stab-in-the-back myth

English

Etymology

Calque of German Dolchstoßlegende.

Proper noun

stab-in-the-back myth

1. (historical) The Dolchstoßlegende: a widespread historical myth in right-wing circles in Germany after 1918, claiming that Germany did not lose World War I militarily and capitulated needlessly after having been betrayed by civilian leaders (especially Communists).

Noun

stab-in-the-back myth (plural stab-in-the-back myths)

1. (by extension) Any denialist myth misattributing failure to internal betrayal.
   • 2004, Joshua A. Fogel, Late Qing China and Meiji Japan: Political & Cultural Aspects, Signature Books, page 10:

     Aside from the Cantonese stab-in-the-back myth mentioned earlier, the most up-to-date and authoritative Chinese sources of information on Western affairs then available reinforced arguments in favor of jōi.

   • 2023 May 19, Jonathan Freedland, “They’re openly saying it: Brexit has failed. But what comes next may be very dark indeed”, in The Guardian‎^[1], →ISSN:

     That is the process we are witnessing now: the steady nurturing of a stab-in-the-back myth for Brexit. History suggests that this hunt for the wielder of the treacherous dagger will only get nastier.

Further reading

• stab-in-the-back myth on Wikipedia.Wikipedia