Devil Dog

A recruiting poster by Charles B. Falls created in 1918 is an early use of the term Devil Dog

Devil Dog is a motivational nickname for a U.S. Marine. It is said by US Marines to be based on the use of "Teufel Hunde" [sic][idiomatic German: "Höllenhunde", which exactly means "hells dogs"] by German soldiers to describe Marines fighting in World War I.[1][2]

Origin

The moniker was used by German soldiers to describe U.S. Marines who fought in the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918. The Marines fought with such ferocity that they were likened to "Dogs from Hell." The "Devil Dogs" nickname for Marines first appeared in newspapers in the United States in April 1918 – about two months before the Battle of Belleau Wood. The LaCrosse Tribune ran a story about the nickname on April 27, 1918,[3] and other newspapers used the story as early as April 14, 1918.[4] The Battle of Belleau Wood began on June 1, 1918.[1][5][2]

The April 27th article from the LaCrosse Tribune was probably referring to the action on April 20, 1918, the first action between the Marines and the Germans. The Germans made several attacks against the Marines on that date and were unable to dislodge them. The article states that it was the first scrap between the Marines and the Germans, showing that it was prior to the major fighting in June. However, there are no sources to date of a German soldier referring to Americans as devil dogs.

Grammar problem

In German grammar, a compound noun is always a single word, so using two words "Teufel Hunden" is grammatically incorrect. The correct German would be Teufelshunde in nominative, genitive, and accusative cases, and Teufelshunden only in the dative. In either form, the linking element "s" steps between the words. Examples:

Sie waren Teufelshunde. – They were Devil Dogs.
Er war ein Teufelshund. – He was a Devil Dog.
Er sprach von den Teufelshunden. – He talked about the Devil Dogs.

Furthermore, the word "Teufelshund", though not unknown in the German language, is rare, and this use may possibly be an example of Denglisch. The more common equivalent is "Höllenhund" ("dog of hell" or "hellhound"), the German translation of the mythical Kerberos.

Modern use

The Bulldog is the USMC mascot

The term "Devil Dog" is a very common nickname for all Marines. "Devil Dog" is historically a well-accepted term of endearment, as a title of honor. The "dog" in the phrase is usually associated with the bulldog, in line with the original 1918 poster, such as the bulldog being a common mascot in the Corps.

In contrast, the term may assume a negative connotation when its usage is connected to a disciplinary activity. The term "devil dogged" or "devil dogging" has come to mean lectured or otherwise reprimanded, prefaced with being called out as a "devil dog".[6]

Other common nicknames for Marines are "Leatherneck" and "Jarhead".

Navy Corpsmen assigned to Marine Corps units are sometimes referred to as "Devil Docs".

The amphibious assault ship USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) had the nickname "Devil Dog" due to it being named after the Battle of Belleau Wood.

See also

  • VMF-1411

References

  1. 1 2 Flippo, Hyde. "German Myth 13: Teufelshunde - Devil Dogs". About.com.
  2. 1 2 Schogol, Jeff (January 4, 2011). "Did Marines, not German soldiers, coin the phrase 'Devil Dogs'?". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  3. ↑ La Crosse Tribune
  4. ↑ 'Germans call 'em Teufel Hunden: Recruiters Report a New Nickname for Marines', Boston Daily Globe, Apr 14, 1918, p. 13.
  5. ↑ Simmons, Edwin H.: "Leathernecks at Soissons." Naval History, DEC 2005.
  6. ↑ Tilghman, Andrew (April 28, 2008). "'Devil Dog' term taking a beating". Marine Corps Times.
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