They called us kraut, heini, hun...
 

When my Zentralle expounded during a recent depth charging, I was disturbed...no, alarmed by the patriotic vitriol my seasoned crew spat at the offending egglayer...

"Swine."
"Tommy."
"Bra and panty boys."

Certainly, there must be SOMETHING more reciprical to the unjustified venom they are pouring upon us?

Transmitting from a Canoe in the North Sea
(after four torpedoes mysteriously malfunctioned!)

Reverie :huh:

We have forgotten many of those names now but during the Second World War, as in the First, German Combatants mostly referred to the Brits as 'Tommies' and their British counterparts called the Germans 'The Bosch' or 'Jerries'. The former being the usual choice of officers and the latter in more general use with other ranks. I believe that the modern usage of derogatory expletives was far less common among the well disciplined sailors and soldiers of that era - on both sides.

One of Churchill's famous techniques that caused great irritation in the German homeland was his frequent and deliberate mis-pronunciation of German names and words. Whereas German propaganda broadcasts to Britain were very careful in emulate the received pronunciation of the BBC.

I grew up watching Hogan's Heros. The English called them Jerries, while the Americans called them Krauts.

We also have to remember that although there was always an element of dignified respect between opposing naval personel, the submarine service was generally despised by traditional navy types.

I seh nix-I hör nix-I weis nix. -Sgt. Schultz

:up: