Der Deutsche Michel (literally: “The German Micheal”) is a figure representing the national character of the German people, rather as John Bull represents the British and Uncle Sam represent the Americans. Such figures differ from those that serve as personifications of the nation itself, as Germania did the German nation and Marianne the French. He is usually depicted wearing a nightcap and nightgown, sometimes in the colours of the German flag, and represents the Germans’ conception of themselves, especially in his easy-going nature and Everyman appearance. In German, Michel is also the short form of Michael, though quite rare today.
First Appearance Ein schön new Lied genannt Der Teutsche Michel (“A fine new song called the German Michel”) — Pamphlet/broadsheet ballad (1642)
First Publisher Unknown
Appearance List Ein schön new Lied genannt Der Teutsche Michel (“A fine new song called the German Michel”) — Pamphlet/broadsheet ballad (1642), Grimmelshausen’s Simplicissimi Pralerey und Gepräng mit seinem Teutschen Michel stages a dialogue with “his German Michel” — Literary satire (pamphlet/dialogue, 1673), Enlightenment-era writers (e.g., Gottlieb Wilhelm Rabener) employ “(der) deutsche Michel” as a proverbial everyman/foil in satire (Mid-18th century), Political cartoons (1842), Fliegende Blätter prints “Der deutsche Michel” — Satirical magazine prose (1846), The Leipzig satirical sheet Eulenspiegel runs Michel und seine Kappe im Jahre 48 — Revolution-year cartoons (1848), Leopold Feldmann’s Der deutsche Michel — Stage play (1848), Wartime cartoon about Franco-Prussian War (1870), The Munich weekly Simplicissimus — Mass-circulation satire (From 1896).
Description Der Deutsche Michel (literally: “The German Micheal”) is a figure representing the national character of the German people, rather as John Bull represents the British and Uncle Sam represent the Americans. Such figures differ from those that serve as personifications of the nation itself, as Germania did the German nation and Marianne the French. He is usually depicted wearing a nightcap and nightgown, sometimes in the colours of the German flag, and represents the Germans’ conception of themselves, especially in his easy-going nature and Everyman appearance. In German, Michel is also the short form of Michael, though quite rare today.
