|
The Marine Corps bulldog tradition has its roots in World War I when German soldiers referred to the Marines as Devil Dogs, comparing their fierce fighting ability to that of the wild mountain dogs of Bavarian folklore. Soon afterward, a Marine recruiting poster (painted by artist Charles B. Falls) appeared that depicted an English bulldog wearing a helmet with the globe and anchor insignia, chasing a fleeing dachshund, attired in a spiked helmet and Iron Cross. The inscription read Teufel Hund (a German nickname for U.S. Marines) Devil Dog Recruiting Stations. |