During World War I in the United States, hamburgers were often renamed to avoid the German-sounding word “hamburger,” which comes from Hamburg, Germany.

Quick Scoop: What Were Hamburgers Called?

To distance the food from Germany and sound more patriotic, Americans used several alternative names:

  • Liberty Sandwich – A popular patriotic renaming pushed in the WWI era.
  • Liberty Steak / Liberty Steaks – Another common term, especially in restaurants, emphasizing “liberty” instead of “Hamburg.”
  • Salisbury Steak – Ground beef patty served as a “steak,” used as a non‑German label for essentially the same kind of meat dish.
  • In some regions, other colorful names like “Gee Whiz Sandwich” also appeared.

In short: during WWI, a hamburger in America might be listed on a menu as a Liberty Sandwich or Liberty Steak , and sometimes as Salisbury Steak , to avoid any friendly association with Germany while the war was on.

Mini Story: A Name Under Fire

Imagine walking into a U.S. diner around 1918.
You want a hamburger, but the menu doesn’t dare say “hamburger” anymore. Anti‑German feeling is running hot, and even food gets pulled into the war. Instead of “hamburger,” the chalkboard proudly offers:

Today’s Special: Liberty Steak Sandwich

Ordering one isn’t just lunch; it’s a small, symbolic show of patriotism. The patty tastes the same, but the name has been scrubbed of its German origin. After the war, once tensions cool, the old word “hamburger” gradually slips back and eventually dominates again.

Fast Facts (Bullet Style)

  • The word “hamburger” sounded “too German” for many Americans during WWI.
  • Menus and newspapers promoted Liberty Sandwich , Liberty Steak/Liberty Steaks , and Salisbury Steak instead.
  • This fit a broader pattern: sauerkraut became “Liberty Cabbage” , frankfurters became “Liberty Sausage.”
  • The original name came back into normal use after wartime anti‑German sentiment faded.

Simple Table of WWI Hamburger Names

[1][10] [4][7][1] [10][1][4] [1] [7][10][1] [10][1]
Original Item WWI-Era Name Purpose
Hamburger / Hamburger steakLiberty Sandwich / Liberty SteakRemove German association, sound patriotic
Hamburger-style beef pattySalisbury SteakUse an English-sounding, “neutral” name
**TL;DR:** If you’d ordered a hamburger in the U.S. during World War I, you were likely asking for a **Liberty Sandwich** , **Liberty Steak** , or **Salisbury Steak** instead. 🇺🇸

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.