German Stereotypes?

"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...

Where did the German soldier (officer?) stereotypes of the monocle and
the dueling scar come from? Was there one guy in WW I or WW II who had
them?

The stereotype was created by Erich von Stroheim (if I spell it
correctly) in the officer roles he played in silent films about WWI.

You neglected to mention the shaved head

As for the reality behind the stereotype, dueling was a ritual
activity in the Prussian version of university fraternities in the
19th century. As I recall the ritual, you had to keep your sword hand
at your temple. You were protected elsewhere than the face. You stood
next to your opponent and slashed away. The purpose was to get the
scar, which was highly prized as a symbol of manhood.

Since Prussia constituted nearly half of 1900 Germany, and a clear
majority of the officer corps, it probably was true that many German
officers in WWI had dueling scars.

The monocle was widely used in Europe, less so in America, in the 19th
century and into the 20th.


Teddy Roosevelt was one of the more prominent monocle wearers
IRC

Keith

Keith Willshaw wrote:

Teddy Roosevelt was one of the more prominent monocle wearers
IRC

Teddy wore pince-nez spectacles, and these figured largely in
caricatures of the period.
http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/roosevelt/zoo.htm
--
Andrew Chaplin
SIT MIHI GLADIUS SICUT SANCTO MARTINO
(If you're going to e-mail me, you'll have to get "yourfinger." out.)

Where did the German soldier (officer?) stereotypes of the monocle and
the dueling scar come from? Was there one guy in WW I or WW II who had them?

von Stromberg, movie actor and director. Sort of the prototype Jerry badguy.

v/r
Gordon
====(A+C====
USN SAR Aircrew

"Got anything on your radar, SENSO?"
"Nothing but my forehead, sir."

"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message ...
"dave999" wrote in message
news:u300b.4762$Qy4.3831@fed1read05...

Where did the German soldier (officer?) stereotypes of the monocle
and the dueling scar come from? Was there one guy in WW I or
WW II who had them?

The duelling scar was a traditional mark of the Prussian officer
but the credit for the image of monocle and duelling star probably
belongs to the German born actor and director Eric Von Stroheim
who played the part of the villianous hun many times between
the 20's and the 50's. He was one of the fe to make the transition
from silent movies to sound.

Keith

True enough, but German dueling continues on today. It's called Mensur
dueling. More info:

http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/academic...m96/sword.html

Rob