The slogan entered the mindset on both sides in 1916 a cartoon was printed in the New-York Tribune captioned 'Gott Mit Uns!', showing 'a German officer in spiked helmet holding a smoking revolver as he stood over the bleeding form of a nurse. German soldiers had Gott mit uns inscribed on their belt buckles in the First World War. Imperial German 3 and 5 mark silver and 20 mark gold coins had Gott mit uns inscribed on their edge.

The obverse gilt central disc bore the crown of Prussia, surrounded by a blue enamel ring bearing the motto of the German Empire Gott mit uns.Īt the time of the completion of German unification in 1871, the imperial standard bore the motto Gott mit uns on the arms of an Iron Cross. The Prussian Order of the Crown was Prussia's lowest ranking order of chivalry, and was instituted in 1861. Below, the motto Gott mit uns appeared on the pedestal.

The electoral scepter had its own shield under the electoral cap. In 1701, Frederick I of Prussia changed his coat of arms as Prince-Elector of Brandenburg. In the 17th century, the phrase Gott mit uns was used as a 'field word', a means of recognition akin to a password, by the army of Gustavus Adolphus at the battles of Breitenfeld (1631), Lützen (1632) and Wittstock (1636) in the Thirty Years' War. It was used for the first time in Germany by the Teutonic Order. Nobiscum Deus in Latin, Μεθ᾽ἡμων ὁ Θεός ( Meth hēmon ho Theos) in Ancient Greek, was a battle cry of the later Roman Empire and of the Byzantine Empire.

German words in english wwi