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





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There are 3 messages totalling 165 lines in this issue.





Topics of the day:





  1. Nazi alcohol policies in occupied Europe (3)





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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





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