Why were the Germans referred to as "Huns" in WWI?

Question

I have a guess of my own, but I'd like to hear your opinions.  The English claimed to be Anglo-Saxon, but the Angles and Saxons were both Germanic tribes who came to England in the 400's AD.  The French were in part derived from the Franks who were another Germanic tribe from northwest Europe who became the Merovingian rulers of France in the early 500's.  The Germans were not ethnically related to the notorious Huns of Attila in the 434 to 453 AD era.  The Huns were more likely a Turkish people.  That's all I'll insert regarding my guess.  Maybe someone really knows.

Rosalinda · Accepted Answer

Hi Peace to you.......Its based on a silly anecdote. In 1901, there was a wave of anti-Western violence in China collectively called "The Boxer Rebellion".

In Peking (Beijing), the western embassies were besieged by the Boxers and latter the imperial Chinese army for 99 days.

The main western powers (USA, Japan, UK, Germany, Italy, Russia, and France) put together an international military force to put down the rebellion and relieve Peking.

Kaiser Wilhelm II, in order his men to join the expedition, told his men to "fight like Huns" or "Act like Huns"; not quite sure on the exact wording.

The French, hating the Germans them more than they ever did at any time in their history, started calling the Germans the Bosch (French for Huns) as an insult. When the War started, the Brits and Belgians started doing the same.

In addition to their bloodthirsty reputations, the Huns were considered by many to have brought down Western Civilization in Roman times. This was designed to frame the Germans as another threat to Western Civilization from beyond the Rhine. 

Actually, while the Huns weakened the Romans, it was the German tribes that really destroyed Western Civilization so there is an odd logic to it.

Alan G · Answer

Look in the Historiography of the site mentioned below. Could be complete rubbish, but it is an interesting take on things.

 ... another reason given for the English use of the term was the motto "Gott mit uns" (God with us) on German soldiers' belt buckles during World War I. "uns" was mistaken for Huns, and entered into slang. This usage was reinforced by Allied propaganda throughout the war, and many pilots of the RFC referred to their foe as "The Hun". The usage resurfaced during World War II.

mercymeenursey · Answer

I don't know about the Germans being Huns but I thought the French were part Itialian and Celtic. 
But maybe thats not accurate.

historyknowledgeguy · Answer

Maybe, it's because the germans were fierce on horses when they last rode them, and they got the reputation name "The Huns". My opinion.

Comkick · Answer

Hun(s) is a term used to describe a barbarous or destructive person,
I hope that helps

Comkick

rhstrackguy · Answer

its propaganda, it dosen't have to be historicly acurate, mearly vaugly belivable. 

we called the germans huns because we wanted to associate them with destroyers of civilization and all that good stuff.

if we could have made some believable conection to gengis kahn, we would have done that also, it's dirty but hey, that's war i guess

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Why were the Germans referred to as "Huns" in WWI?

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