Hitler's Drinking Habits: Beer And Beyond

Adolf Hitler's drinking habits have been the subject of much speculation and discussion. While some sources claim that he was a teetotaler, others suggest that he occasionally consumed alcohol, including beer. A 1939 article in The New York Times reported that Hitler drank beer, but of low alcohol content. This is supported by records from Operation Foxley 1944, which mention Hitler's consumption of near beer, a special product of the HOLZKIRCHEN brewery in Munich. However, the extent of his beer drinking is unclear, and other sources indicate that he may have only consumed it socially or for digestion. Hitler's father was an alcoholic, which may have influenced his own relationship with alcohol.

Hitler's drinking habits included tea, apple juice, and low-alcohol beer

Hitler's drinking habits have been a topic of interest and speculation. While some sources claim he was a teetotaler, others suggest he occasionally consumed alcohol, including beer with low alcohol content.

Hitler's drinking habits included tea, apple juice, and what was referred to as "near beer" or low-alcohol beer. According to a 1939 article in The New York Times, Hitler drank beer with low alcohol content. This is supported by a report from Operation Foxley 1944, which mentions that Hitler's only beverage, apart from table waters, was his "near beer." This beer was reportedly a special product of the HOLZKIRCHEN brewery in Munich, delivered monthly to Hitler's mountain home, the Berghof.

Hitler was also known to be a tea addict and always drank it with milk, a habit that was noted in the plans for his assassination, as the milk could mask the opalescence of poisoned tea. Additionally, he was said to be extremely fond of apple juice.

Hitler's drinking habits seem to have been influenced by his health concerns and digestive issues. Historian Ian Kershaw noted that Hitler occasionally drank but often added sugar to wine to make it sweeter and avoided bitter drinks. Hitler's abstinence from alcohol, or low alcohol consumption, was also promoted as part of the Nazi regime's public health campaigns, which encouraged Germans, especially youth, to limit or abstain from drinking and smoking.

Hitler's father was an alcoholic, but Hitler's own relationship with alcohol is unclear

It is well known that Hitler's father was an alcoholic. However, Hitler's own relationship with alcohol is less clear. Some sources claim that Hitler was a teetotaler, while others suggest that he drank occasionally, particularly in social settings or for digestion.

Hitler's abstinence from alcohol may have been due to his digestive issues and his well-documented obsession with his health. Personal accounts from people who knew Hitler indicate that he was a vegetarian and did not consume meat, although there are some inconsistencies in these accounts. For example, Traudl Junge, Hitler's secretary, reported that he "always avoided meat", but also that his cook sometimes added a little animal broth or fat to his meals without his knowledge. Similarly, Marlene von Exner, who became Hitler's dietitian in 1943, reportedly added bone marrow to his soups.

There are also some suggestions that Hitler did occasionally consume alcohol. A 1939 article in the New York Times reported that Hitler drank beer, but only of low alcohol content. Additionally, a photograph from 1939 appears to show a glass of liqueur in front of him. However, these claims are difficult to verify, and it is possible that Hitler's drinking habits may have changed over time.

Hitler's own attitudes towards alcohol were also complex. While he himself may have drunk occasionally, he supported health campaigns that encouraged Germans to limit or abstain from alcohol consumption. Nazi propaganda highlighted the fact that Hitler neither smoked nor drank, and he was known to be extremely fond of tea and apple juice.

Hitler's abstinence from alcohol may have been due to his digestive issues and health worries

There is no clear statement about Adolf Hitler's alcohol consumption. However, historian Ian Kershaw wrote in his biography of Hitler that the dictator's abstinence was mainly due to his digestive issues and health worries. Hitler had suffered from digestive problems his entire life. He had been prone to painful stomach cramps during times of emotional distress since childhood, and by his early 40s, these were accompanied by violent bouts of flatulence, along with alternating bouts of diarrhoea and constipation.

Hitler's father was an alcoholic, and Hitler himself hated smoking and was a vegetarian. He was also consumed with worries about his health. He didn't trust doctors, so he tried to treat his condition himself by eliminating meat, rich foods, milk, and butter from his diet in favour of raw and cooked vegetables and whole grains. This did not improve his condition; if anything, it made his flatulence worse.

Hitler's health worries extended beyond his digestive issues. He was extremely concerned about his health, and his mental and physical health collapsed in the final days of World War II. An SS physician who saw him in his bunker in April 1945 described him as a "living corpse, a dead soul". Hitler walked with the slow shuffle of a man thirty years older, dragging his left leg. He couldn't go more than a few steps without support, and his head, arms, and left side trembled and jerked uncontrollably.

Hitler's mental state had also deteriorated. His thinking was muddled, his memory was failing, and his emotions swung between euphoria and screaming, uncontrollable rage. Historians, physicians, and World War II buffs have since wondered what caused Hitler's collapse—was it Parkinson's disease, tertiary syphilis, or giant cell arteritis?

Hitler's public image was that of a teetotaler, but he drank sweet German champagne with Mussolini in 1938

Hitler's public image was that of a teetotaler, but this was not entirely accurate. In 1938, Hitler made an exception to his abstinence by drinking sweet German champagne with Mussolini. This was a strategic move to foster good relations with his guest.

Hitler's public image as a teetotaler was carefully crafted and promoted by the Nazi regime. They were aware of the social backlash against the prohibition of alcohol in the United States and wanted to avoid similar unrest in Germany. Nazi propaganda emphasized Hitler's abstinence from alcohol and smoking, portraying him as a leader dedicated to a "wholesome life [as] a national duty." This image was also used to promote the regime's health campaigns, urging Germans, especially the youth, to refrain from drinking and smoking.

However, Hitler's drinking habits were not entirely absent from public knowledge. In May 1939, the New York Times reported that Hitler drank beer, specifically low-alcohol beer. This information adds a layer of complexity to the public image of Hitler as a teetotaler. Additionally, personal accounts from individuals who knew Hitler provide insights into his actual drinking habits. Hitler's body servant from 1936 to 1940 denied reports of the Führer drinking enormous quantities of black coffee but confirmed that he consumed coffee with milk.

Hitler's drinking habits were also influenced by his health concerns and digestive issues. Historian Ian Kershaw noted that Hitler occasionally drank but would often add sugar to wine to make it sweeter and avoid bitter-tasting beverages. This preference for sweetened drinks aligns with his choice to drink sweet German champagne with Mussolini in 1938.

In conclusion, while Hitler's public image as a teetotaler was strategically cultivated by the Nazi regime to promote a "wholesome" leader and influence German youth, his actual drinking habits were more nuanced. He occasionally consumed alcohol, including low-alcohol beer and sweet German champagne, with his drinking habits influenced by his health and taste preferences.

Hitler's beer was said to be a special product of the HOLZKIRCHEN brewery in Munich

While there is no clear statement about Hitler's alcohol consumption, it is known that he drank beer. Hitler's beer was said to be a special product of the Holzkirchen brewery in Munich, delivered once a month to the Berghof. This information comes from a 1944 report, which also mentions that Hitler was a tea addict and extremely fond of apple juice.

Hitler's abstinence from alcohol was mainly due to his digestive issues and health concerns. On the rare occasion that he did drink, he would add sugar to wine to make it sweeter and avoid bitter drinks.

Munich, known as the heart of Bavaria, was a hotspot for Hitler and the Nazi movement. The city's beer halls, including the famous Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, were often used for Nazi gatherings and speeches. Hitler's association with these beer halls played a significant role in his rise to power.

The Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, originally built in 1589, was where Hitler made a speech founding the Nazi Party in 1920. The Bürgerbräukeller, another large beer hall in Munich, was the site of Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch in 1923 and the attempted assassination of Hitler in 1939.

Hitler's use of Munich's beer halls and his ability to connect with the people within them were crucial to his political rise and the spread of Nazi ideology.

Frequently asked questions