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"] by German soldiers to describe Marines fighting in World War I.
Origin
The Warrior Song-Devil Dog -
According to United States Marine Corps legend, 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 â€" about two months before the Battle of Belleau Wood. The LaCrosse Tribune ran a story about the nickname on April 27, 1918, and other newspapers used the story as early as April 14, 1918. The Battle of Belleau Wood began on June 1, 1918.
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. â€" They were Devil Dogs.
- Er war ein Teufelshund. â€" He was a Devil Dog.
- Er sprach von den Teufelshunden. â€" 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 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".
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-111
References
