The First World War - Page 29

**deepsepia** · June 7th, 2012, 04:48 PM

Two more bizarre anti-German measures of WWI in the US

"German Shephards" became "Alsatians"

The city of Syracuse, NY banned the playing of pinochle (a card game, popular with Germans)

The silliness of this aside, one thing that comes to mind about WW I attitudes compared with WWII is that the American populace was encouraged to be chauvinistically anti-German. In WWII, the message from the top was very clear -- Germans and Italians weren't our enemies, the Nazis and the Fascists were.

Only in the case of Japan was their hostility directed at the nation and its nationals per se.

Because WWI has faded so far in American popular culture, we have a hard time remembering that it was a moral crusade for Americans to better the corruption of the old world, and domestically it was an incitement to ethnic chauvinism and discrimination.

**palo5** · June 7th, 2012, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepsepia

Two more bizarre anti-German measures of WWI in the US

"German Shephards" became "Alsatians"...

You should watch "Die Elsässer" (4 parts)

A well-made presentation

**blueballsdc** · June 7th, 2012, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepsepia

Two more bizarre anti-German measures of WWI in the US

"German Shephards" became "Alsatians"

The American Kennel Club changed the name from German Shepherd Dog to just Shepherd Dog. The German Shepherd Dog Club of America also dropped the German from its name and became just the Shepherd Dog Club of America.

It was the UK Kennel Club that officially changed the name to Alsatian Wolf Dog which it remained until 1977. The wolf dog part was eventually dropped.

There were a lot of anti-German sentiments in the US which is a little surprising considering the number of German immigrants this country had. Cities changed names of streets that were German or "German sounding" and a lot of people changed their names for the same reason (including some of my relatives).

Some people even changed the names of food items that were too German.

**palo5** · June 7th, 2012, 07:10 PM

...can be found here

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115094/

It is good, whatever side you favor

**deepsepia** · June 7th, 2012, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueballsdc

There were a lot of anti-German sentiments in the US which is a little surprising considering the number of German immigrants this country had. Cities changed names of streets that were German or "German sounding" and a lot of people changed their names for the same reason (including some of my relatives).

Some people even changed the names of food items that were too German.

My great-grandmother was from Wisconsin -- German was her first language. She was in grade school, when German was expunged.

One idea that I've had is that the anti-German sentiment was partly an echo not-then-so-old Civil War resentments -- ethnic Germans were more concentrated in free States and associated with the Union. Britain was, by contrast, much more closely linked to the Confederacy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Approximately 516,000 (23.4% of all Union soldiers) were immigrants; about 216,000 of these were born in Germany. New York supplied the largest number of these native-born Germans with 36,000. Behind the Empire State came Missouri with 30,000 and Ohio with 20,000.

**scoundrel** · June 7th, 2012, 07:44 PM

In his book Voyage to Desolation Island, Jean-Pierre Kauffman relates how an inlet on the coast of Grand Isle, the largest of 300 islands which make up the Kerguelen archipelago (aka 'The Desolation Islands') is called Bras Baudissin. There is also a Baudissin Glacier on Heard Island, an even bleaker rock somewhere in the Antarctic Ocean, south and east of the Kerguelins, which are situated in the roaring forties, bottom of the Indian Ocean but not quite down in the Antarctic.

A lot of islands, lakes, hills etc on the Kergulens and on Heard Island collected German names from members of the German Antarctic Expedition of 1901 to 1903. Come the First World War, the French authorities went through their rudimentary maps, many of them created by the German Antarctic Expedition, and sedulously re-named everywhere they saw labelled with a German name; but it seems that Admiral Count Friedrich von Baudissin of the Imperial German Navy was of French Huegenot ancestry and his name slipped past the censors.

**haroldeye** · June 8th, 2012, 06:39 AM

The Germans cleansed their language in 1914. Telefon sounded far too French and became for a time 'Fernsprecher' or far speaker.

Still today in France you will get a very nasty look if you ask for Vichy water.

**Ennath** · June 8th, 2012, 12:05 PM

June 8, 1915
Western Front The French inch forward in the “Labyrinth”.
United States William Jennings Bryan resigns as Secretary of State. A pacifist, he objects to what he considers as a confrontational tone in Wilson’s protest notes to Germany following the Lusitania incident. Bryan believes that Americans have no moral right to endanger their nation’s peaceful stance by becoming passengers on ships operated by belligerent nations known to be transporting munitions. Robert Lansing succeeds him.

June 8, 1916
Western Front, Verdun At dawn, Nivelle, assuming that Vaux still holds out, sends a Moroccan brigade in a relief attempt. The Germans simultaneously launch an attack toward Fort Tavannes. Their artillery savages the Moroccans – the survivors retreat. Petain, appalled by the carnage in what he terms “the furnace of Verdun”, orders Nivelle to terminate the attacks. The French abandon their positions at the Thiaumont Farm during the night.
Eastern Front The Russians repulse attacks in the Vilna district. Brusilov’s troops take Buczacz in heavy fighting.
Italian Front Cadorna has sent troops forward to positions near Bassano and Valarsa, while shifting his headquarters to Treviso. His troops hold fast on Monte Cegnio and stymie the Austrians at Monte Meletta and Monte Lemerle.
Central Powers Diplomacy Conrad visits Falkenhayn to seek German help against the Brusilov offensive. Concerned that the Russian success threatens to destroy his chances for victory on the Western Front, Falkenhayn compels Conrad to redeploy two divisions from the Trentino and insists that he abandon the Trentino offensive. Conrad is offended at the Germans’ haughtiness.
German East Africa Following a skirmish with Lt. Col. Murray’s column, the Germans escape from Bismarckburg during the night. At the north end of Lake Tanganyika, a Belgian force occupies Usumbura. The Congo Force Publique, numbering 10,000 men under Baron Charles Henri Tombeur, has joined forces with British troops in the western region under South African Charles Crewe. Their goal is the conquest of the German colony of Urundi, but as the two commanders despise each other, the joint venture is strained by lack of communication and Belgian fears of suspected British territorial ambitions.

June 8, 1917
Western Front German counterattacks at Messines ridge fail. There are major British raids near Lens.
France The government confers upon General Petain the right to execute rebellious soldiers immediately. Widely liked and admired by the soldiers, Petain assumes the task of resolving the causes of the mutinies and placating the rebellious troops throughout the French army. Although arrests and courts-martial continue in order to enforce discipline, Petain halts all major offensive actions and makes a sincere effort to improve the troops’ living conditions, including provision of better food and quarters, consistent leave policies, and uninterrupted periods of rest and relaxation. The two Russian brigades that fought at the Aisne, where they suffered 6000 casualties, have also become rebellious – one brigade maintains loyalty to the Provisional Government; the other adopts Bolshevik precepts – and is sent into quarantine at La Courtine, in mid France.
Britain Pershing and his staff arrive at Liverpool and, following welcoming ceremonies, board the train for London, where the American commander and his staff will meet with Lloyd George, Smuts, Robertson, Jellicoe, Sims, Churchill, and other officials.
Italian Front The 10th Isonzo offensive comes to an end. Gains have been small and losses huge. The Italians have lost 158,000 men, the Austrians 83,000. Italian morale is sinking as Cadorna plans one more effort on the Carso, to be launched in August. The Austrians, too, are feeling the strain.
GreeceItalian troops occupy Jannina.

June 8, 1918
Western Front To protect the right flank of the Aisne salient, Ludendorff has ordered an offensive by Hutier’s 18th Army beginning on June 7, intended to push forward to a line six miles beyond the Matz River. Difficulties in assembling troops and artillery have forced Hutier to postpone the attack until today. His primary opponent is Georges Humbert’s French 3rd Army, but confronting Hutier’s left is the 10th Army of Charles Mangin. German deserters have informed the French that the German offensive will begin at midnight with an artillery barrage, so Humbert unleashes his artillery at 11:50 PM.
Russia The Soviet government orders Allied troops in the Murmansk region to leave the country. The Czech Legion captures Samara.
Arabia Arabs raid the Hejaz Railway at Toweira.
Caucasus German troops land at Poti.
Diplomatic Relations Georgia and Armenia sign peace treaties with Germany and Turkey.

**tygrkhat40** · June 8th, 2012, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueballsdc

Some people even changed the names of food items that were too German.

Like "french fries" being renamed "freedom fries" after 9/11, "sauerkraut" became "liberty cabbage."

Here in Buffalo, the German-American Bank renamed itself Liberty Bank.

**palo5** · June 8th, 2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haroldeye

The Germans cleansed their language in 1914. Telefon sounded far too French and became for a time 'Fernsprecher' or far speaker

Or 'Fernsprechapparat'. Of course, I think 'Apparate' are very good, and recommended for all men. Believe me, we love them. Where would Pam Anderson be without our love for Apparate?

June 7th, 2012, 07:10 PM	#284
palo5 Former Staff Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 16,579 Thanks: 452,836 Thanked 222,658 Times in 16,567 Posts	Les alsaciens (1996)... ...can be found here http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115094/ It is good, whatever side you favor

June 7th, 2012, 07:44 PM	#286
scoundrel Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: England Posts: 26,237 Thanks: 162,389 Thanked 278,449 Times in 26,182 Posts	In his book Voyage to Desolation Island, Jean-Pierre Kauffman relates how an inlet on the coast of Grand Isle, the largest of 300 islands which make up the Kerguelen archipelago (aka 'The Desolation Islands') is called Bras Baudissin. There is also a Baudissin Glacier on Heard Island, an even bleaker rock somewhere in the Antarctic Ocean, south and east of the Kerguelins, which are situated in the roaring forties, bottom of the Indian Ocean but not quite down in the Antarctic. A lot of islands, lakes, hills etc on the Kergulens and on Heard Island collected German names from members of the German Antarctic Expedition of 1901 to 1903. Come the First World War, the French authorities went through their rudimentary maps, many of them created by the German Antarctic Expedition, and sedulously re-named everywhere they saw labelled with a German name; but it seems that Admiral Count Friedrich von Baudissin of the Imperial German Navy was of French Huegenot ancestry and his name slipped past the censors. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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June 7th, 2012, 04:48 PM	#281
deepsepia Moderator Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Upper left corner Posts: 7,205 Thanks: 47,956 Thanked 83,440 Times in 7,199 Posts	Two more bizarre anti-German measures of WWI in the US "German Shephards" became "Alsatians" The city of Syracuse, NY banned the playing of pinochle (a card game, popular with Germans) The silliness of this aside, one thing that comes to mind about WW I attitudes compared with WWII is that the American populace was encouraged to be chauvinistically anti-German. In WWII, the message from the top was very clear -- Germans and Italians weren't our enemies, the Nazis and the Fascists were. Only in the case of Japan was their hostility directed at the nation and its nationals per se. Because WWI has faded so far in American popular culture, we have a hard time remembering that it was a moral crusade for Americans to better the corruption of the old world, and domestically it was an incitement to ethnic chauvinism and discrimination.

June 8th, 2012, 06:39 AM	#287
haroldeye Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Halfwitistan Posts: 5,715 Thanks: 113,493 Thanked 59,962 Times in 5,707 Posts	The Germans cleansed their language in 1914. Telefon sounded far too French and became for a time 'Fernsprecher' or far speaker. Still today in France you will get a very nasty look if you ask for Vichy water.

June 8th, 2012, 12:05 PM	#288
Ennath Vintage Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 6,814 Thanks: 26,898 Thanked 80,768 Times in 6,813 Posts	June 8, 1915 Western Front The French inch forward in the “Labyrinth”. United States William Jennings Bryan resigns as Secretary of State. A pacifist, he objects to what he considers as a confrontational tone in Wilson’s protest notes to Germany following the Lusitania incident. Bryan believes that Americans have no moral right to endanger their nation’s peaceful stance by becoming passengers on ships operated by belligerent nations known to be transporting munitions. Robert Lansing succeeds him. June 8, 1916 Western Front, Verdun At dawn, Nivelle, assuming that Vaux still holds out, sends a Moroccan brigade in a relief attempt. The Germans simultaneously launch an attack toward Fort Tavannes. Their artillery savages the Moroccans – the survivors retreat. Petain, appalled by the carnage in what he terms “the furnace of Verdun”, orders Nivelle to terminate the attacks. The French abandon their positions at the Thiaumont Farm during the night. Eastern Front The Russians repulse attacks in the Vilna district. Brusilov’s troops take Buczacz in heavy fighting. Italian Front Cadorna has sent troops forward to positions near Bassano and Valarsa, while shifting his headquarters to Treviso. His troops hold fast on Monte Cegnio and stymie the Austrians at Monte Meletta and Monte Lemerle. Central Powers Diplomacy Conrad visits Falkenhayn to seek German help against the Brusilov offensive. Concerned that the Russian success threatens to destroy his chances for victory on the Western Front, Falkenhayn compels Conrad to redeploy two divisions from the Trentino and insists that he abandon the Trentino offensive. Conrad is offended at the Germans’ haughtiness. German East Africa Following a skirmish with Lt. Col. Murray’s column, the Germans escape from Bismarckburg during the night. At the north end of Lake Tanganyika, a Belgian force occupies Usumbura. The Congo Force Publique, numbering 10,000 men under Baron Charles Henri Tombeur, has joined forces with British troops in the western region under South African Charles Crewe. Their goal is the conquest of the German colony of Urundi, but as the two commanders despise each other, the joint venture is strained by lack of communication and Belgian fears of suspected British territorial ambitions. June 8, 1917 Western Front German counterattacks at Messines ridge fail. There are major British raids near Lens. France The government confers upon General Petain the right to execute rebellious soldiers immediately. Widely liked and admired by the soldiers, Petain assumes the task of resolving the causes of the mutinies and placating the rebellious troops throughout the French army. Although arrests and courts-martial continue in order to enforce discipline, Petain halts all major offensive actions and makes a sincere effort to improve the troops’ living conditions, including provision of better food and quarters, consistent leave policies, and uninterrupted periods of rest and relaxation. The two Russian brigades that fought at the Aisne, where they suffered 6000 casualties, have also become rebellious – one brigade maintains loyalty to the Provisional Government; the other adopts Bolshevik precepts – and is sent into quarantine at La Courtine, in mid France. Britain Pershing and his staff arrive at Liverpool and, following welcoming ceremonies, board the train for London, where the American commander and his staff will meet with Lloyd George, Smuts, Robertson, Jellicoe, Sims, Churchill, and other officials. Italian Front The 10th Isonzo offensive comes to an end. Gains have been small and losses huge. The Italians have lost 158,000 men, the Austrians 83,000. Italian morale is sinking as Cadorna plans one more effort on the Carso, to be launched in August. The Austrians, too, are feeling the strain. GreeceItalian troops occupy Jannina. June 8, 1918 Western Front To protect the right flank of the Aisne salient, Ludendorff has ordered an offensive by Hutier’s 18th Army beginning on June 7, intended to push forward to a line six miles beyond the Matz River. Difficulties in assembling troops and artillery have forced Hutier to postpone the attack until today. His primary opponent is Georges Humbert’s French 3rd Army, but confronting Hutier’s left is the 10th Army of Charles Mangin. German deserters have informed the French that the German offensive will begin at midnight with an artillery barrage, so Humbert unleashes his artillery at 11:50 PM. Russia The Soviet government orders Allied troops in the Murmansk region to leave the country. The Czech Legion captures Samara. Arabia Arabs raid the Hejaz Railway at Toweira. Caucasus German troops land at Poti. Diplomatic Relations Georgia and Armenia sign peace treaties with Germany and Turkey.