The article was first published by Toutiao
The statements in this article are based on reliable sources and have been summarized at the end of the article
When it comes to World War II, most of the images that come to mind are fierce battle scenes and tragic casualty figures, but you may not expect them.
What soldiers of all countries crave most is not a bullet or a can, but a small cigarette! That's right, cigarettes were a "strategic commodity" in World War II!
American
If you want to say that the most spacious army during World War II, it is none other than the US military, and the treatment of seven packs of cigarettes a week is almost one pack of cigarettes a day. This extravagant ration was unique at the time, and soldiers from other countries probably woke up laughing in their dreams.
The U.S. military's cigarette varieties are also varied, such as good luck brands and Marlboros. The Good Luck card is a special supply for the military, and it is distributed along with the field rations, and the soft taste of the front-line soldiers can't put it down.
These cigarettes also became "hard currency" in the barracks. In the mood for coffee, Coke or ice cream?
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No problem, just get a few unfinished cigarettes in exchange!
The U.S. military's supply of cigarettes is so abundant, not only because of United States's strong economic power, but also because the military understands the importance of cigarettes to soldiers' morale.
Between long waits and tense battles, a cigarette can often help soldiers temporarily forget the cruelty of war and find a trace of peace.
It seems like a small comfort, but it has an irreplaceable role on the battlefield. Look at Germany, Germany was still smoking ban before World War II, but as soon as the war started, it couldn't take care of it.
However, compared with the generosity of the American army, the German army is much shabby.
Six cigarettes a day, the German soldiers were afraid to smoke carefully. The Germans also had a lot of cigarette varieties, such as Tabak, Bluebird, etc., but most of them were not produced by themselves.
Later, tobacco could only be imported from North Africa and Turkey, and the taste was so strong that the US military called it "horse manure brand". I guess even horses don't want to smell this smell.
The German military wanted soldiers to enjoy smoking without relying too much on it.
The German army's cigarette ration was often enjoyed by senior officers, while ordinary soldiers were content with basic rations.
Soviet Army
If you want to say the worst, you have to count the Soviet soldiers, the Soviet Union, which was short of supplies, couldn't even make decent cigarettes, so they could only send some tobacco leaves for the soldiers to roll themselves.
Don't have cigarette paper? It doesn't matter, Pravda is the best alternative!
A group of GIs crouched in the trenches, watching the battle in the newspaper while rolling cigarettes with the same newspaper. Some Soviet soldiers lamented: "Germany cigarettes are easy to smoke, unlike ours, they are all ink."
This practice of using newspapers to roll cigarettes also plays a role in disseminating information to a certain extent. Before rolling a cigarette, the soldiers could not resist but glance at the contents of the newspaper.
This is perhaps the most unique way to disseminate news in the history of warfare. Let's talk about ourselves. During the Anti-Japanese War, the supply of cigarettes in the Chinese army was varied.
From the pre-war fairy card and Hademen to the wartime captured Japan Asahi and Pengyi, and then to the real smoke-free local materials to roll yourself.
The New Fourth Army also opened a cigarette factory, and the Pegasus brand cigarettes produced were not only supplied internally, but also sold well in enemy-occupied areas. The coexistence of domestic, imported, and seized cigarettes undoubtedly shows the reality of the scarcity of materials in wartime.
The New Fourth Army's practice of opening tobacco factories shows the entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen of the Chinese people under difficult conditions.
It is worth mentioning that cigarettes are not only a tool for comforting the body and mind in the Chinese military, but also a link between the military and the people.
Why do countries pay so much attention to giving smoke to soldiers? Cigarettes are more than just a boredom relief on the battlefield. It keeps soldiers excited, relieves fatigue, and even dispels fear.
The nicotine in the smoke can also stop bleeding, which is simply a must-have medicine for battlefield first aid. These "magical" effects of cigarettes explain why the military of various countries places so much emphasis on the supply of cigarettes.
On the battlefield, anything that boosts morale and relieves stress is precious. Cigarettes meet these needs and are therefore an indispensable strategic commodity.
In many war films, we often see scenes of wounded or scared soldiers lighting a cigarette.
It's not for the sake of being handsome, cigarettes can really soothe their emotions in an instant and give them the courage to continue fighting. After the war, cigarettes even became an alternative currency in some places.
In Germany, a pack of cigarettes can win the favor of a few German girls, and 115 cigarettes can repair a tall building. It was not until the release of the new Germany Mark in 1950 that cigarettes changed from "hard currency" back to ordinary consumer goods.
Smoking is harmful to health. We are talking about history today, not to encourage everyone to learn from the smoking addiction of these veterans. After all, in times of peace, we have more and better ways to relax, don't we?
After reading this article, do you have a new understanding of the cigarette culture during World War II? I didn't expect a small cigarette to play such an important role in the war.
Is there anything else that can replace the role of cigarettes in modern warfare? Maybe it's an energy drink, maybe it's a smartphone, or maybe it's something new that we can't even imagine right now.
In any case, human beings can always find solace in difficult circumstances, and lighting a cigarette seems to be able to dispel the fear and anxiety on the battlefield in an instant, giving people a short period of solace.
In the trenches, soldiers sit together, puffing in smoke, chatting about their hometowns and sharing their hopes for the future.
Cigarettes are also seen as a tool for rewards and morale. After completing an important mission or achieving a victory, commanders often reward their troops with cigarettes.
This is not only an affirmation of the soldiers' dedication, but also an incentive for them to continue to fight bravely. In the extremes of war, smoking is often much higher than usual, increasing the risk of nicotine addiction.
Long-term heavy smoking may lead to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, etc., affecting the physical fitness and combat ability of soldiers.
The smoky environment on the battlefield also increases the chance of lung infections. Despite all its negative effects, cigarettes still play an important role in warfare.
However, nowadays, we are living in an era of peace, and smoking is harmful to our health and has also brought trouble to the people around us.
Sources of information:
Anti-smoking campaign in Nazi Germany Smoking ban in Germany during the anti-smoking campaign in Nazi Germany
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