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The Germans used metamphetamine during World War 2. They gave it nicknames Panzerschokolade ("tank chocolate"), Stuka-Tabletten ("Stuka tablets"), Herman-Göring

by _ak 8y ago

The Germans used metamphetamine during World War 2. They gave it nicknames Panzerschokolade ("tank chocolate"), Stuka-Tabletten ("Stuka tablets"), Herman-Göring-Pillen, or Flieger-Marzipan ("pilot's marzipan"). It was freely available under the brand name "Pervitin" until 1941. From then on, you needed a prescription in order to purchase it.

Zezima 8y ago
Did you read Blitzed by Norman Ohler?
- _ak 8y ago
  No, why?
  - oxide 8y ago
    It's a pretty good read, mostly about the prevalence of Pervitin usage. I found it extremely worthwhile but drug discourse is my cup of tea- I tend to get a bit geeky about it.
ekianjo 8y ago
The Japanese also had similar drugs in free circulation during ww2 if I remember correctly.
- nervousvarun 8y ago
  Not only that, the Japanese actually invented (synthesized) Meth in 1919. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine It's still one of the most popular (if not the most popular) illegal drugs in Japan. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_status_of_methamphetamine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_status_of_methamphetamin...
- Fnoord 8y ago
  From what I understood it was used by kamikaze pilots (mainly the infamous Mitsubishi A6M Zero).
taneq 8y ago
Frank Whittle used Benzedrine while working on the turbojet engine, so there's that.
24gttghh 8y ago
Not just Germany, or Japan, but US Bomber pilots used Amphetamines in WW2[0], and the infantry in Vietnam[1]. [0]https://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/10.1162/JINH_a_00212 https://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/10.1162/JINH_a_00212 (I could only find this abstract about US use.) [1]https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/04/the-drugs-that-built-a-super-soldier/477183/ https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/04/the-drugs...
- tonyarkles 8y ago
  Not just in WW2 and Vietnam, but much more recently than that. Search "go pills" in this unfortunately Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarnak_Farm_incident https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarnak_Farm_incident
  - 24gttghh 8y ago
    NBC from 2003: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3071789/ns/us_news-only/t/go-pills-war-drugs/ http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3071789/ns/us_news-only/t/go-pills...

by _ak 8y ago

Zezima 8y ago

Did you read Blitzed by Norman Ohler?

_ak 8y ago
No, why?
- oxide 8y ago
  It's a pretty good read, mostly about the prevalence of Pervitin usage. I found it extremely worthwhile but drug discourse is my cup of tea- I tend to get a bit geeky about it.

ekianjo 8y ago

The Japanese also had similar drugs in free circulation during ww2 if I remember correctly.

nervousvarun 8y ago
Not only that, the Japanese actually invented (synthesized) Meth in 1919. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine It's still one of the most popular (if not the most popular) illegal drugs in Japan. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_status_of_methamphetamine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_status_of_methamphetamin...
Fnoord 8y ago
From what I understood it was used by kamikaze pilots (mainly the infamous Mitsubishi A6M Zero).

taneq 8y ago

Frank Whittle used Benzedrine while working on the turbojet engine, so there's that.

24gttghh 8y ago

Not just Germany, or Japan, but US Bomber pilots used Amphetamines in WW2[0], and the infantry in Vietnam[1]. [0]https://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/10.1162/JINH_a_00212 https://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/10.1162/JINH_a_00212 (I could only find this abstract about US use.) [1]https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/04/the-drugs-that-built-a-super-soldier/477183/ https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/04/the-drugs...

tonyarkles 8y ago
Not just in WW2 and Vietnam, but much more recently than that. Search "go pills" in this unfortunately Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarnak_Farm_incident https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarnak_Farm_incident
- 24gttghh 8y ago
  NBC from 2003: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3071789/ns/us_news-only/t/go-pills-war-drugs/ http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3071789/ns/us_news-only/t/go-pills...