Tom is an esteemed neurology expert trained under the renowned neuropsychologist Dr. Alexander Luria, brings a wealth of knowledge to the subject.

With a distinguished career in neurology, including serving as the president of the Texas Neurological Society and holding academic positions such as professor and vice-chairman at the Department of Medical and Surgical Neurology at the Texas Tech School of Medicine, Hutton’s expertise shines through in his meticulous research and insightful analysis.

Norm: Good day Tom and thanks for taking part in our interview

What inspired you to research and write about Hitler's health issues?

Tom: Thank you Norm. It is great to be with you. 

 Once I became aware of Hitler's Parkinson's disease, I wished to learn its chronicity and based on our own work, how this disorder impacted his leadership during World War II.

It seemed to me that Hitler's decision-making toward the latter part of World War II had become faulty, and I wondered if his physical and mental health brought this about.

It was later that I learned of Hitler's coronary artery disease along with his many minor disorders.

Norm: What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?  

Tom: I wished to answer whether Hitler's physical illnesses and unusual personality characteristics impacted his decision-making toward the latter portion of  World War II.

I learned that by the time of the Normandy invasion (D-Day) and the Battle of the Bulge that Hitler had had signs of Parkinson's disease for longer than the critical ten years- the duration of disease that in our laboratory was associated with a definable cognitive and memory disorder. 

Also the timing for the launching of Operation Barbarossa (the invasion of the Soviet Union) in 1941 has baffled historians as Germany was unprepared with its stock of conventional weapons and had not yet developed its qualitatively superior "wonder weapons."

Given the life expectancy of a person with Hitler's coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease, three to four years hence would have likely found Hitler dead from his cardiac and neurological illnesses, both of which were untreatable at that time. His egomania would have driven his decision for an early invasion.

A third major finding consisted of two acute gastrointestinal illnesses during the Fall of 1941 and at a critical time during the invasion of the Soviet Union. The first was likely bacterial dysentery that on top of Hitler's chronic irritable bowel syndrome lasted a full month.

The second illness was likely a gallbladder attack that lasted an additional month. These illnesses prostrated Hitler and made it impossible for him to frustrate his generals in their attempt to take the Soviet capital of Moscow.

The addition of the third objective, the capture of Moscow, to the other two, the taking of Leningrad and Ukraine along with the oil and gas reserves in Georgia overstretched the German military forces, leading to their eventual defeat. 

I believe my analysis contributes to the overall understanding of what made Hitler act in the fashion that he did.

My interest and research in Hitler's poor health and impact goes back some 25 years. The actual writing of this book took five years to complete.

Norm: How has the feedback been so far? 

Tom: The reviews and interactions with persons who have read my book have been extremely encouraging. The book appears to have struck a chord that explains in part the enigma of Hitler's poor decision-making toward the end of World War II.

Norm: What were some of the most surprising things you learned about Hitler's health while researching and writing this book?

Tom: Despite his comments to the contrary, Hitler's health as a child and young adult was excellent. He had only the usual childhood illnesses.

Also I learned the onset of his rage attacks, stubbornness, and tendency toward subjecting those around him to long lectures began as a child and young adult.

His oratory built from these perorations and to no surprise he had very few friends as a child and young adult.

Also claims of Hitler having suffered syphilis exist. On my careful neurological review of his neurological symptoms and signs, the rumors of Hitler having suffered from the advanced form of syphilis can be put to rest. Hitler did not show these signs.

Norm: Can you tell us about your research process and how you ensured accuracy and reliability in your sources?

Tom: I reviewed videotapes for the physical signs of Parkinson's disease and studied the English language literature for insights into his physical and mental health.

Also the casebook written by Theodor Morell provided valuable insights into Hitler and his complaints.

Many cogent intelligence interviews of Hitler's generals occurred following the conclusion of World War II that further described how he had "aged" dramatically in his last five years of life rendering him less than effective in his leadership.

I used my skills as a physician and medical scientist and provided a more modern understanding of his illnesses and their impact.

Tom: Historians have debated interminably why the Germans were so dreadfully slow to counterattack at Normandy, why Germany chose to invade the Soviet Union in 1941, and why the German military seemed slow in responding to Allied actions.

Understanding how Hitler progressively limited his capable generals toward the end of World War II and inserted himself directly in the decision-making helps to clarify the strategic German errors.

 His grandiosity, stubbornness, and neuropsychological abnormalities add to our understanding of Germany's strategic errors.

Norm: How did Hitler's physicians and inner circle handle his medical issues, and did they try to cover up his ailments from the public?

Tom: Hitler's personal physician, Theodor Morell, was not a specialist and was regarded poorly by Hitler's better trained physicians.

 Despite his avaricious nature, obesity, and poor manners, Morell was held in high esteem by Hitler.

Morell was very slow to recognize Hitler's Parkinson's disease despite other physicians and lay people alike having recognized it.

Morell was a therapeutic enthusiast who used an incredible number of medicines without regard to drug interactions.

He also likely caused a dependence in Hitler on methamphetamine, oxycontin, and possibly cocaine. This dependency fostered Hitler's dependence on Morell and further limited Hitler's effectiveness.

The Nazi censors edited carefully the videotapes of Hitler so as to not show his obvious signs of Parkinson's disease.

Eventually this effort became impossible with his minister of propaganda providing the speeches toward the end of World War II.

Some videotapes toward the end of World War II escaped the censors and demonstrate Hitler's hand tremor, stooped posture, slowness of movement ,short-stepped gait, and lack of facial expression.

Also progressive Parkinson's micrographia (literally small handwriting) can be seen over the last years of Hitler's life.

A greater understanding of the physical and mental health of the leaders of governments in particular dictatorships will contribute to understanding and predicting their actions.

Norm: Where can our readers find out more about you and Hitler’s Maladies And Their Impact on World War ll?

Tom: My WEBSITE  along with my blog Views From Medicine Spirit Ranch. An earlier book (2015) titled Carrying the Black Bag: A Neurologist's Bedside Tales is available from Texas Tech University Press and your favorite bookstores.

Norm: What is next for Tom Hutton?

Tom: The fatiguing challenges of bringing our Hitler's Maladies during the Covid era with its inherent delays and difficulties will require me for awhile to limit my writing to ranching and a rural lifestyle.

Norm: As this interview comes to an end, if you could invite three world leaders (dead or alive) to your dinner table, who would they be and why?

Tom: First off I would invite Winston Churchill, a man who fascinates me. I likely would simply listen to his wonderful narratives and enjoy sipping his brandy.

I also would like to have Vladimir Putin in my examination room more so than my dinner table.

I would like to determine whether his physical or mental health are playing a role in his current war on Ukraine or whether this is more the result of his ideology and affection for the Soviet empire.

Finally I would like to interact of Mao who also had Parkinson's disease and who may have had his behavior and decision-making altered by his neurological disorder.

Norm: Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.

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