Educational purpose only. This post documents historical events related to World War II and the Nazi regime. We do not glorify violence or hate.
Hermann Göring was one of the most powerful figures in Nazi Germany—Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, President of the Reichstag, and Hitler’s designated successor. After his conviction at Nuremberg, he died before his sentence could be carried out. But his autopsy revealed a dark secret that had long been hidden: a severe drug addiction that shaped his decisions and his legacy.
1. The Origin of Göring’s Addiction
Göring’s addiction began with a wound he suffered during the failed 1923 Beer Hall Putsch in Munich. He was shot in the groin and was plagued by chronic pain . To manage this pain, he was prescribed morphine—an opiate that became his lifelong dependency.
By the time the Nazis came to power in 1933, Göring was already a practiced morphine addict . His addiction only deepened as he rose to power, with his authority enabling him to obtain virtually unlimited supplies of the drug.
2. The Extent of the Addiction
According to historical accounts, Göring’s morphine addiction was severe and well-known within the inner circle. He was reported to use a specially crafted gold syringe for his injections . The addiction gave him, according to some observers, an unshakeable confidence and a false sense of invincibility .
The extent of his drug use was so significant that it has been cited by some historians, including Norman Ohler in his book Blitzed, as having influenced strategic military decisions . His morphine-induced overconfidence was reportedly a factor in the decision to use the Luftwaffe to attack Allied forces at Dunkirk—a decision that allowed over 300,000 British and French soldiers to escape .
3. What the Autopsy Revealed
Following Göring’s death at Nuremberg in October 1946, an autopsy was performed. The findings confirmed what many had suspected: his body contained traces of the drugs he had been using for decades.
While the specific chemical compounds detected are not the focus of the historical record, the autopsy confirmed the long-term effects of his addiction on his health and body. It also contributed to the understanding of how drugs had influenced the leadership of the Third Reich .
4. A Broader Pattern of Drug Use in the Third Reich
Göring was not alone in his addiction. Research has shown that drug use was widespread in Nazi Germany, from soldiers using methamphetamine (Pervitin) to fuel the Blitzkrieg, to Hitler himself, who developed a dependency on multiple substances under the care of his personal physician, Theodor Morell .
However, Göring’s addiction stands out for its longevity and its impact on his decision-making. His addiction was a closely guarded secret that only became fully known after his capture and the subsequent examination of his medical history.
Primary Sources:
Ohler, Norman. Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich (2016)
Nuremberg trial records and autopsy reports
Military History Monthly — Review of Blitzed
Rolling Stone — Interview with Norman Ohler
Deutschlandmuseum Berlin — Pervitin exhibition records