkrieges haben.
Um den Inhalt des Buches besser bewerten zu können, sollte man über Grundkenntnisse der Biochemie und Humangenetik verfügen!
Tja, die Wahrheit ist irgendwo da draußen ...

This is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. The Hestons are the absolute authorities on this subject....this book is referred to in many other texts about Hitler. He had a lot of strange medical problems and an even stranger doctor in Theo Morrell. So did he have Parkinsons? Syphilis? Was he addicted to methamphetamine? Was his freaky doctor poisoning him? Read this and see!