10 Disturbing History Facts They Don't Teach You In School

When you think of the largest militaries during the cold-war era, your mind probably wanders towards countries such as the US, USSR, UK, and other NATO countries. However, what you probably wouldn’t expect is that just short of the top five world powers would be a soft drinks company.

In 1959, citizens of the Soviet Union were introduced to the refreshing taste of Pepsi during the American National Exhibition in Moscow. Years later, these citizens that were tired of pining over their beloved beverage made a deal with Pepsi to supply their country in exchange for that classic product of the Soviet countries, vodka, as their currency wasn’t accepted worldwide.

However, by the late 1980s this contract was up for renewal and vodka just wasn’t cutting it anymore, with the US not wanting Russian products in their markets. Desperate for Pepsi, the USSR made a new deal. In exchange for supplying the country with Pepsi, the collapsing USSR gave 17 submarines, a cruiser, a frigate, and a destroyer in return. This was such a strange deal that it was even joked that Pepsi was disarming the USSR faster than anyone had managed before.

Instead of keeping this navy, the 6th largest in the world at the time, Pepsi sold them for scrap, investing the money back into the company.