Which secret substance did Hitler used to fuel his army?

In 1938, German pharmaceutical company Temmler Pharma developed Pervitin, a methamphetamine-based drug marketed as a wonder pill for boosting alertness and energy. 💊⚡️

Initially sold over-the-counter, Pervitin quickly gained popularity among German civilians for enhancing work performance and recreational use. 🏢🌃

Military doctor Otto Friedrich Ranke tested Pervitin on 90 university students, observing increased alertness, self-confidence, concentration, and reduced sensitivity to pain and fatigue. 🧪🎓

In 1940, Nazi Germany issued a "stimulant decree," distributing approximately 35 million Pervitin tablets to soldiers on the front lines. 📜🪖

Pervitin allowed German soldiers to march for up to 50 hours without sleep, giving them a significant advantage during the Blitzkrieg offensive through the Ardennes mountains. 🏔️⚔️

The drug-fueled army's rapid advance caught Allied forces off-guard, contributing to the shocking fall of France in just six weeks. 🇫🇷⏱️

Luftwaffe pilots used Pervitin to stay alert during long flights, enhancing their ability to conduct night raids and extended bombing campaigns. ✈️🌙

While Pervitin provided short-term benefits, it led to addiction and health issues among German soldiers, including hallucinations and impaired judgment. 🤯💉

The Finnish army, allied with Germany, also used Pervitin. One soldier, Aimo Koivunen, accidentally overdosed on 30 pills, leading to a days-long, 250-mile ski journey. 🇫🇮⛷️

The widespread use of methamphetamine in World War II raises ethical questions about performance-enhancing drugs in warfare and their long-term impact on soldiers and military strategy. 💀🏴‍☠️