"Hetzer": Birth of a Legend 

So, languages evolve over time. Words take on meaning or lose meaning. Hunters hunting on private land don't always chase. They lie in wait for their prey. I'm a soldier, and a hunter so I have done this many times. If someone called me a Hetzer, or in my understanding, Hunter, this would be very accurate. Perhaps despite the idea of "Hetzing" or chasing, they meant it as a hunter who lies in wait?

Yeah, in English. HAH!

Well, one is Austrian, so the term “native speaker” is debatable lol

@@ronhuppert2410 it isn't, because austrians are also native german speakers (they speak german as their mother language after all)

@@redhausser7492 As an Austrian (Vienna,) I was making spaß :)

@@ronhuppert2410 dunno what "spaß" means, but ok, my bad. Guess I'm not great with humor today :/

also the way we pronounce jagdpanzer sounds like a fair few others

It rolls off the tongue like rapping the alphabet backwards.

Perhaps, but I will always say "Jagdpanzer 38(t)". Granted I don't say "open/close bracket"

Definitely easier than "panzerkampfwagen," there's a good reason pop culture shortens it to "panzer."

@@101jir Also a good reason why the Germans shortened it themselves.

Short, snappy, impactful; it's as fun to say as a swear.

Why didn't they come straight out and say it means 'hound' ?

@@IvanTre Probably because when people think of "hound," I think for most the noun comes to mind well before the verb and people forget that it works perfectly as a verb in this context.

That's what I wanted to know. If Guderian wrote that the men call it 'Hetzer', he must have got that somewhere. Just because earlier, internal documents refer to it as 'Hetzer', doesn't rule out that the name got out and the men called it that too.

@@turbografx16 It would have appealed to the crews just as much as it does to us, so I can see how it would have stuck. The thing is, most memoirs, although written later, referred to wartime diaries and the name Hetzer shows up in quite a few. The official designation was so clunky that you'd think the NCO's and crews who fought in and alongside them must have had some kind of short hand to describe them, but the only one that comes down to us is Hetzer. I think this is because that's what they called them at the time.

My grandfather (born 1926) was a radio operator on this type of tank and he told the same.

Makes sense to me. I appreciate the going through official records aspect and it's far more difficult to track much less document oral history and debunking some of those has been on the upswing lately but one must also realize that front line soldiers use unofficial names all the time. Often in spite of official designations. the Buff, Hog and Viper come quickly to mind.Hetzer as harrier makes sense as that's really all the troops could do with them was try to wear out the enemy's advance.

@@Bochi42 When my father in law told me Hetzer was his favorite that he operated, I didn't ask if he used that term after building the model kits he did after his time in FBB or if they called it that during the War.

In German we have different terms for different hunting technics like Hetzjagd and Treibjagd, the second one is what you described, whilst during a Hetzjagd you yourself but mostley with the help of Dogs are trying to follow your game whilst pushing it throu its limits until it either escapes or you catch it, without anyone waiting in an ambush position to support your efforts.

@@wolverine8658 Thanks. It seams Finnish have Germanic roots for hunting terms.

Just lost something in translation.

The description in the last video of what "hetzen" means makes me think more of persistence hunting. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persistence_hunting

@@Xeno426 Yes you are absolutely right, Hetzjagd or Hetzen means exactly Persistence Hunting

And the role of this tank destroyer was the exact opposite of that. It was an ambush predator.

Hetzer cannon hetz.

Beauty of german language my friend We even have a four Letter Word for "f*ck off, you might disagree, but i am still right, so stfu!" We just say "doch"

@@lukeeszeha5381 Every language has concepts that it can say simply and quickly. Inuktitut has nine demonstrative pronouns that let speakers quickly describe where something is in relation to them with a single word. English has loads of tenses that allow a speaker to quickly describe how an event fits into a timeline of events. And if you want swearing, Russian has *layers* of it.

Minus letter count, so does English: chase

Could be, a bohemian ecen (we would read it this way) would a german write down as etzen. Then you need only add H

I too had a model, because it was unlike any armored vehicle I had ever seen. Too bad it was slow.

'Harrier'

Having a "Hetzer" Panzerkampfwagen almost implies that this version is the correct version

Knowing how allied troops actually reported anti tank fire, I'm guessing "f@#*k! an 88!!!!!!" is closer to the truth. Or maybe, "sh1t!!!!! A tiger!!!!!"

Used to own that game.

@@stevetee5076 I still have Panzer blitz, just could not get rid of it even though we played twice forty seven years ago. I built the Bandi Hetzer kit in 1/48.

That was my understanding from a similar set of sources (except my model was a 1/76 Fujimi from the early 70's). It is interesting how the action of beating the bushes (i.e., bushwhacking) to drive game towards the hunters morphed into laying in ambush in American English and we see the same transition happening in German 80 years later.

And what for a German is "complicated" to the rest of the world is "incomprehensible"...

Not really... the name implies persistence hunting, which means following the prey for an extended time period until it's too tired to continue running or fighting. While this tank destroyer was mainly used for ambushes, assigned mostly to infantry units to defend them against tank attacks.

Swedish and German are closely related, so the words probably just come from the same root word from before the two languages separated from each other. Especially since it's related to hunting and as such likely one of the oldest words in either language, possibly even tens of thousands of years old.

My thoughts exactly, not a coincidemce

@@romaliop I rather believe "hetsa" and "hetsjakt" are simply loan words imported from Germany.

I did note a distinct lack of Jagdpanzer 38 (t)'s in the classic swedish movie "Hets".

simiarly there's a "heca" in polish which means Funny or suprising event. maybe there is some similar word in czech

In czech, we have "hec" and "hecovat"(verb) both used as to challenge, or to provoke. For instance if you wanted to say "i bet i will be better than you"

No defense

@@demonprinces17 Yea, a defensive line that was always retreating.

@@stuglife5514 there is no retreat in military language. There are "tactical movements on previously prepared positions".🙂

@@chefchaudard3580 No it’s attacking the enemy while moving backwards

Stug-lite, literally. US bombing slowed/stopped Stug production, so SKODA werks was tasked with building vehicle, but their cranes were not up to the task, so they modified Pz38 to fit the role.

@@coachhannah2403 - Excellent answer, concise and to the point. Thanks!👍🏻

@@donnyboon2896 - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8PbzVU2vqdI.html

Possibly. I have a feeling they would have mainly been called “Ronsons” by British crews in the same way US crews referred to Sherman flamethrower tanks as “Zippos.” Because it lights things on fire.

AFAIK they were called ronsons due their susceptiblity to catch fire, not cause some adverts

@@bleidddrwg9847 the adverts with the famous tag line that is usually given for the source of the nickname was post-war. The only other Ronson advert about reliable lighting was a good 12 years before the Sherman came about. However, some of their war time adverts did use the Sherman's outline.

@Albert Fels the English equivalent would be 'courser' an animal usually dog or horse used to chase down prey.

@@billbolton Agreed it’s a much better comparative term

There is the expression 'to run something into the ground', as in drive it hard until it canmot be driven anymore; driven/used until destruction. E.g. 'Tom inherited his grandfather's car and just drove it into the ground' or 'James took over the company and drove it into the ground'.

@@billbolton But it's nothing to do with chasing down prey. It's about following prey until it collapses. The pursuer isn't faster, the pursuer has more stamina. It's the same way people used hunt in the stone age.

@@Kyle-gw6qp it is not just about following a prey, where a prey is not actively taking evasive action (like running) it is the chasing of the prey that debilitates it.

That's the comment I was looking for.

You shouldnt laugh that Hetzer cannot hetz.

Yes

SU-100

Hetzer gonna Hetz Stugger gonna Stug I don't even want None of the above I want an ISU One fifty-two, want an ISU

StuG! Hetzer sounds like a girl's name to a Finnish speaker while StuG sounds like "Sturm G" (storm G). Figure out the G yourself! Short for A "Storm Gun"? Pretty cool!

A StuG, just from the ergonomics alone

Jagdpanzer IV

Why would germans name a czech vehicle a sweedish name...

It is also one of the meanings in German.

@@CARILYNF what i meant was... why would they name that one armored vehicle - out of all they had named - a swedish name? Im pretty sure the germans didn't go " you know what Hans... swedish share the same language root as us!" 'Oh really gunter... lets name the czech panzer 38 t something swedish - im sure the Fürer will applaud it.. after all the swedes are our trade partners" The language may be related... we also have the word in danish - but i dont go claim they named it after the danish Hetz (which is often used if some one persecute a political opponent for instance.) That is the silly part

@@CARILYNF ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░░░░░░▓▓░░▓▓▓░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓▓▓▓▓░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓▓░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░░▓▓▓░▓▓░░░░░▓▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░▓▓░▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░░░▓░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░░▓▓▓▓▓░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░▓░░░▓▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░▓░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░▓▓░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░▓▓▓▓░▓▓░░░░░░▓░░░▓▓░░░░░░▓░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░▓░░░░░░░░▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░▓░░░▓░░░░▓░░░░░▓▓▓▓░░▓░░░▓░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░▓▓▓░░░░░░▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓▓░░░░░░▓░░▓▓▓░░░░░░░░ ░░░▓░▓▓░░░░░░▓░░░░▓▓░▓▓▓░░░░░░▓░▓░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓░░░▓▓▓░░░░░░░ ░░░▓░░▓░░░░░▓▓░░░▓▓░░░▓▓▓▓░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░▓░▓░░░░░░ ░░░▓░▓░░░░░░░▓░░░▓░░░▓▓░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓░▓░░░░░ ░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓▓░░░░ ░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░▓░░░░░░░░░░░░▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓▓░░░░ ░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░ ░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░ ░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░ ░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓░░░░ ░░░▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓░░░░ ░░░▓░▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓░░░░ ░░░░▓░▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓░░░░ ░░░░▓░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓░░░░ ░░░░░▓░▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░ ░░░░░░▓░▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░ ░░░░░░░▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░ ░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░▓░▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░▓░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░▓░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓▓░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░▓░░░░░░░░▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▓░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ what?

Unless ofc, it's russian stalinium bias.

*Tschechnologie. :D

@@vaclav_fejt Ja

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