Gott strafe England
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During World War I, "Gott strafe England" was a slogan of the German Army. The phrase means, "May God punish England".
(Interestingly, the English word strafe is borrowed from the same German verb.)
The frequency of this slogan and similar oaths by British soldiers gave Sir John Collings Squire cause to write the following poem.
- "God heard the embattled nations sing and shout
- 'Gott strafe England!' and 'God save the King!'
- God this, God that, and God the other thing —
- 'Good God!' said God, 'I've got my work cut out!'"