Spatengang ?

[knieptang]

Hello!

Is it possible, to translate the german Phrase Spatengang to english Language?

The Word is typical german Soldiers Slang...

Regards


Michael

[Rudi S.]

Hello Knieptang,
"Spatengang" actually is a slang word used by German soldiers (during WWII) when they had to go "Number 2" (in other words: to deficate).
Literally: Spaten = spade and Gang is the noun for 'gehen - to go' (because one had to first dig a hole with a Spaten [spade].
In good German, you would say "zum Austreten gehen".
Tschüss,
Rudi S.

[knieptang]

Thanks Rudi!

So the Soldiersslang Spatengang is not known in english Language...

BTW, the Spatengang is also known in the Bundeswehr, it survived WWII.

Regards


Michael

[Brian38]

BTW, the Spatengang is also known in the Bundeswehr, it survived WWII.

Yeah, we used it, too.

[plant-pilot]

There was a version of the same that used to be used in the British Army in the 80s. I say was, as there seems to be portaloos everywhere on exercise now and I haven't heard it used in a while. But we used to call it a 'Shovel Recce' because you took your shovel and took a walk in the woods to recce a good spot.

[Richard Hargreaves]

I've just come across this word in an Afrika Korps' soldier's memoirs. Thanks for the translation - I thought at first it meant trench-digging.

Is anyone able to give a rough English translation of this little saying which the men used?

Der Spatengang er kommt gewiß und wenn es erst am Abend ist.

[Alanmccoubrey]

Richard, Is "Der Spatengang" not DAK soldiers' slang for what we in the British Army called a "shovel patrol". Going out into the desert to relieve oneself.

[Richard Hargreaves]

It is - it's the pithy saying I'm struggling to concisely translate.

And on that front, I can't crack (no pun intended...) the next sentence either:

Die Hockstellung dabei ist für uns Normaleuropäer schon eine Belastung, wenn es über Monate und Jahre geht.

[fridgeman]

@ Richard
"To cower (while take a @#%) is a burden for us normal europeans with the months and years elapsing."

I guess the author wanted to say that he was used to a comfortable toilet normally, in contrary to other european nations.

[Richard Hargreaves]

Many thanks Fridgeman. Nice to find an expert on European toiletry habits.