Usage of Pervitin

[BrianC]

Thanks for the responses.

However, I am specifically interested as to how the British interrogators initially reacted to Pervitin-infused prisoners, especially those captured during August and September 1940.

Perhaps our respected and knowledgeable moderators are able to comment?

Cheers
Brian

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by BrianC

Perhaps our respected and knowledgeable moderators are able to comment?

Cheers
Brian

Sorry, John’s away from his computer at the moment!

[Nick Beale]

I'm not that familiar with prisoner interrogations from the BoB period (I've only looked at a couple at best) but if a prisoner was speeding or crashing, wouldn't the symptoms be superficially explicable in terms of adrenaline and post traumatic stress? If you've just been zipping round the sky at 500 km/h firing guns at people who shot back, you might be a bit hyped up. And if that came to a sudden stop and you narrowly escaped with your life, your mood might drop abruptly.

[ChristianK]

Hi there - some years ago I wrote an article on that topic and also interviewed medicine historian Peter Steinkamp about it.
He likened the effects of Pervitin to "driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. It does work somehow, but you not necessarily mind the rules that much." Otto Ranke, one of Germany's leading military physicians emphasized the use of Pervitin for staying awake while performing "long-lasting duties that are not physically demanding". Recorded negative effects were double-vision and seeing colors ("after the fourth pill" - officer of the 3rd Panzer Division), errors in judgement, circulatory problems and apathy when on deprivation.
Given all that, I think it's very possible that interrogation officers might not have been able to differentiate the behavior of a Pervitin-using POW from that of one who was drunk or simply disoriented/confused because of what has just happened to him.
Just my two cents.


Cheers,
Christian

[John Vasco]

Karl-Fritz Schröder, a Bordfunker with 13.(Z)/JG 5, told me that when he was shot down behind Russian lines, he spent three days heading back to the German lines. All he had to exist on was chocolate and pervitin. He hid during the day, and travelled stealthily at night. No sleep whatsoever during the whole time.

[ChristianK]

Originally Posted by John Vasco

Karl-Fritz Schröder, a Bordfunker with 13.(Z)/JG 5, told me that when he was shot down behind Russian lines, he spent three days heading back to the German lines. All he had to exist on was chocolate and pervitin. He hid during the day, and travelled stealthily at night. No sleep whatsoever during the whole time.

The usual German "flyer's chocolate" Scho-Ka-Kola was also caffeinated.

BTW: Beginning in 1944 the German army also ran a number of tests with cocaine, sometimes even mixed with methamphetamines or other stimulants. There were cocaine chewing gums and cocaine pills in operational use, at least with the midget submarine flottillas of the Kriegsmarine. So Pervitin was by far not the worst drug used by the Wehrmacht.

[edwest2]

Perhaps the following will be of some use.

https://www.amazon.com/British-Inter.../dp/0752462717

[BrianC]

Again my thanks for all contributions

John: what date was Karl-Fritz Schroder shot down, and who was his pilot?

Ed: book ordered. Thanks.

Larry: I take your point.

General: having personally not indulged in such drugs (alcohol, yes!) , how long would it have taken for the effects to have worn off?

Cheers
Brian