Endsieg

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German propaganda poster from 1944.

Endsieg is German for "final victory". It is used in the meaning that a victory is taken for granted even though all odds are against it.

1 Origin And Historical Usage
2 Contemporary Usage
3 Criticism
4 References

[edit] Origin And Historical Usage

The word became commonly used in World War I. One of the earliest, if not the first, usage in print was Karl Kraus' satirical story Vor dem Endsieg (Facing Final Victory), published October 1918 in the German magazine Die Fackel (The Torch) [1].

Adolf Hitler used 'Endsieg' in his book Mein Kampf (My Struggle) in 1925 when he asked the rhetorical question if he wanted the final victory of the Jewish people.

In the 30s and 40s, the word was widely used in the propaganda of the 'Third Reich'. 'Endsieg' was part of the Nazi doctrine: Temporary losses (including of civilian lives) nonwithstanding, the 'Third Reich' would ultimately prevail, and thus any breakdown in allegiance to Nazi ideology was not to be tolerated. This conjuration of final victory became more desperate in 1943 when allied successes forced Germany onto the defensive. Joseph Goebbels still spoke about the 'Endsieg' as late as March 1945. [2].

[edit] Contemporary Usage

The term is today almost exclusively used with reference to its meaning in the Third Reich. Because of this connection with Nazi ideals, it is often banned at German internet forums and other online services, like German EBay [3]. Sometimes 'Endsieg' is also used in a sarcastic way, implying that a goal is unattainable, but that attaining it nevertheless will continue to be expected, no matter what (and that it's not allowed to raise objections due to dictatorship-style leadership).

[edit] Criticism

This idea is much like many of the ideas that are more or less utopian. These utopian ideals are goals that will probably never be met, yet we cannot help ourselves but to aspire to them. This idea also somewhat represents the propaganda of the time implying that "If we hold true to our goals no matter what the cost we will prevail". Comments such as these have often led to empty victories.