In Dr. Martin Gumpert's book "Heil Hunger", translated from the  
German in 1940 by Alliance Book Corp., Longmans, Green and Co., New  
York, there is a nine page chapter titled "Drunkenness In Germany".   
Gumpert shows how abstinent Hitler could control alcohol, but instead  
of lessening it, he allowed expanded production which "now drives the  
people at whose head he stands into a fatal alcoholism:  this is one  
of the darkest adventures of the Third Reich, for which the  
instigators will someday have to render account". (end of chapter on  
page 41)

Dave Trippel

On Dec 14, 2010, at 10:34 AM, Giles,Geoffrey J wrote:

> Dear David,
> Hitler welcomed heavy drinking among the occupied countries of the  
> East, because he felt it would weaken their fighting potential as  
> soldiers, lead to early deaths, and thus reduce the very numbers of  
> potential opponents to Nazi rule. He was much encouraged by the  
> fact that, in his view, the Soviet leaders were all heavy drinkers  
> and indeed that Churchill was an alcoholic!  That seemed to promise  
> certain victory for him in the end! There are comments from him  
> about this to be found, for example, in "Hitler's Table Talk."
>
> It's a long time ago, but I think I may have touched on this in:
> "Die Alkoholfrage im Dritten Reich," Drogalkohol, 3, December 1986,  
> pp. 257-265,
> but that's unfortunately only in German.
>
> Best wishes,
> Geoffrey
>
> Professor Geoffrey J Giles
> Undergraduate Coordinator
> Department of History
> University of Florida
> PO Box 117320
> Gainesville FL 32653-3373
> Spring Semester 2011 Office hours:
> Tuesdays 10.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m.; Thursdays 3-5 p.m.
> Office phone (direct line): (352)-273-3373
> Web page: www.clas.ufl.edu/users/ggiles
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Alcohol and Drugs History Society  
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of ADHS automatic  
> digest system
> Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 12:00 AM
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> Subject: ADHS Digest - 29 Nov 2010 to 13 Dec 2010 (#2010-47)
>
> There are 3 messages totalling 165 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
>   1. Nazi alcohol policies in occupied Europe (3)
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date:    Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:36:43 -0500
> From:    David Fahey <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Nazi alcohol policies in occupied Europe
>
> I recall at a conference hearing a Polish scholar say that his father,
> a railroad worker during the Nazi occupation, received vodka for good
> work.  Providing alcohol to occupied populations had many
> complications.  Did drunkenness encourage rebellion or acquiescence?
> As in the example cited, could it be used to enforce good behavior?
> Did Nazi policy vary from country to country?
>
> -- 
> David M. Fahey
> Professor Emeritus of History
> Miami University
> Oxford, Ohio 45056
> USA
>
> ***************************************