M&M’s were invented in 1941, right as the United States entered World War II — and they weren’t made for candy aisles. They were made for soldiers. Forrest Mars Sr. wanted a chocolate treat that wouldn’t melt in hot climates, so he created a candy shell that protected the chocolate inside. The idea came from watching soldiers eat similar hard-coated chocolate pellets during the Spanish Civil War. During World War II, M&M’s were sold exclusively to the U.S. military and became a regular part of s

M&M’s: From Battlefield to Space