Fanta and Fascism: How Nazi Germany Invented Your Favorite Orange Soda: and Other Bizarre True Stories From the Hidden History of Everyday Things

What if the bubbly orange drink you sip on a hot summer day was born from the desperation of Nazi Germany’s wartime economy? Fanta and Fascism reveals the shocking, untold origins of Fanta—a soft drink created by Coca-Cola’s German bottling operation when trade embargoes cut off syrup supplies during World War II. Using leftover fruit scraps and whey, a resourceful chemist kept the business alive under Hitler’s regime, creating a beverage that would eventually become a global phenomenon. But this story is just the beginning.From the accidental invention of everyday products to the strange twists of fate that shaped the items we take for granted, this book uncovers the peculiar, dramatic, and often morally complex histories hiding in plain sight. Each chapter explores a real historical moment where necessity, ambition, greed, or sheer coincidence led to something entirely unexpected—inventions, cultural phenomena, and consumer products that changed the world in ways their creators never imagined.Perfect for history lovers, trivia enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the hidden stories behind modern life, Fanta and Fascism transforms the mundane into the extraordinary, proving that truth is not only stranger than fiction—it’s far more compelling.