The most commonly accepted misconception about the Germans during World War II was the image they had of themselves as super soldiers, members of a superior race of warriors and the ultimate enemy.This myth began in 1940 during the Battle of France when German units crossed the rugged forests of the Ardennes and spread across the plains of northern France, then along the Somme valley, separating and encircling the Allied units that had advanced into Belgium to face the expected German invasion, then flanking much of the French army and trapping the British expedition at Dunkirk.German units advanced from the German border to the English Channel in a single week, which is truly incredible on every level.The Germans' ability to break through French defenses in the Ardennes was a phenomenal event, creating the myth of the super soldier.How was it possible for mere mortals to move so quickly, maneuver and defeat an enemy as quickly as possible?The truth is that it was simply not possible for mere mortals to advance so quickly, hence the myth of the super soldier.The German high command knew that the French had bigger and better tanks than theirs, and that the combined French and British air forces were almost as formidable as the Luftwaffe.So they used an equalizer. They turned to the Breaking Bad tactic.In combat, as in everyday life, the human body can go so far, possibly beyond, but not much further.A soldier could thus advance and fight for a certain number of hours during the day but was then forced to rest.But here's the thing...The German pharmaceutical company Temmler had developed a new method of converting ephedrine into methamphetamine and manufactured large quantities of it under the name Pervitin (methamphetamine hydrochloride).This drug was specifically intended for tank crews under the name Panzerschokolade (armored chocolate) and dive bomber crews under the name Stuka-Tabletten (Stuka tablets).More than 35 million three-milligram doses of Pervitin were manufactured for the German army and air force between April and July 1940.Before the Battle of France, these energy pills had been widely distributed to almost all German forces.The effects are well known: increased endurance, prolonged alertness, increased energy, feelings of euphoria, feelings of invincibility.Of course, the consequences are the opposite when you finally come down, with severe exhaustion being one of the main symptoms.In France, the Germans stuffed their army full of methamphetamine so that they could achieve astonishing levels of performance.Pervitin enabled tank crews to (relatively) race through the Ardennes and the plains beyond, advancing day after day without stopping to rest, but only to refuel and resupply with ammunition.But even methamphetamines that allow you to go so far and so fast do not spare you the effects of the comedown.The Germans countered this problem, at least temporarily, by repeatedly feeding their soldiers increasingly stronger doses of methamphetamine, pushing them further and further.As history shows, the Germans, faced with better armor, defeated one of the world's greatest powers in six weeks.An incredible performance.But the German troops paid a high price for it.There were numerous serious and alarming cases of soldiers aged 18 to 20 dying of heart attacks.Several suffered mental and neurological health problems, ranging from simple dizziness to psychotic episodes, in addition to numerous cases of extreme addiction, and many other cases of serious blood pressure problems and other ailments, so much so that the shocked German high command quickly reversed its heavy use of Pervitin, although soldiers continued to receive it regularly, but in smaller doses.The troops who fought in the Battle of France in 1940, who were given the highest doses, became severely weakened in many ways as a result.They had achieved the necessary level of performance, but at a very high price.Many never fought again, but their numbers were never recorded, as was the case for most behavioral disorders of war at the time.German soldiers of all ranks used Pervitin, and generals such as Rommel swallowed it like their daily bread.Widely used by the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front, the euphoria and distorted sense of reality it caused may have been partly responsible for the atrocities committed there, but frankly, in war, killing is so widespread that it doesn't really need external stimulants.The Japanese used a lot of methamphetamine, especially among aircraft crews and even more so among kamikaze pilots.Allied troops also used methamphetamines extensively, particularly the Americans, who gave them to bomber crews to help them physically endure longer missions, to ship crews when they had to remain on alert for indefinite periods, and to forces about to attack or awaiting an assault.The myth of the German super soldier was created by little white pills that pushed them to achieve high levels of performance and then practically destroyed them as effective soldiers.During the Vietnam War, the US Army supplied its soldiers with amphetamines, steroids, and painkillers to help them endure prolonged combat.Sources: Norman Ohler's book Der Totale Rausch, probably the best-documented book on the subject.
@Part_of You — 2025-10-27 19:27:56 #amphétamine #amphetamine #metaamphetamine #pervitin #armée #drogue #Histoire #Allemagne
