Satan’s doctor

This film unravels the mysteries of Felix Kersten, Heinrich Himmlers personal masseuse therapist. How did Kersten come to work for the German Reichsfuhrer just before the second world war? More importantly, was he able to influence the decisions of one of the most ominous characters of Nazi Germany? Did Himmler’s doctor actually save the lives of thousands of people in the end? The film provides us with a clearcut answer.

Historic Interest

In 1933 Hitler’s National Socialists overtook the Weimar Republic, which represented a very distinct and liberal culture. Although elements of Weimar Culture prevailed throughout Nazi culture – for example, the glorification of the human body and its inherent sexuality in Leni Riefenstahl’s Olympus – the victory of Hitler’s National Socialists abruptly ended the liberalism and openness of the Weimar Culture, except with regard to drug use. Although the Nazis established a highly disciplined culture, drug use was widely accepted. Many Nazi leaders and soldiers were addicted to amphetamine, cocaine or opium to ease the anxiety of PTSD and war-related stress. In Satan’s Doctor, for example, we see how Heinrich Himmler, leader of the SS, allowed himself to be manipulated by his personal Jewish doctor, Felix Kersten, on whom he despended heavily for the administration of opiates and amphetamine.

Social Interest

The labor camps and concentration camps put up by Hitler’s Nazi Germany, contained prisoners of Jew descent, political prisoners, Sovjet war prisoners, Gypsy, homosexuals, disabled and more. Millions of people were deported to the camps, located mainly in Germany and Poland, and died as a result of the horrific circumstances or execution.

Political Relevance

The second world war is known as the war of Hitler’s Nazi Germany in order to conquer the world during 1939 until 1945. During the war, milions of people perished by bombings, fights, starvation and deportation to labor camps and concentration camps. One of the most important persons of the Nazi regime was Heinrich Himmler, Reichsfuhrer of the SS. He was also the person in control of the camps, external police and security forces.