Pervitin: The Stimulant that Fueled the Blitzkrieg

Methamphetamines played a big role in World War 2

As Percy Dawber manned his station aboard a Royal Navy corvette and his brother Albert supported 57 squardron’s Spitfires during the harrowing days of the Battle of Britain, little did they know that across the Channel, their German adversaries were gaining an artificial edge through a potent stimulant known as Pervitin.

The controversial tool in the German military’s arsenal was, a methamphetamine developed by the pharmaceutical company Temmler. Marketed initially as a performance enhancer, Pervitin quickly became the "secret weapon" of the Wehrmacht, with soldiers, pilots, and tank crews relying on the drug to stay alert and energized during extended operations.

Pervitin was particularly popular during the Blitzkrieg, the rapid and aggressive military tactics employed by Germany to overwhelm its enemies. Soldiers on Pervitin could march for hours without rest, their senses heightened and fatigue pushed aside. This was especially useful in campaigns that required quick, decisive action over vast distances. The drug’s ability to stave off sleep and boost energy gave German forces a perceived edge, allowing them to sustain operations that would otherwise have been physically impossible.

What goes up must come down, as they say, and the short-term benefits of Pervitin came at a significant cost. While the initial effects included euphoria, heightened alertness, and a surge in energy, methampehatimine users suffered severe crashes marked by exhaustion, paranoia, and aggression. Prolonged use led to addiction and a range of physical and mental health problems, including heart issues and psychosis. The drug's widespread use also contributed to an alarming rise in reckless behavior among soldiers, which sometimes led to devastating consequences on the battlefield.

💡Read Norman Ohler’s Blitzed - Drugs in Nazi Germany

Widesprad Methamphetamine use during World War 2

Japanese, American and British forces consumed large amounts of amphetamines, but the Germans were the most enthusiastic early adopters, pioneering pill-popping on the battlefield during the initial phases of the war - time.com

Of course, medical professional weren’t as informed as they are today, and soldiers in the 1940s were more likely to follow orders without asking questions.

The use of Pervitin during World War II illustrates the lengths to which the Nazi regime was willing to go to push its military to the limits, even at the expense of the soldiers’ health. By the war's end, the dangers of Pervitin were well recognized, leading to its ban in many countries. Yet, its legacy remains a sobering reminder of how desperation in war can lead to the adoption of dangerous substances, with effects that linger far beyond the battlefield.