Endsieg

Endsieg ([ˈɛntziːk]) is German for "ultimate victory". It is generally used to denote a victory at the end of a war or conflict.[1]

Origin and historical usage

The word became commonly used in World War I. One of the earliest, if not the first, usage in print was Karl Kraus' satirical story Vor dem Endsieg (Facing Final Victory), published October 1918 in the Austrian magazine Die Fackel (The Torch).

Adolf Hitler used 'Endsieg' in his book Mein Kampf (My Struggle) in 1925 when he asked the rhetorical question if fate wanted the Jewish people to achieve final victory.

In the 1930s and 1940s, the word was widely used in the propaganda of the 'Third Reich'. 'Endsieg' was part of the Nazi doctrine: Temporary losses notwithstanding, the 'Third Reich' would ultimately prevail, and thus any breakdown in allegiance to Nazi ideology was not to be tolerated. This conjuration of final victory became more desperate in 1943 when allied successes forced Germany onto the defensive. Joseph Goebbels still spoke about the 'Endsieg' as late as March 1945.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Duden Online, s.v. "Endsieg": "am Ende eines Krieges, Kampfes stehender Sieg".
  2. ↑ http://kriegsende.ard.de/pages_std_lib/0,3275,OID1146474,00.html


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