Understanding the Origins of "Doughboys"
Serving in the military requires a great deal of character, courage, and toughness. Throughout history, our armed forces have been subjected to various nicknames to describe their bravery, toughness, and resilience. No exception is the term ‘Doughboys’, which referentially describes American soldiers who partook in World War I. But where did the term originate? Why, exactly, were soldiers from these United States called "doughboys"?
Linguistic Origins
The term "doughboy" is believed to have originate from the early 1850s in the midst of the American Civil War. During this phase, soldiers were referred as "doughboys", a colloquialized term for raw, dough-like recruits. Many historians believe that the earliest recorded use of the "doughboy" during the Civil War can traced back to the Union cavalry, who were often faced with the task of advancing through muddy terrain, covered in mud and looking unlikable. The term most likely originated from the German word "Todbi" or "Tutbi", which referred back to the Germanic armies of the 14 th century.
Early War Years
During the Early War Years, soldiers came from various backgrounds and weren’t necessarily trained for armed combat. These fledgling soldiers were the "doughboys"_, raw recruits who seemed as fragile as raw-dough bread. As one historian noted, "From the beginning, the regular army was a tiny tiny force, and it mostly consisted of raw recruits whom the regular army called by the nickname ‘doughboys’."
Massive Mobilization
Towards the end of World War I, the United States entered the war with limited military resources. Before the war, the official U.S. Army had a roster of approximately 2200 officers and 110 soldiers. By the end of 1920, the U S Army had grown to number over 1 million uniformed personnel. New recruits were needed, therefore, to fill the roles of the fallen soldiers worldwide. These new trainees were once again being referred to as "Doughboys", despite their increased numbers and confidence.
The TRENCH WARFARE PERIOD
The trench situation in World War I meant that soldiers were constantly engaging in mud-soaked dugouts, trenches, holes, and other sub-level structures. **This life in the trenches was often compared likened to the consistency1 of dough, especially when soldiers were covered dirt and mud. As in the Civil War, an additional factor that may of contributed to the nickname the "Doughboys "_ was the fact that war-torn soldiers looked terrible, covered in dirt to the point where they, in the words of Charles W. Whittlesey, "looked "like a bunch of drenched doughboys".
A variety of nicknames have taken on different meanings throughout armed forces history. Some well-known examples include the English "Tommy Atkins"* and the French "Grande Gueule"? The term "Doughboys" is one we can attribute to the time period of World War1</ SUP> and the trenches battles.
