In World War II, Why where the Natis called 'Jerry'?

Question

Is this where the cartoon 'Tom and Jerry' comes from?

Answer 1

There is no defined reason why British (and other allied forces called) called their opponents "Jerrys".

There are two possibles origins that have been mooted:

1) It is from a verbal corruption of "German" ... which is pronounced "Jerr-man". Combine that with the man's name being "Gerry" (from Gerald) ...and you get "Jerry the German".

Why "Jerry" was spelt with a 'J' and not a 'G' is something that will never be known, maybe it just looked more slang like when scribbled by soldiers on walls, bombs etc

2) A "Jerry" was British slang for a 18th and 19th century chamber pot, i.e. a bowl-shaped container kept in the bedroom under a bed and used as a toilet at night.There is speculation that the M1935 Wehrmacht helmet was perceived to resemble a "Jerry" chamberpot when it was upturned. Therefore the association with your enemy and excrement was too good to miss!

We are unlikely ever to be sure of the true derivation.

Note for D JW: The name Jerry was the reason Jerrycans were so named, not the other way around. Jerrycans were in fact known by the Germans as "Wehrmachtskanister" or "Army canisters". The British Army first noted their brilliant design during the 1940 Norway campaign; see Wikipedia for a fuller history.

"Tom and Jerry" the cartoon was first shown in 1940, a full year after the outbreak of WW2. I am not aware of the reasons behind those names but would have thought it unlikely to be do with the war. It may have more resonance given the world situation and America's general stance if Jerry turned out to be the bumbling, useless cat, but not the plucky mouse.

Answer 2

The "Natis" ?
Do you by chance refer to NAZIS ?
Well if so then since the vast majority were GERman then you can probably see the derivation of JERry ,unless you`re American then something this simple is beyond you.
No it`s not the derivation for Tom and Jerry you muppet.
Another name for the Germans was KRAUT ,used mainly by the Yanks - it is from the food-stuff Sauerkraut that yanks thought was a german`s primary foodstuff LOL.

Answer 3

Jerry comes from Jerry can the container for carrying fuel and water much admired by the British in the harsh conditions of north Africa

Answer 4

They were called Jerrys because their steel helmets,when upside-down,looked like a Poe. This was a ceramic pot that one kept under the bed in the days of outside lavatorys,and was also called a Jerry.

Answer 5

Jerry was a British slang for German, actually had nothing to do with being a Nazi. I think that Tom and Jerry actaully predates WWII, so that probably had little to do with it.

Answer 6

Jerry in the cartoon Tom and Jerry was a rat and
a smart one at that.

Answer 7

This is a process of war, give the enemy some title that removes their individuality, in the same way that British troops were called, "Tommy" and Argentines were called "Argies" It is distasteful but it makes them easier to kill. Do you remember the Sting song, "If the Russians loved their children too" They say that, in war, the first casualty is truth.

Answer 8

Jerry was a slang term for German, we got it from the Brits.

Answer 9

Who is the Natis

Answer 10

Jerry was just slang for Germans i think.