Why Blitz?

[DaveBuckle]

So, I may be revealing my ignorance - but how did a vehicle that was an international collaboration, and then used in every theatre by the allies in WW2 end up being called a Blitz?!
Who was the first one to say: "We should give it a german name" ?
Standing by to be berated and informed all at once ...

[Hanno Spoelstra]

It is only called "Blitz" in Australia.

"Blitz" was a popular name early on in the war, when many agile vehicles were called "biltz buggy", incl. (what was later known as) the jeep and a cut-down Canadian built Ford C11ADF used by the LRDG.

After WW2 there even was the Blitz Buggy company which made fire appliances.

Over to the Australian members to come up with the earliest documented reference to Blitz for CMP trucks





Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/C...ter_collection

[Mike K]

Jeeps were known as Blitz buggies also.

Apparently WOT2s were blitz buggies as well.

Even Lend Lease chevs are included . Wartime Vic rego

[David Herbert]

In the UK it is still normal practice to refer to the bombing of our larger cities as 'The (name of the city concerned) Blitz'. This term was not used for bombing in general. Until today I had never considered why the British had adopted a German word for this but of course the new German method of rapid advance preceded by bombing - Blitzkrieg - was well known from Poland etc. so presumably the name stuck when they directed their attention to the UK. It is not impossible that it was adopted as a popular term for war related things in Australia. In the UK it has only ever been used to refer to the bombing.

My grandmother's house was the first to be bombed in their area of east London. Luckily it was a very small bomb and it only succeeded in killing two pet rabbits and starting a fire. The fire brigade got very excited that they had a real bomb related fire to put out and went round the house squirting water in all directions including into the piano which made my Grandfather very angry.

David

[Richard Farrant]

The British War Office in early war official publications named the Bantam BRC as a Blitz Buggy.

[motto]

Flak, the well known and commonly used name for anti aircraft gun fire also has German origins.
Fl(eiger)a(bwehr)k(anone)

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by motto

Flak, the well known and commonly used name for anti aircraft gun fire also has German origins.
Fl(eiger)a(bwehr)k(anone)

To be precise: Flugzeugabwehrkanone, literally "aircraft defense gun", or anti-aircraft gun

[Ed Landstrom]

In Canada, at least, the police still use the word "Blitz" when they conduct a larger than usual number of random vehicle inspections, either for drinking or for mechanical condition.

[DaveBuckle]

Yup, I decree "A Blitz?!" everytime it gets a mention on the news - be it covid testing, police speeding crackdown, tax evasion etc. etc.
There's even a song about the cramped seating in Blitzes - guess it anyone?
Even Aldi make Blitz mints ...
PS: I also cop a lot of flak - tho no police or AA guns are involved.

[David Herbert]

I think Aldi are allowed to use 'Blitz' as they are a German company.

David

[Richard Farrant]

As we know, the General Motors German arm, Opel, used the model name Blitz from prewar right up until recent times. In fact when Bedford introduced the CF van in 1969, it was badged as an Opel Bedford Blitz when sold in European markets.