Was the entire nation of Germany addicted to methamphetamine? It was widely used prior to the invasion of France in 1940, and after the side effects became widely known, it's usage was restricted after 1941, but like most things in war, it was likely still heavily abused. Civilians were also taking this prior to 1940, it was legal. It was widely known as Pervitin in Germany.
Hitler, of course, was addicted to many drugs, all taken care of by his quack physician, Dr. Morell.
Many of the side effects of heavy usage were not known by either the Axis or the Allies, and in the middle of war, these were often disregarded after their discovery.
Pervitin was a brand name for methamphetamine developed by Temmler Pharma in 1938 and widely used in Nazi Germany, both by civilians and as a military stimulant. It acted as a potent, legal stimulant that increased alertness, confidence, and endurance while suppressing fatigue and hunger, leading to extensive use by soldiers (Wehrmacht) during World War II's blitzkrieg operations.
In May 1940, German troops under the influence of Pervitin had conquered Poland and were preparing for an attack against France. Ahead of the battle, 35 million Pervitin pills were delivered to 3 million Wehrmacht soldiers within 10-12 weeks. The Wehrmacht soldiers then managed to fight and march for 10 days straight, covering an average of 22 miles per day. The Wehrmacht were able to trap the entire British army on the beaches of Dunkirk in what is considered one of the greatest feats in military history.
World War Speed ~ About the Episode | Secrets of the Dead | PBS
By 1941, rumors about Nazi soldiers using a “super-drug” identified as the methamphetamine Pervitin were confirmed, and Allied commanders launched their own classified program to find the perfect war-fighting drug.
During the war, one in three Allied soldiers were incapacitated without a physical scratch on them. Modern weapons and warfare proved so terrifying that almost as many men were shredded by combat fatigue and shell shock — now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) — as by bullets and shrapnel. Allied commanders believed Benzedrine, an amphetamine similar to Pervitin, was the answer, hoping the amphetamine would defeat not just the need for sleep, but anxiety and fear among troops. How this drug affected the course of World War II is an ongoing controversy.
Hitler, of course, was addicted to many drugs, all taken care of by his quack physician, Dr. Morell.
Many of the side effects of heavy usage were not known by either the Axis or the Allies, and in the middle of war, these were often disregarded after their discovery.
Pervitin was a brand name for methamphetamine developed by Temmler Pharma in 1938 and widely used in Nazi Germany, both by civilians and as a military stimulant. It acted as a potent, legal stimulant that increased alertness, confidence, and endurance while suppressing fatigue and hunger, leading to extensive use by soldiers (Wehrmacht) during World War II's blitzkrieg operations.
In May 1940, German troops under the influence of Pervitin had conquered Poland and were preparing for an attack against France. Ahead of the battle, 35 million Pervitin pills were delivered to 3 million Wehrmacht soldiers within 10-12 weeks. The Wehrmacht soldiers then managed to fight and march for 10 days straight, covering an average of 22 miles per day. The Wehrmacht were able to trap the entire British army on the beaches of Dunkirk in what is considered one of the greatest feats in military history.
World War Speed ~ About the Episode | Secrets of the Dead | PBS
By 1941, rumors about Nazi soldiers using a “super-drug” identified as the methamphetamine Pervitin were confirmed, and Allied commanders launched their own classified program to find the perfect war-fighting drug.
During the war, one in three Allied soldiers were incapacitated without a physical scratch on them. Modern weapons and warfare proved so terrifying that almost as many men were shredded by combat fatigue and shell shock — now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) — as by bullets and shrapnel. Allied commanders believed Benzedrine, an amphetamine similar to Pervitin, was the answer, hoping the amphetamine would defeat not just the need for sleep, but anxiety and fear among troops. How this drug affected the course of World War II is an ongoing controversy.
