“Iron Symbols of the Iron Age”: The Practice of “Nagelung” in Germany and Austria-Hungary during the First World War

Abstract

During World War I, the practice of Nagelung – the nailing of various national and military symbols – in Germany and Austria-Hungary was a form both of philanthropy and of social support, which had an integrative and mobilizing impact on the population. The symbolism, actions, and rituals connected with this practice were meant to reconfirm and validate the collective identity. Having originated as civil initiatives, the Nagelung practices were supported and encouraged by the authorities for propaganda reasons and for practical purposes. Every artefact was made not only to meet the current interests but also to affect the culture of social memory. As the war was becoming prolonged and was starting to drain the material and moral resources of the society, it essentially put an end to the Nagelung practices.