The Drink That Boosted Nazi Morale

Fanta was also the favorite of German youth, and Hitler Youth leader Arthur Axman said, If you wanted to get hundreds of boys to a Hitler Youth rally on a weekend, just tell them there was Fanta, and they came, whether they really wanted to or not. Fanta was also very popular with the military because beer was not easy to get in a combat zone. Luftwaffe pilots and crews, sailors as well as soldiers as far as Russia and Ukraine As stated by U-boat commander Erich Topp, Waffen-SS artillery colonel Gustav Merz recalled, But then the replacement soldiers walked over carrying these cases that turned out to be Fanta drinks. So much for the extra ammunition, but we did get it later. My soldiers were happy as could be. Hermann Goering was also a fan of the drink and he wanted his Luftwaffe men to be regularly supplied, as stated by fighter ace and combat leader colonel, later lieutenant general Hannes I had a strict order that if we had alcohol such as beer or wine that no pilot could drink any if they were to fly the next day. This was not welcome news, but the Fanta when it arrived raised their spirits, which was better than drinking spirits, if you know what I mean. Due to its popularity, Fanta was one of the very few production luxuries that was exempt from wartime rationing in Germany. Lieutenant General Hans Bauer, Hitler's personal pilot, was also a fan and he said the following,