Dueling scar: Difference between revisions

[[File:Anna Lemminger and Franz Burda.jpg|thumb|[[Aenne Burda|Aenne]] &and [[Franz Burda]], 9 July 1931. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, dueling scars were seen as a badge of honor in Germany and Austria, making their owners "good husband material".]]

'''Dueling scars''' ({{lang-de|link=no|Schmisse}}) have been seen as a "'''badge of honour'''" since as early as 1825. Known variously as "'''{{lang|de|[[Mensur]]}}''' scars", "'''the bragging scar'''", "'''smite'''", "'''{{lang|de|Schmitte}}'''", or "{{lang|de|Renommierschmiss}}", dueling scars were popular amongst [[upper- class]] AustriansGermans and [[Germany|Germans]]Austrians involved in [[academic fencing]] at the start of the 20th century. Being a practice amongst Universityuniversity students, it was seen as a mark of their class and [[honour]], due to the status of dueling societies at German and Austrian universities at the time.<ref name="DeMello p 237">DeMello, Margo (2007). ''Encyclopedia of body adornment'' Greenwood Publishing Group. [https://books.google.com/books?id=s0122BsqrZwC&pg=PA237 p. 237]. {{ISBN|978-0-313-33695-9}}.</ref> The practice of [[duel]]ing and the associated scars was also present to some extent in the [[Military of Germany|German military]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keener |first=Candace |date=4 May 2009 |title=Real Men Have Dueling Scars |url=http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/2009/05/04/real-men-have-dueling-scars/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729063707/http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/2009/05/04/real-men-have-dueling-scars/ |archive-date=29 July 2010 |publisher=HowStuffWorks}}</ref>

The sport of [[academic fencing]] at the time was very different from modern [[fencing]] using specially developed swords. The so-called {{lang|de|Mensurschläger}} (or simply {{lang|de|Schläger}}, 'hitter') existed in two versions. The most common weapon is the {{lang|de|Korbschläger}} with a basket-type guard. In some universities in the eastern part of Germany, the so-called {{lang|de|Glockenschläger}} is in use which is equipped with a bell-shaped guard. The individual duels between students, known as {{lang|de|[[Mensuren]]}}, were somewhat ritualised. In some cases, protective clothing was worn, including padding on the arm and an eye guard.

The culture of dueling scars was mainly common in Germany and [[Austria]], to a lesser extent some Central European countries and briefly at places such as [[Oxford University|Oxford]], and some other elite universities. German military laws permitted men to wage duels of honor until [[World War I]]. During the [[Nazi Germany|Third Reich]] the {{lang|de|Mensur}} was prohibited at all Universitiesuniversities following the party line.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Weskamp |first1=Manuel |last2=Schmitt |first2=Peter-Philipp |title=Verbindungen im "Dritten Reich": In Opposition mit Band und Schläger |journal=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |language=de |url=https://www.faz.net/1.2199887 |access-date=24 January 2019 |issn=0174-4909}}</ref>

[[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F024217-0001, Bonn, Prof. Curt Silberman (cropped).jpg|thumb|140pxupright|Noted Jewish attorney [[Curt Silberman]] showing an old dueling scar on his jaw (1967)]]

[[File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183Bundesarchiv Bild 183-K0108-0501-003,_Rudolf_Diels Rudolf Diels.jpg|thumb|140pxupright|[[Rudolf Diels]], co-founder and head of the [[Gestapo]] infrom 1933 to 1934.]]

The wounds were generally not that serious, "wounds causing, as a rule, but temporary inconvenience and leaving in their traces a perpetual witness of a fight well fought. The hurts, save when inflicted in the nose, lip, or ear, are not even necessarily painful, and unless the injured man indulges too freely in drink, causing them to swell and get red, very bad scars can be avoided. The swords used are so razor-like that they cut without bruising so that the lips of the wounds can be closely pressed, leaving no great disfigurement, such, for example, as is brought about by the loss of an ear."<ref>"Scarred Dueling Heroes,", St Louis Daily Globe 15 August 1887</ref>

Sometimes, students who did not fence would scar themselves with razors in imitation,<ref name="DeMello p 237" /> and some would pull apart their healing cuts to exacerbate the scars, although this was generally frowned upon. Others paid doctors to slice their cheeks.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} The number and extremity of scars was reduced in morethe recentlater years of the timespractice and virtually does not exist anymore in modern Germany, and the custom of obtaining dueling scars started to die off after the [[World War II|Second World War]].

Roughly 300 fencing fraternities ({{lang|de|[[Studentenverbindung]]en}}) still exist today and most of them are grouped into umbrella organizations such as the [[German Student Corps|Corps]], {{lang|de|[[Landsmannschaft (Studentenverbindung)|Landsmannschaft]]}} or the {{ill|Deutsche Burschenschaft|de}} (DB) in the Federal Republic of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and several other European nations. Their traditions still include [[academic fencing]] and dueling scars. However duel scars do not exist anymore in modern German fraternities. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Joseph |date=19 September 2006 |title=Student Societies |url=http://www.pickelhauben.net/articles/Students.htm |access-date=2 December 2014 |website=pickelhauben.net |archive-date=22 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222013124/http://www.pickelhauben.net/articles/Students.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="faz">{{Cite news |last=Kuiken |first=Alwin |date=8 November 2013 |title=Schlagende Verbindungen: Die den Kopf hinhalten |language=de |work=[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]] |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/schlagende-verbindungen-die-den-kopf-hinhalten-12653226.html?printPagedArticle=true |access-date=22 March 2018}}</ref>

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