Hitler's Drugged Soldiers

Der Spiegel ^ | 06 May 2005 | Andreas Ulrich

[nickcarraway]

Dutch courage?

[tanuki]

LOL! Whatever it is, they're STILL on it!

[x]

Apparently, everybody used amphetamines in WWII as well: Germans, Japanese, Soviets, also US and British. It looks like it was a bigger thing with the Germans than with us or the British, though. Kamikazis used meth -- it had been developed by Japanese chemists in 1919 -- and addiction became a real problem in Japan. Hitler had it injected intravenously himself.

[neverdem]

Great catch! I was under the impression that the German Army only started to use amphetamines, aka speed, only after they had become desparate on the Russian front. That they were using it during the offensives in Poland and France is noteworthy. Their combination with opiates reminds me of reports about jihadis and the Fallujah offensive in November 2004.

From time to time, I’ll ping on noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs. FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

[Deetes]

From the history I've read. Methadone was made by the Nazi's. Dolphine is it's name after you know who ... And there was a shortage in Germany of Morphine so they came up with Methadone (Dolphine).....

[Squantos]

There is nothing secret about the means of making meth. Meth “recipes” are widely known and readily available over the internet. The most common meth “recipe” in Illinois is called the “Birch reduction method” or – more commonly – the “Nazi method” (because the German government used it during World War II). A second method that is common in the western United States but less common in Illinois is known as the “red phosphorous” or “red-P” method.

Whether a meth “cook” uses the “Nazi method” or the “red-P” method, he cannot make meth without ephedrine or pseudoephedrine – substances found in Sudafed, Claratin, and other over-the-counter cold medications that are widely available in local drug stores, supermarkets, and truck stops. Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are to methamphetamine what flour is to bread – THE essential ingredient.

Ephedrine or pseudoephedrine become methamphetamine by means of a chemical reaction. A meth maker using the Nazi method (common in Illinois) brings about this chemical reaction by combining the ephedrine or pseudoephedrine with two other ingredients: anhydrous ammonia (a liquified fertilizer) and lithium (a metal extracted from lithium batteries). By contrast, a meth maker using the red-P method (less common in Illinois) produces methamphetamine by combining ephedrine or pseudoephedrine with red phosphorous, iodine crystals, and water.

While these chemical reactions are the essential step required to turn ephedrine or pseudoephedrine into methamphetamine, both the Nazi method and the red-P method involve additional steps both before and after these chemical reactions. For typical meth cook in Illinois, using the Nazi method, the entire process of making a batch of methamphetamine lasts about four hours from start to finish.

[ConservativeMind]

Fascinating. I love how it helped pervert the Nazi's from within. Kind of like a parasite that eats its host.

I'm glad the repercussions set in. They were a hellish nightmare in all ways.

And we kicked their sorry asses.

[lainde]

bttt

[Jaysun]

From the history I've read. Methadone was made by the Nazi's. Dolphine is it's name after you know who ... And there was a shortage in Germany of Morphine so they came up with Methadone (Dolphine).....

Who is it named after? I've read that the "dol" in dolphine is from the Latin root "dolor". The term "dol" is used in pain research to measure pain (one dol = one unit of pain).

[Al Simmons]

Well, when you are stuck in a frozen wasteland, short of proper supplies and clothing, and outnumbered 4 to 1 by the enemy who is defending his home turf, I suppose there is some kind of twisted logic in having your soldiers being able to fight 24/7 so to speak.

Hitler himself was almost certainly addicted to Methamphetamines staarting as early as 1935, when he hired Dr. Teodor Morell to treat him for his (hushed up) Syphillis. Morell was supposedly the ranking expert on this disease, so it seems logical that this would be a reason why Hitler chose him.

But Dr. Morell also had a home meth lab and soon graduated to giving der Fuhrer his 'Vitamultin' injections daily, which consisted of speed, more speed, vitamins and Lord-knows-what-else.

We know that, during the war, an SS lab managed to get a hold of a dose of Vitamultin and analysed it because of a rumor that Morell was poisoning Hitler. The results were so concerning that two SS doctors advised Hitler that he should fire Morell immediately. Instead, the two SS doctors were relieved of their duties.

You might say its not a good idea to get between an addict and his supplier. Some of Hitler's stupidest impulsive decisions (like the order to stand and not retreat at Stalingrad) appear quite likely to have been made during periods of Methamphetamine-induced mania lasting for days.

To switch theaters, the Japanese often gave plenty of Sake to their soldiers prior to a charge against the enemy; often the officers would assemble the men on the battlefield (following the imbibing) and given them speeches exhorting them to fight.

The drunken fanatics would then charge Marine machinegun positions with predictable results.

For all their fanaticism (which even exceeded that of the Germans in some ways), this was a losing tactic for sure.

Bullets beat Bushido every time ;-)

[Jaysun]

As to the name Dolophine, here's what I just found:

Methadone was first called "Hoechst 10820" and Bockmühl and Ehrhart filed a patent application in September 1941. The agent was later named "Polamidon" in Germany, and much later generically called methadone). The name "Dolophine" was originated at Eli Lilly & Co. in the U.S. long after the war, and was probably derived from the French dolor (pain) and fin (end). Although, some have claimed the “Dol-” portion came from dol, which is a unit measure of pain (derived from dolor), and “-ophine” was derived from morphine.

[snowsislander]

I remember being struck in an account of the Abbeville Kids about the amount of alcohol those pilots consumed, and how early in the day they started. There certainly didn't appear to be any "bottle to throttle" rule for them.

[Clemenza]

NEGONE, TROLL!

[Deetes]

Very interesting . I learned something else today , and just found another bit of urban legend .....

[Jaysun]

Very interesting . I learned something else today , and just found another bit of urban legend .....

Me too. Hey, I can't wait to put a few oil derricks in your "back yard". Think we'll get to?

[Jaysun]

What is difference between Bush and Stalin and Hitler? Bush have lower IQ.

Tee hee hee hee...
Drink bleach assrabbit.

[Deetes]

Well , I'm in Alaska . So it might not be a bad idea .... Although probably break rule or two...

[PAR35]

The execution of a 36-year-old officer in Norway in the fall of 1942 was intended to set an example. The officer, who was a driver,

Having an officer serve as a driver doesn't sound right. Perhaps the problem is with the translation.