I’ve got a very specific question, and I’ve been googling but haven’t found any information for this.

I’m re-watching this Danish movie again ([https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3542188/?ref_=tttr_tr_tt](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3542188/?ref_=tttr_tr_tt)) , it’s about a bicycle unit during the invasion of Denmark in WW2.

So my question is – why are the Officers and NCOs talking to the soldiers by numbers and not names? Is this something that was really being practiced? Seems crude and very depersonalising to me. When did it start and is it still employed in the Danish army?

Edit: Thanks for the comments guys! I’ve never heard that being used in another country so it seemed a bit strange to me. At the end of the film, the numbers are dropped and the officer calls them by their last names. I think the idea was to illustrate that group is more tightly knit than before. I guess it’s a good system for organisation of you wish to be more streamlined. Judging by your answers – it seemed to be working just fine for a very long time. Thanks again!

6 comments

  1. Yes that used to be a thing… Later also by the name of their home town.

    Edit: Now by surname

    Edit2: It was common at least until late 60s

  2. To this day they still have numbers, I was number 4 in the Navy and number 106 in DEMA. Also was addressed by my last name depending on situation.
    Its good for unifying a group of people, dehumanising us to be one collective group etc. Works really well!

  3. My dad was in a branch of the military back in 62 and he and the other boys were referred to by numbers given to them. My dad’s number has become his lucky number and he uses it for different purposes to this day. 🙂

  4. Fun fact: People were called the name of their hometown in the event of war in Denmark, allowing for the officers to gain an edge by being able to brief people on their local knowledge of roads, locations etc.

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