WWII Drug use.

[jackalope]

Watching the History channel and I didn't know the Allies used drugs to "improve" their soldiers. I knew the Germans did but to hear Montgomery gave his troops as many "Benny's" as they wanted really shocked me. I didn't know the allies did that, did you guys?

The last line of the show was saying how the history books need to be re-written to include all the drug use by both sides.

[Del]

I probably saw the same show as you but quite a while ago,i seem to remember Benzedrine being the allied enhancer of choice.

[RobW]

I vaguely remember reading that the bomber crews (night time) sometimes took benzedrine to stay alert. Wouldn't surprise me if more drugs weren't taken.

Before we judge, remember that valium was doled out by the handful in the '90s.

[wibblywobbly]

When you consider that soldiers are routinely injected with various vaccines and other toxic waste, one would ask the question as to whether there is anything else in there that the recipient hasn't been made aware of. I guess that injecting chemicals that enhance performance, ability to stay awake for days etc would be considered fair game by either side. It also raises the further question of whether any of the atrocities carried out during WW2 occurred due to troops being out of their heads on mind bending drugs? It's an interesting thought, and one that I have never seen addressed in any history book?

[971wright]

Hi The Cruel Sea the captain took a pill from the Doctor ,probably happened in real .If you think about D,Day the parras were up from early morning on the 5th probably didn't get any sleep till very late on the 6th if they got any . I am sure they would have needed a boost .

regards pete

[jackalope]

I also think that since meth and other stimulants were all brand new no one could have known the long term effects of these drugs on people.

I wonder if they knew what it was doing to the men if they wold have continued it.

[Raminator]

It's a very interesting topic and one that rarely gets acknowledged. It's hard to imagine what it'd be like to deal with amphetamine withdrawals on top of PTSD (or combat fatigue, to use the parlance of the time).

I also think that since meth and other stimulants were all brand new no one could have known the long term effects of these drugs on people.

I wonder if they knew what it was doing to the men if they wold have continued it.

It'd be nice to think they wouldn't have, but given the context of "total war" at the time you'd have to assume they'd decide that the ends justify the means.