[_ak]

The Germans used metamphetamine during World War 2. They gave it nicknames Panzerschokolade ("tank chocolate"), Stuka-Tabletten ("Stuka tablets"), Herman-Göring-Pillen, or Flieger-Marzipan ("pilot's marzipan"). It was freely available under the brand name "Pervitin" until 1941. From then on, you needed a prescription in order to purchase it.

[24gttghh]

Not just Germany, or Japan, but US Bomber pilots used Amphetamines in WW2[0], and the infantry in Vietnam[1].

[0]https://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/10.1162/JINH_a_00212 (I could only find this abstract about US use.)

[1]https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/04/the-drugs...

[tonyarkles]

Not just in WW2 and Vietnam, but much more recently than that. Search "go pills" in this unfortunately Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarnak_Farm_incident

[24gttghh]

NBC from 2003:

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3071789/ns/us_news-only/t/go-pills...

[ekianjo]

The Japanese also had similar drugs in free circulation during ww2 if I remember correctly.

[nervousvarun]

Not only that, the Japanese actually invented (synthesized) Meth in 1919. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine

It's still one of the most popular (if not the most popular) illegal drugs in Japan. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_status_of_methamphetamin...

[Fnoord]

From what I understood it was used by kamikaze pilots (mainly the infamous Mitsubishi A6M Zero).

[taneq]

Frank Whittle used Benzedrine while working on the turbojet engine, so there's that.

[Zezima]

Did you read Blitzed by Norman Ohler?

[_ak]

No, why?

[oxide]

It's a pretty good read, mostly about the prevalence of Pervitin usage. I found it extremely worthwhile but drug discourse is my cup of tea- I tend to get a bit geeky about it.