World War Speed

Season 18Episode 560 minJun 25, 2019
World War Speed

Stories about drug use by Hitler and German forces during World War II have been widely told. What's less well known is the Allied commanders' embraced pharmacological "force enhancers" as well. By 1941, rumors about Nazi soldiers using a "super-drug" identified as the methamphetamine Pervitin were confirmed, and Allied commanders launched their own classified program to find the perfect war-fighting drug.

During the war, one in three Allied soldiers were incapacitated without a physical scratch on them. Modern weapons and warfare proved so terrifying that almost as many men were shredded by combat fatigue and shell shock — now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) — as by bullets and shrapnel. Allied commanders believed Benzedrine, an amphetamine similar to Pervitin, was the answer, hoping the amphetamine would defeat not just the need for sleep, but anxiety and fear among troops. How this drug affected the course of World War II is an ongoing controversy.

In Secrets of the Dead: World War Speed, join historian James Holland on his quest to understand how the use of amphetamines affected the course of World War II and unleashed "the world's first pharmacological arms race."

World War Speed has aired on Jun 25, 2019 at 8:00 PM
Previous EpisodeNext Episode

Trailer

We do not have any trailers for this episode

Recently Updated Shows

Recently updated shows that might be of your interest.
Digman!
Running

Digman!

Digman! is set in a world where archaeologists are massive celebrities and the coolest people on the planet.

Silent Witness
Running

Silent Witness

Expert forensic pathologists speak on behalf of the voiceless in this compelling crime drama.

GenreDrama, Crime
Countdown
Running

Countdown

Countdown begins with a suspicious murder in broad daylight, leading Los Angeles Police Department officer Mark Meachum to be recruited to a secret task force of undercover agents from all branches of law enforcement that will investigate the death. But as the truth of a more sinister plot comes into focus, the team must overcome their conflicting personal agendas to unite and save a city of millions.

Ghost Adventures
Running

Ghost Adventures

Are you ready for the lockdown?

Ghost Adventures crew -- Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin, Billy Tolley, and Jay Wasley -- is back to investigate the scariest, most notorious, haunted places in the world.

The trio will interview eyewitnesses and historians at each location, arming themselves with the stories of the ghosts they will later provoke and confront during their dusk-to-dawn lockdowns. (Note: They don't always come out unscathed!) Then they'll review and analyze their findings with some the most respected experts and specialists in the paranormal field.

Naked and Afraid: Uncensored
Running

Naked and Afraid: Uncensored

Each week on Naked and Afraid: Uncensored, a new pair of total strangers are faced with the ultimate survival challenge: survive for 21 days together with no clothes or supplies in some of the most dangerous environments in the world. In addition to the landscape itself working against the duo, the local wildlife stalks looks to prey on them as well. Of course, the biggest complication for any of the couples might end up being their own clashing egos. This "uncensored" variation includes never-before-seen footage.