I think I know most of the nicknames the Allies gave to their enemies [including "Teds" for Germans in Italy.] Question is what about everyone else? For example; What did the Soviets call the Germans? Did the Germans really call Soviet soldiers "Ivan" ? What did the Italians call the British? Surely not "Tommy" all the time? What did the Japanese call their opponents? If you can think of anymore please add.
'Popov's' seems to be quite common for the German's in the east to refer to the enemy. Always read in translation though so I'm never sure if it's authentic.
The german soldiers called the Soviets "Ivan" almost all the time ,and the Soviets and most of East Europe calls the germans "fricove" (fritz) even today we call them that way. I balive that anyone told the brits "tommys" even the Italians. VP: I never heared that the Germans called the Russians Popov's ,they called them Ivan because every secound Russian's name is Ivan The same is in Bulgaria by the way.
I should think the greater majority are unprintable. Note to several of the boys here: don't even think about posting them.
Hi Owen Once the Italian site "a Trieste" is back on line, I will get the "official" Italian nickname for the various forces, including the British ron
Dutch speakers refer to Germans as "Moffen" I don't know anything about the etymology or if it dates from the Kaiser war or the second. The French, of course, used Boche. Wasn't there a scene in "Battle of Britain" where the kentish farmer mistook a Polish pilot and used that term whilst questioning his parentage ?
I should think the greater majority are unprintable. Note to several of the boys here: don't even think about posting them. Which ones are you talking about?
Dutch speakers refer to Germans as "Moffen" I don't know anything about the etymology or if it dates from the Kaiser war or the second. The French, of course, used Boche. Wasn't there a scene in "Battle of Britain" where the kentish farmer mistook a Polish pilot and used that term whilst questioning his parentage ? Sure was, "good afternoon my arse you bosch bastard, put your hands up, come on, put em up"
Owen et al As promised, I have been to "a Trieste" and asked my Italian friends for their nicknames. I show their replies below: 1. From REFOLO HI! Ron, I can help you with few................... Italians called the English= "poms" sometime George because of your the King The Italians called the Americans always "JOE". The French called the Germans Craut The Italians called the Germans "GNOCCHI", because they used to eat a lots of potatoes, which gnocchi is made out of it. The Americans called the Germans ""SAUERKRAUT"" The Germans used to call us Flac.......Kartoffel, macaroni ( the first word I will tell you privately). The Germans called the Russian " Ivan's" The Japanese something to do with Rosie ( the famous radio-announcer) sorry I can't tell you the first word, I will check with my old man. Maria aka refolo 2. From MACONDO The only ones I recall were: GNOCHI=GERMANS CRUCHI=GERMANS(?) By the way, gnocchi are kind of dumplings very popular in Italy. Don't know the ethimology of CRUCHI.... 3. From BABATRIESTINA I have always heard The crucchi as the Germans, the French called them les fritz ( from the name Frederick from Frederick The Great, or Les Boches Any more from this end ?
Hi Ron, how are you, Long time since i last saw you on the BBC peoples war, do you still keep in contact with trooper Tom Canning, Peter and the rest of the others? Kind Regards James
Ron, surprised to read Italians called us "poms" not just the Aussies & Kiwis calling us that then? I know Canadians & Americans called Germans "Heine" as well. That made be laugh in Hannover once when I saw that on some ones front door. I asked egbert on GWF what Germans names his relatives used. My grandfather wrote only the "Englaender", WW2 "Tommies", later and today also "Limeys" russian:"Iwan"
Owen With ref to: "Ron, surprised to read Italians called us "poms" not just the Aussies & Kiwis calling us that then?" Maria lives in Australia, therefore she is speaking as an Australian !!! there are more bits & pieces accumilating on the "a Trieste" site.....when they have built up, I will post a few more on this site.
Owen With ref to: "Ron, surprised to read Italians called us "poms" not just the Aussies & Kiwis calling us that then?" Maria lives in Australia, therefore she is speaking as an Australian !!! Doh!
Just been looking at the list on wiki: Offensive terms per nationality - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Most are unrepeatable (and some from the war are well known anyway) but I found these interesting: Septic/seppo – British, New Zealand, and Australian term for Americans (rhyming slang for septic tank = Yank.) Originated from WWII (U.S. people were said to be "full of shit") Sakemanni In Finland, presumably after the Finnish name for Germany (Saksa), which is derived from the German region Sachsen (Saxony). This term was particularly popular immediately after the Winter War. During the Winter War, the Finnish had many offensive terms for Russians, or other people from the Soviet Union. These included iivana (from the Russian name Ivan), iippo, vanja (from the Russian name Vanya), toveri ("comrade"), suippolakki ("pointed cap", from the Soviet military uniforms), leipämaan veikko ("fellow from the bread country") and others. Most fell into disuse soon after the war.
The Poles very often called the Germans "schvaby" (singular=schvab), from the Schwabia - one of the German provinces. God knows why we chose this one.
I'm sure that I've come across references to the Germans referring to Russians as "Musiks". I'm pretty sure there's a reference to this in "Forgotten Soldier" by Guy Sajer but I've not got my copy to hand.
It's me again, reporting from the "a Trieste" site. There has been quite a flurry of postings as members come up with their own memories and one member has kindly gone to his dictionary and provided the following: Cruccopop spreg)tedesco (estens) stupido ||Nome dato dai soldati italiani a quelli tedeschi durante la seconda guerra mondiale; all'orig. era appellativo dato agli slavi, derivato dalla voce serbo-croata kruh "pane" Crucco (popular pejorative) German , ext. stupid || Name given by Italian soldiers to the Germans during II W War; at the beginning it was given to the Slavs, from the Serbian Croat word kruh- bread Cruccopop spreg)tedesco (estens) stupido ||Nome dato dai soldati italiani a quelli tedeschi durante la seconda guerra mondiale; all'orig. era appellativo dato agli slavi, derivato dalla voce serbo-croata kruh "pane" Crucco (popular pejorative) German , ext. stupid || Name given by Italian soldiers to the Germans during II W War; at the beginning it was given to the Slavs, from the Serbian Croat word kruh- bread
I'm sure that I've come across references to the Germans referring to Russians as "Musiks". I'm pretty sure there's a reference to this in "Forgotten Soldier" by Guy Sajer but I've not got my copy to hand. Do you mean Muski's as in Muskovites?
I'm sure that I've come across references to the Germans referring to Russians as "Musiks". I'm pretty sure there's a reference to this in "Forgotten Soldier" by Guy Sajer but I've not got my copy to hand. The main reason I was hesitant about 'popov' is because it features largely in my copy of Forgotten soldier. Regardless of translation possibly changing the actual words used, it appears Sajer's book can't be regarded as a historical document (still love it though). I suppose regardless of it's truth or not he would still use the right terminology in original language editions. French or German for 1st edition?
Dutch speakers refer to Germans as "Moffen" I don't know anything about the etymology or if it dates from the Kaiser war or the second. The French, of course, used Boche. Wasn't there a scene in "Battle of Britain" where the kentish farmer mistook a Polish pilot and used that term whilst questioning his parentage ? There was such a scene. However boche was used by the British during WW1 for the Germans as well. Germans called the Italains Macaronis after the pasta.
