Full Version: Nom de guerre
When did newspapers start referring to World Wars I & II as such? Who coined the names of those wars?
German biologist and philosopher Ernst Haeckel wrote this shortly after the start of the war:
“ There is no doubt that the course and character of the feared "European War"...will become the first world war the full sense of the word.
Indianapolis Star September 20, 1914 ”
This is the first known instance of the term First World War, which previously had been dated to 1931 for the earliest usage.
The term was used again near the end of the war. The Times journalist Colonel Charles A. Repington (1858–1925) wrote:
“ [Diary entry, September 10, 1918]: We discussed the right name of the war. I said the we called it now The War, but that this could not last. The Napoleonic War was The Great War. To call it The German War was too much flattery for the Boche. I suggested The World War as a shade better title, and finally we mutually agreed to call it The First World War in order to prevent the millennium folk from forgetting that the history of the world was the history of war.
However, some scholars consider the First World War merely the first phase of a 30-year-long war that spans the time frame of 1914 to 1945. The name of World War II was coined as early as 1942 by someone in the Roosevelt Administration.
“ There is no doubt that the course and character of the feared "European War"...will become the first world war the full sense of the word.
Indianapolis Star September 20, 1914 ”
This is the first known instance of the term First World War, which previously had been dated to 1931 for the earliest usage.
The term was used again near the end of the war. The Times journalist Colonel Charles A. Repington (1858–1925) wrote:
“ [Diary entry, September 10, 1918]: We discussed the right name of the war. I said the we called it now The War, but that this could not last. The Napoleonic War was The Great War. To call it The German War was too much flattery for the Boche. I suggested The World War as a shade better title, and finally we mutually agreed to call it The First World War in order to prevent the millennium folk from forgetting that the history of the world was the history of war.
However, some scholars consider the First World War merely the first phase of a 30-year-long war that spans the time frame of 1914 to 1945. The name of World War II was coined as early as 1942 by someone in the Roosevelt Administration.
QUOTE (melech @ Feb 12 2008, 08:49 PM) 
When did newspapers start referring to World Wars I & II as such? Who coined the names of those wars?
Inspired by Binni Blitz?
QUOTE (Rachel8 @ Feb 12 2008, 10:20 PM)
. The name of World War II was coined as early as 1942 by someone in the Roosevelt Administration.
So what did the British newspapers call the war until the name, WWII, caught on?
The war in Europe.
Prior to that WWI was always called "the great war". Look at monuments to fallen soldiers erected in the 20s and that's what you'll see.
What was 9/11 called before that became the common designation?
Prior to that WWI was always called "the great war". Look at monuments to fallen soldiers erected in the 20s and that's what you'll see.
What was 9/11 called before that became the common designation?
QUOTE (The Rabbi @ Feb 13 2008, 12:35 PM)
What was 9/11 called before that became the common designation?
23 Ellul 5761?
QUOTE (existwhere? @ Feb 13 2008, 10:49 AM)
Inspired by Binni Blitz?
No comment. I have a reputation to maintain.
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