During my service in the US Army, I met numerous members of the British Armed Forces. As I recall, similar to WWII, "Jerry" was used as a slang term for a German.
I have a particular character, from a wealthy family from London. He was born c.1981, and served as a "Gentleman Ranker" in the British Army c.2002 to 2006, and then as a contractor.
Slang from guys who were soldiers from the late 1980's and through the 1990's would likely influence his slang.
"Jerry" was that slang for German, used by people in the UK, in particular in the British Army c.1990 to 2010.
I know it was used by earlier generations. Is "Jerry" = German still used, or used 15 to 25 years ago?
Wiktionary lists 5 terms as slang, offensive, derogatory, ethnic slur for a German.
Jerry;
Boche;
Kraut;
Hun;
Fritz;
The first two as dated.
Guessing from the descriptions Fritz is probably the most actual:
Proper noun
Fritz
(UK, offensive) A name used to represent the German people (particularly the German armed forces) as a group.
But if Fritz is stationed in that patch of woodland, we've got no chance!
You! Fritz! Tell us where the ammunition's kept!
Huns is still used by parts of the British press (popularized by Rudyard Kipling).
HM.
Thanks for the information. It confirms what I thought.
I was wondering if "Jerry" had become dated, as I haven't been to Europe in a decade.
Also, most of the Brits I have been in casual conversations with were born in the 1960's or 70's (or older). I was wondering if "kids" born in the 1980's commonly used a different slang for German.
In context, a British citizen, former military, is talking to a Yank, both annoyed about post 2001 civil air service. The British character is saying something like, "It used to be a pleasure taking a flight on British Airways. To be fair, Jerry put on a decent show on Lufthansa."
UK officials are typically "PC" but most Brits I have met are often "casually derisive" of most other people/nationalities.
: RA NCO, "You Yanks are always too polite to Jerry."
Me, "What do you say?"
RA NCO, "We tell Jerry to Sod Off! If the Buggers didn't want us here, they shouldn't 've lost the war."
Thanks for the information. It confirms what I thought.
I think you should wait for a Brit to confirm it.
Wealthy family" probably implies private education in what the English curiously call a public school.
I'm no sure what you mean with "Gentleman Ranker". After many (50+) years of living in the British Isles it is an expression I do not recognize. (Swap the R for a W and I would recognize it).
"Jerry" sounds very dated - to around my childhood in the 50s and 60s.
I would tend towards using "krauts" in the same way that the English might refer to the French as "frogs". I just asked my now grown up kids (of the 90s) how they would refer to Germans and they both said something along the lines of, "Doh! As Germans of course.".
So there you have it. Mostly I agree with my kids.
"Gentleman Ranker" is a term I have only heard used by the British. Describing a man who was of a social class that he "should" have been an officer; but for what ever reason he enlisted. "Other Ranks" are soldiers who are not officers or NCOs.
It is my understanding that "Gentleman Rankers" were often considered to be a problem. In the past, British society was more class conscious; a "Gentleman" did not mesh with the Other Ranks, nor the NCOs.
During the "Great War" (in particular 1914 and 1915) quite a few young gentlemen enlisted, and it was a different situation. The term was more common during peacetime.
Too often a gentleman enlisted in the British Army from the 1790's to before 1914 because they committed some social disgrace that got them excluded from polite society. Occasionally, a younger son, unable to get a commission (Officer) would join for adventure.
After 11 September 2001, the UK had some men from wealthy/upper class backgrounds who enlisted. They were not typical of the British Army of 1970's through 1990's.
In the 1980's and even the early 2000's I heard British soldiers refer to a "Jerry" football team, or "training with some Jerry" when talking about the German Army.
But as I said, they were around my age and born in the 1960's or 70's.
Soldiers often have different slang than civilians. Civilians tend to pick up slang from their peers. Soldiers often pick up slang from their NCOs, who are older. (Often passing along slang from the last war.) In the 1980's we often learned slang from the war in Vietnam.
I am pretty sure the germans call their country Deutschland and themselves as Deutch. There are germs in Germany, in some places and times, many germs. Germ many may be a reason for the "English" language name for the country.
"https://viatravelers.com/why-do-we-call-germany-germany/#:~:text=Why%20Do%20We%20Call%20Germany%20Germany%3F"
I am pretty sure the germans call their country Deutschland and themselves as Deutch.
I get the impression that not many Germans regard themselves foremost as German - they feel a stronger allegiance to their states, similar to how the Scots and the Welsh call themselves that ahead of being British.
AJ
not many Germans regard themselves foremost as German - they feel a stronger allegiance to their states,
Not always the federal states (Bundesländer), in those cases where their borders are seen as artificial its often smaller areas like former countries e.g. Baden (Grand Duchy) and Württemberg (Kingdom) instead of the Federal State Baden-Württemberg).
HM.
