Nazi-era Tactics Revived? Russian Soldiers Allegedly Use Amphetamines In Ukraine

According to a report from the U.K. think tank Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, Russian soldiers engaged in the Ukraine conflict are believed to be using amphetamines, echoing tactics previously employed by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Ukrainian military personnel have reportedly observed Russian soldiers seemingly under the influence of amphetamines and other narcotic substances.

During World War II, the German military similarly and extensively used a methamphetamine pill known as Pervitin. Norman Ohler, who penned "Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich," told Insider that the drug was pivotal in the army's early victories.

"Drugs have often played a role. But the Nazis took it to another level and really had successes because of the drug use, which they otherwise probably would not have had," he said. 

Introduced in the late 1930s, Pervitin was akin to today's methamphetamine. According to Dr. Otto Ranke, who was put in charge of improving the capabilities of German soldiers, its effects included heightened aggression, reduced fear and enhanced task execution.  

"It enabled the German army to do blitzkrieg [a form of Nazi warfare in which German troops carried out quick surprise attacks] in the West," Ohlder told Insider. "They didn't need to sleep once they started attacking. They were charging through France and Belgium and Holland, unafraid, not stopping, while the British and French troops were sleeping."

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However, the continuous use of Pervitin led to addiction and mental health issues among the soldiers, Ohler said. Even after the war, the drug's production reportedly persisted in Germany, finding use among East German troops guarding the Berlin Wall until its eventual ban in the 1980s.

"The German army's dependence on methamphetamines during World War II stood in stark contrast to the Nazi's clean-cut, anti-drug image. The use of Pervitin among soldiers prompted resistance from high-ranking Nazi leaders, who were concerned with maintaining the party's ideals," Ohler told the outlet.

Reflecting on the ongoing Ukrainian-Russian conflict, Ohler commented, "I would be surprised if drugs were not being used in the Ukrainian-Russian war. It's too good for an army."

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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