Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi has been a long-debated topic for many, but what most people don’t know is how these companies adapt during times of war and how Fanta was created for Nazi Germany during WWII. In the 1920s, Coca-Cola expanded its business to Europe, opening its first bottling plant in France in 1920. Eventually, they started to sell and bottle the drinks in Germany by 1929. By 1933, Max Kieth had taken control of the division of Coca-Cola in Germany.
Kieth was exceptionally loyal to the company, rather than to his home country of Germany. During the time Kieth had taken control, the Nazi Party was gaining power in Germany. Because of his loyalty, he had no problem affiliating Coca-Cola with the Nazis if it meant greater sales of their product. The CEO of Coca-Cola who led the company in America, Robert Woodruff, had no issues either with them being associated with Nazis at the time. He even attended the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, where the Coca-Cola logo was alongside the swastika on banners. Don’t worry though because the American side of the business decided to support America in the war later on. They did this by selling them for 5 cents each and ensuring that Coca-Cola would be able to get to combat zones for the American troops.
Even when Hitler invaded Europe, it didn’t affect the company at all. The American part of the company still supported the part in Germany by supplying them with syrup and supplies. In fact, the German division of Coca-Cola actually benefited from Hitler invading Europe. When Germany conquered other countries like Italy or France, Kieth would take over the Coca-Cola businesses in those countries. There is even a rumor that Hitler himself enjoyed Coca-Cola and would even drink it while watching American movies. Coca-Cola had still been getting support from its counterpart in America until December 7, 1941. The Attack on Pearl Harbor.
When the United States retaliated and joined the Allies in WWII because of the attack on Pearl Harbor, an embargo was set in place for Germany. Trade was completely stopped with Germany, so the German subsidiary of Coca-Cola would no longer get supplies to make their soda. German government threatened to take over because the company was an American-owned business. With this and the inability to make Coke anymore, Kieth had no choice but to create a new beverage.
Kieth decided to work with chemists to create a soda with the readily available supplies given to them. Keep in mind that they were very limited because of war rationing. They decided that their new drink would be made from the leftovers of other parts of the food industry. They used beet sugar, apple pulp and fibers, fruit shavings, and remaining milk from cheese production to make a new soda called Fanta, or fantasy in German. Fanta then became the drink of choice for the country because other choices of drinks were becoming less common because of the rationing. It became so popular that became exempt from the wartime rationing. Fanta was also a popular sweetener for, weirdly enough, soups and other cooking/baking needs because of the exemption of rationing. After the war was over, in 1955, Coca-Cola decided to make a new recipe for Fanta, making it orange-flavored, and selling it in Italy. In time, Coca-Cola started to sell Fanta in the United States in 1958.
Now with Coca-Cola having ties with Nazi Germany, it may make you wonder about what atrocities Pepsi committed during WWII. Did they make a monopoly to dominate the soda industry in the Soviet Union? Did they have ties to the Japanese? Well, the answer is pretty simple, they chose to stay in America and become patriots to support the war. Pepsi decided to change its logo and labels to red, white, and blue like the colors of the American flag. All in all, Fanta was a drink made by Coca-Cola out of desperation to stay afloat in Germany because of food rationing that came from WWII.
Sources:
https://samilhistory.com/2023/04/24/the-real-cola-wars/
https://www.tidridge.com/uploads/3/8/4/1/3841927/fanta.pdf
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/fanta-soda-origins-nazi-germany
Questions:
What is your favorite soda?
Did you know that Fanta was made for Germany in WWII?
Do you think that buying Fanta is okay to do today?
Replies
My favorite pop would be Dr. Pepper even though I stopped drinking pop because I think it is very good and has a nice taste to it. I didn't know that Fanta was made for Germany during WWII. I think that buying Fanta is perfectly fine because it is just pop that most kids drink and they like it a lot so why ruin it for the kids.
My favorite soda is probably sprite but I don't drink alot of soda. I don't really see a problem with buying fanta from stores in todays time. I did not know that fanta was made for germany in WWII.
bump
So we should support Pepsi! Loved this topic! Super job!
My personal favorite soda would probably have to be sprite, but I do not like most sodas. I personally do not think that there is a problem with buying fanta from a store in todays world. And I did not know that fanta was produced for Germany during the World War 2.
I did not know that Fanta was made in Germany during WWII, however, even with this understanding, I believe it is fine to buy it today. Overall, I see no reason to not buy Fanta today. It is likely that anyone who contributed to creating Fanta is deceased because of the time between WWII and now.
My favorite soda would probably be root beer because I like the way it taste the most. I do not really see any problem with buying fanta from stores. I did not know that Fanta was made for Germany in WWll.
My favorite soda would have to be Dr. Pepper because it has the best flavor. Fanta is probably the most common soda you could find at like a birthday party. I would still buy this knowing it came from Germany because there is still great flavor and nothing has changed.
My favorite soda would have yo be dr. Pepper because it is has the best flavor in my opinion. I don't see a problem in buying Fanta because I buy quite often for my siblings. I didn't know Fanta originally came from Germany and I thought Fanta was made in the 90s not made during world War 2.
I feel that many people assume that Fanta wasn't made during WWII because it isn't a well-known fact why Fanta was made.
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