It was becoming evident. Sudden heart attacks and hallucinations in soldiers were starting to cause problems. After the increasing effects on soldiers were identified, the German Ministry of Health decided to reduce the use of pervitin. This was because withdrawal symptoms emerged when the effects of pervitin wore off.
Based on the pervitin found in downed German planes, England produced and started using Benzedrine sprays, which contain amphetamine. However, this drug, while causing insomnia, didn't alleviate fatigue. It's quite sad that these drug-containing sprays were even given to children in England as cold remedies. Of course, this largely stemmed from ignorance at the time.
Allies used amphetamines in their soldiers due to their morale-boosting effects, but no warring state used drugs to the extent Japan did during the war. The Japanese significantly increased the production of methamphetamine, and power-enhancing pills were given to many, from factory workers to soldiers. They were particularly administered in large quantities to kamikaze pilots before suicide missions.
After the war, methamphetamine use in Japan turned into an addiction and fell under the control of the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia organization. Again, during the Vietnam War, derivatives of methamphetamine were used on U.S. soldiers to target highly motivated and sleepless soldiers.
However, it's important to note that pervitin or methamphetamine alone wasn't the sole basis for the rapid advances of the German army in the early years of the war. Over-reliance of the French on the Maginot Line, European nations observing the impending war from afar, and being caught unprepared were the general determinants of the war. A well-prepared and equipped German army shocked inexperienced and ill-prepared French. It can't be said that the use of methamphetamine alone won the war; there were many factors. If amphetamines and pervitin derivatives enabled the creation of super soldiers to such an extent, then why didn't it work on the Eastern Front or turn the tide in favor of the Germans during the Normandy invasion?
Despite all this, pervitin's impact in World War II drew attention with the book published in 2015 and the Netflix documentary "Greatest Events of WWII in Colour" based on it. It's unexpected that everything emerged from just one drug. But the historical fact remains that pervitin and methamphetamine derivatives were used by Nazi soldiers, by the Allies in the later stages of the war, and throughout Japan during the entire war. The administration and support of these drug uses, both to the army and the populace by the state itself, is where the horrifying aspect lies. It's thought-provoking and questioning, as if the superpowers of the world applied Machiavelli's famous quote from "The Prince" - "All's fair in love and war" - by poisoning their own people and soldiers just for the sake of victory.
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