what did americans call hamburgers during world war i
Americans most commonly called hamburgers “liberty sandwiches” during World War I to avoid the German-sounding word “hamburger.”
Quick Scoop: What Did Americans Call Hamburgers During World War I?
The Short Answer
During World War I, many Americans stopped using the word “hamburger” because Hamburg is a German city and the U.S. was at war with Germany.
To sound more patriotic, they adopted new names, especially:
- “Liberty sandwich”
- “Liberty burger”
- Sometimes “Salisbury steak” for a similar ground-beef patty dish
So if you’re wondering what did Americans call hamburgers during World War I , the textbook-style answer you’ll usually see is: They called them “liberty sandwiches.”
Why Rename the Hamburger?
Anti-German feeling was intense after the U.S. entered the war in 1917.
- The word “hamburger” sounded too German because of its link to Hamburg, Germany.
- People wanted everyday things—even food names—to feel patriotic, not “enemy-aligned.”
- Renaming the food was a symbolic way to show loyalty to America.
This was part of a wider trend: many German names, words, and even music were discouraged or rebranded during the war.
In other words: same patty, same bun, new name to match the mood of the times.
Other Names You Might See
While “liberty sandwich” is the most famous, it wasn’t the only label in use.
Common or reported alternatives included:
- Liberty sandwich – The best-known patriotic replacement for “hamburger.”
- Liberty burger – A closely related patriotic spin on the name.
- Salisbury steak – Ground beef shaped into a patty and served with gravy; often used as a non-German-sounding term.
- Less widely cited, more colorful names on some menus or in discussions:
- “Liberty steak” or “Yankee steak”
* “Gee Whiz sandwich” in some Midwestern references
Not all of these were equally common nationwide, but they show how strongly people wanted to distance the dish from its German roots.
Mini Table: WWI Names for Hamburgers
| Name Used | What It Meant |
|---|---|
| Liberty sandwich | Patriotic, de-Germanized name for a hamburger. | [5][3]
| Liberty burger | Similar idea; emphasized American “liberty” instead of German Hamburg. | [3]
| Salisbury steak | Ground-beef patty (often with gravy) marketed without the word “hamburger.” | [8][6][3]
| Liberty steak / Yankee steak | Patriotic menu names stressing support for U.S. troops. | [1]
| Gee Whiz sandwich | A more local, playful name reported in parts of the Midwest. | [3]
Today’s Take: Why It Still Comes Up
People still ask what did Americans call hamburgers during World War I because it’s a neat example of how language shifts under political pressure.
- It shows how quickly a familiar food can be rebranded for patriotic reasons.
- It’s often compared to other “liberty” renamings in later eras, making it a recurring topic in history quizzes and online discussions.
So if you’re answering a quiz, trivia game, or SEO-optimized blog question, the safest headline answer is:
During World War I, many Americans called hamburgers “liberty sandwiches.”
TL;DR:
Because “hamburger” sounded too German in World War I, Americans rebranded
it—most famously as “liberty sandwiches” , along with terms like “liberty
burger” and “Salisbury steak.”
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.