Gott strafe England: (i.e., "God punish England!") The slogan of the Germans in the war. In the German Army, it was heard at parades and displayed on notice boards everywhere in the trenches at the front. Targets for musketry practice were also inscribed with the words; every barrack room had the words on notice boards, also, barrack squares.
"Gott Strafe England" was inscribed on public and other buildings all over Germany, at railway stations, and in places the words were lettered in white pebbles along the railway embankments. It was heard everywhere at public meetings, speeches, and addresses, and was a familiar greeting amongst civilians, the usual response being "And He will punish her!" Newspapers, picture postcards, Christmas and New Year cards, ladies' brooches, obituary notices of fallen officers and men, all displayed the words, and they also figured on the walls of hospital wards.
At Chemnitz, for instance, in May 1915, the German Empress, going through the operating room of a hospital, caught sight of the inscription over the door. Turning to those following her she said: "Kinder (children), that is the one motto for all: Gott Strafe England!".[1]
References / notes
- ↑ Edward Fraser and John Gibbons (1925). Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases. Routledge, London p.108.
Glossary of words and phrases
The above term is listed in our glossary of words and phrases of the Armed Forces of Great Britain during the Great War. Included are trench slang, service terms, expressions in everyday use, nicknames, the titles and origins of British and Commonwealth Regiments, and warfare in general. These words and phrases are contemporary to the war, which is reflected in the language used. They have been transcribed from three primary sources (see Contents). Feel free to expand upon and improve this content.
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