Bleedin Krauts !
Posted by: Berlin Fritz on 30 June 2005
For decades the term "kraut" has been deployed as the ultimate insult to Germans by politically-incorrect Britons, but historians now believe the term might be better used closer to home.
Researchers at the National Archives in Kew have uncovered evidence which makes the case for the term to displace the traditional nickname "limey" for the British.
Limey is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as an offensive term for the British originating from "the former enforced consumption of lime juice in the British Navy".
The term is believed to date back to the 18th century when British sailors were known to use citrus fruit to combat scurvy.
But research for a new exhibition at the National Archives on iconic nautical figures Admiral Nelson and Captains Bligh and Cook has uncovered evidence that British sailors first put their trust in the delights of sauerkraut before opting for lime juice.
According to the exhibition's curator - Andrew Lambert, Laughton Professor of Naval History at King's College London - Captain Cook, best known for the discovery of Australia, took no less than six tonnes of the pickled cabbage with him on one voyage to ward off scurvy in his men.
The discovery was contained in never-before-displayed records from the Admiralty, Colonial Office and Foreign Office dating from 1728 to 1817, now held at The National Archives, going on show in the exhibition Captains, Pirates and Castaways: The Battles and voyages of Nelson, Cook and Bligh.
Prof Lambert said: "On Cook's ship the Endeavour there were no limes. Instead Cook was issued with a number of untested foodstuffs to prevent scurvy.
"Sauerkraut was the only one that was of any use for this purpose, and he made the men eat it, despite their objections."
He continued: "Later the Navy recognised lemon juice was the best to prevent scurvy, but lemons were expensive, so cheaper limes were substituted, even though they were far less effective.
innit
Researchers at the National Archives in Kew have uncovered evidence which makes the case for the term to displace the traditional nickname "limey" for the British.
Limey is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as an offensive term for the British originating from "the former enforced consumption of lime juice in the British Navy".
The term is believed to date back to the 18th century when British sailors were known to use citrus fruit to combat scurvy.
But research for a new exhibition at the National Archives on iconic nautical figures Admiral Nelson and Captains Bligh and Cook has uncovered evidence that British sailors first put their trust in the delights of sauerkraut before opting for lime juice.
According to the exhibition's curator - Andrew Lambert, Laughton Professor of Naval History at King's College London - Captain Cook, best known for the discovery of Australia, took no less than six tonnes of the pickled cabbage with him on one voyage to ward off scurvy in his men.
The discovery was contained in never-before-displayed records from the Admiralty, Colonial Office and Foreign Office dating from 1728 to 1817, now held at The National Archives, going on show in the exhibition Captains, Pirates and Castaways: The Battles and voyages of Nelson, Cook and Bligh.
Prof Lambert said: "On Cook's ship the Endeavour there were no limes. Instead Cook was issued with a number of untested foodstuffs to prevent scurvy.
"Sauerkraut was the only one that was of any use for this purpose, and he made the men eat it, despite their objections."
He continued: "Later the Navy recognised lemon juice was the best to prevent scurvy, but lemons were expensive, so cheaper limes were substituted, even though they were far less effective.
innit