Chapter 1: Post-battle of France: Hitler goes clean
In the opinion of Dr. Karl Brandt, an overlooked and decisive moment in WW2 was following the battle of France when it became clear that Britain was not about to give up, despite the defeat of France.
Specifically, Karl Brandt was present when Hitler received the translation of Churchill’s famous June 18th speech to the house of commons: “What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation. Upon it depends our own British life and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of a perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour".[25][43][44]
— Winston Churchill” (quoted from Wikipedia)
Dr. Brandt recalled Hitler as saying: “Damn it (Verdammt), we should have closed that pocket when we had the chance!”, and claims that he without thinking, said what had been on his mind for a long time and took a remarkable chance with his own health. He has been quoted as saying: “You should not be too hard on yourself. Considering the medications prescribed by Dr. Morell, no man could have maintained a level head.” The room fell silent, everyone awaiting the rage surely to follow, but the pause dragged on. Hitler only after what seemed like forever said “leave us!” and we now only have Dr. Brandt’s memoirs as the source of the dialogue which followed:
Adolf Hitler: “You think the halt order was decisive and blame me for it?”
Dr. Brandt: ”I shouldn’t presume to understand the consequences, please forgive me for this”
Adolf Hitler: ”What do you then presume?”
Dr. Brandt: ”I only meant that at the time you were under tremendous stress and acted against the advice of the generals in the field. This has not been the way you handled things in the past. It is possible that the medications given to you makes you prone to rash decisions”.
Adolf Hitler: “Dr. Morell has been a life-saver for me, how dare you!”
Dr. Brandt (decided that he had nothing left to lose):”Did you feel hard palpitations at the time? And did these contribute to your anxiety?”
Adolf Hitler: “How could you know?”
Dr. Brandt (taking a major chance): ”This is a common effect of the Strophantin which I believe Dr. Morell injected you with”
Adolf Hitler: “That is true, but I need this for my angina”
Dr. Brandt: ”Or else you need it because the amphetamine prescribed in your daily Vitamultin cocktails is what gives you heart pain”
Adolf Hitler: He doesn’t give me amphetamine, he wouldn’t dare. These are vitamins
Dr. Brandt (in the gamble for his life): ”Why don’t we examine the vitamultin. It is my impression that you are mostly healthy and you would improve considerably without any medication at all. At least after a pause in medication, we would be treating whatever illness you might have and not those caused by Dr. Morell’s prescriptions. Don’t you think it is worth a try? I would vouch good name as a physician on this. After a week away from any prescription, you would feel much better.”
Adolf Hitler: “If we try this, and I deteriorate, it will be on your head!”
Dr. Brandt: ”I must insist we give it a week at least, and you might still feel a longing for your morning Vitamultin’s. This is to be fought off with same determination that you stay away from alcohol, tobacco and meat. Would you consent to this?”
Adolf Hitler: “I will, and god help you if this makes it worse!”
Hitler did go through with the experiment and it is probably fortunate that happy news, including the formal surrender of France poured in in the first few days of his detoxification. A week later, when Hitler and Dr. Brandt met each other, Dr. Brandt asked Hitler how he felt and Hitler admitted he felt great. Rested and level headed, some stomach pains, but not worse than before.
Dr. Brandt would remain as Hitler’s personal head physician although he was not prevented from organizing his now famous racial hygienic experiments on the side*. Thus, the memoirs from Dr. Brandt forms an intriguing first-hand narrative of many of the subsequent events in WW2.
*Post victorious World War 2 German point of view. The objective wording would have been infamous
