zabernism

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(Noun) abusive misuse of military authority; bullying (From the German name for Saverne, a town in Alsace. Originated from an incident in 1912 involving an overzealous soldier who killed a cobbler for smiling at him.)

Usage: "He led his people to destroy the militarism of Zabern; and the army they rescued is busy in Cologne imprisoning every German who does not salute a British officer; whilst the government at home, asked whether it approves, replies that it does not propose even to discontinue this Zabernism when the Peace is concluded, but in effect looks forward to making Germans salute British officers until the end of the world." - Heartbreak House, George Bernard Shaw

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zabernism

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