Pervitin (methamphetamine) is a potent addictive stimulant, inducing the sense of intense pleasure and happiness while reducing hunger and the need for sleep.
It has a similar chemical structure to amphetamine, only more potent. At the same dose, the brain absorbs more methamphetamine and triggers more intense effects.
The crystalline form of methamphetamine was first manufactured in Japan, but Pervitin was patented in Germany in 1937.
Although Nazi Germany had a strong anti-drug stance, they made an exception for Pervitin and considered it a miracle product.
Unlike heroin and alcohol, which were regarded as escape drugs, the Nazis touted Pervitin as a method to reach a heightened sense of vigilance and hyper-alertness.
During World War II, Pervitin was highly popular not only among Nazi Germany but also Finnish soldiers.
In the winter of 1994, during a patrol into Kandalaksha in Russia, a Finnish soldier named Aimo Koivunen made his name into history books not for displaying uncommon valor but for taking all the Pervitin pills supposedly given to his entire group.
He skied away from his group in a frantic state, got injured, and lost.
10 /10 Shootout In Kandalaksha
The day was March 18, 1944. World War II held its grip in Europe. Finland had a unique position of being an ally to Nazi Germany but not part of the Axis Powers.
The country did not engage in an open war with the Allied forces. Instead, Finland fought its own battle against the Soviet Union.
About 10:00 a.m. that day, a Finnish army patrol was approaching the territory of Kandalaksha. Corporal Aimo Koivunen was part of that long-range scout group.
After almost non-stop skiing for over two days, the enemy opened fire on them during a short break.
9 /10 A Rush Forward
Second Lieutenant Rytkönen gave an order to Aimo to set up ski track mines to prevent two enemy platoons from getting too close.
Aimo made a rush forward not by choice but because it was the only way to go. He set a few mines only to realize that the Soviet soldiers would go around the charges.
It had been a couple of hours since the shootout began. Aimo had not had the chance to eat anything during the short break, and now he was feeling weak. He did all he could and kept ongoing.