Pervitin - The Wehrmacht on Speed

This documentary explores one of the darker chapters in the history of experimental medicine. Its topic is a secret weapon of Hitler's military programme, a "magic pill" called pervitin which was to allow soldiers to achieve higher levels of physical prowess and resistance to extreme stress levels during combat. The informative value of this film stems from the less well known, and sometimes even taboo, facts, which oscillate on a scale from bizarre, through shocking, to darkly chilling. A balanced ratio of archival materials, photogenic illustrative shots and suggestive musical score forms vivid and gripping film narration. Comments by medical historians, pharmacists and a concentration camp survivor are featured in the documentary. It steers clear of sentimental or judgemental attitudes. Instead, it induces a stifling atmosphere and the resolve to uncover a great taboo of German military history. (Academia Film Olomouc)