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. there was a a character in the goons called heine after his use of the word!
An afterthought..... I went back to my diaries and spotted this entry: BBC - WW2 People's War - The Day I Should Have Died: 4th Queen's Own Hussars in Italy Note that I say "watched an eytie squad burying tedeschi dead" The use of such words over sixty years ago was completely natural to me at the time and I could never have dreamt that I would be writing about it at some future date
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 Regardless of translation possibly changing the actual words used, it appears Sajer's book can't be regarded as a historical document (still love it though).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? The Forgotten Soldier
The German soldiers called the Russians 'Ivan' and the Russians referred to the Germans as 'Fritz', the Americans (and British?) called the Germans 'Jerry' and the Brits (and probably others) called the Americans 'Yanks.' These are some of the most obvious nicknames given by the fighting men to soldiers of different nations. I'm sure there were many more - did the Germans have a nickname for the Italians; what did the Russians call the British and the Americans; what did the Japanese call the Russians, and so on, and so on?
A few more common ones... Germans = Fritz's, Jerry's, Heinies, Teds, British = Limeys, Tommies, Americans = yanks, GI's, Dog-faces, Sammies (too old???), and I'm sure that some older Frenchies called them "Doughs"
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 ? Is there a direct translation of these words, or are they slang that evolved? The US terms for Germans were Fritz, Heinies, and Krauts. I've not ever seen them refered to as sauerkrauts. Hun was a WWI term, that was used sparingly later on. The Italians were referred to as I-ties (Eye-ties), mostly. The Brits were refered to by the name I use a lot, Limeys. I don't think you will ever hear of them called a Tommy very much by the US, although it is used. Canadian - Canucks French - called Frogs. Russians - Ruskies and occasionally Ivan. Japanese - Nips and Japs Chinese - Chinks Not all were considered derogatory, just words used at the time and still float around this day in age. Edit Just realized this thread was for "the enemy". The last time, the Limeys were "the enemy", we referred to them as Redcoats.
Just realized this thread was for "the enemy". The last time, the Limeys were "the enemy", we referred to them as Redcoats. In that case you lot would call us "Lobsterbacks" or "Lobsters". Cos of the Redcoats.
In that case you lot would call us "Lobsterbacks" or "Lobsters". Cos of the Redcoats. I thought of that one, but it is not used much nowadays, at least in my part of the country or on TV.
Was watching the movie "The Wooden Horse" last night which reminded me of the British nickname for German prison camp guards "Goons". Another one that came to mind was "Wops" for Italians. Was it considered derogatory back then?
'Roundhead' & 'cavalier'; both derogatory terms used by the opposition... just a few hundred years earlier.
Krauts, after Saurkrauk. Eyeties (i feel bad writing this stuff) for the Italians. Nips for the Japanese. I can think of others...but they are unrepeatable and quite often used on films as blanket terms for any enemy. But i can't remember a few...there are more that haven't been mentioned that i know exist...time to dive through the Biggles collection again!
It was the originally the British navy sailors that were named 'Limeys' by the Americans. This was due to the Lime that the sailors were given to prevent the disease Scurvvy, which killed many naval personnel. The name stuck and is used to this day to denote the British, not just soldiers etc. Regards Tom
Did the Americans also have some other nick for the Japanese or only "Japs"? Yes, see my post above. ----> Nips
I thought of that one, but it is not used much nowadays, at least in my part of the country or on TV. I was refering what was used at the time. What us Brits ought to be called now by your country-men are "our bestest friends".
I was refering what was used at the time. What us Brits ought to be called now by your country-men are "our bestest friends". For Sure!
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. Muzhik - peasant (derogatory)
