Found in a recently-published collection of personal narratives from the Napoleonic Wars...
Apparently the vernacular name for the city of Vienna ("Wien") doubled as a mantra of resistance for residents of the occupied city.
"Was Ist das Ende Napoleons?
Wien Ist das Ende Napoleons."
(Translation: "What is the end of Napoleon? Vienna is the end of Napoleon!")
Quite similar to how Giuseppe Verdi's name was co-opted during Italian unification. According to the historical claim, the slogan "Viva VERDI" stood for "Viva Vittorio Emanuele Re D'Italia" ("Long live Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy").
Friday, July 9, 2010
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