Befehl ist Befehl

• (literal Dutch translation) bevel is bevel
• (partial calque) Befehl is Befehl

Borrowed from German Befehl ist Befehl (“an order is an order”). Used as a defence during the Nuremberg trials (see Nuremberg defense).

• IPA^(key): /bəˈfeːl ist bəˈfeːl/

Befehl ist Befehl

1. orders are orders (Used wrily when someone attempts to justify questionable actions by referring to rules, laws or orders from higher up.)
   • 1967, Marz-Lenin-Luxemburg Front, Derde Front, Communistenbond Spartacus, Spartacus‎^[1]:

     De machthebbers hier zonden hem felicitaties bij zijn verjaardag. Protesterenden gingen de gevangenis in. Gezag is gezag. Befehl ist Befehl.

     The rulers here sent him congratulations on his birthday. Those who protested went to jail. Authority is authority. Orders are orders.

   • 2010, Jan Cremer, De Hunnen, Bezige Bij b.v., →ISBN, page 628:

     Smeerlappen van de politie, agenten die uit het korps waren gesmeten, die hun gram wilden halen omdat ze nooit voor promotie waren voorgedragen, die tijdens de bezetting zonder één vraag alle orders uitvoerden, dienstkloppers voor wie alleen 'Befehl ist Befehl' gold.

     Bastard from the police force, cops who were fired, cops who wanted to get even because they were never nominated for a promotion, who executed all orders during the military occupation, pigs who believed in nothing except 'orders are orders'.

   • 2011, Ellen Gerretzen, Bloedbruiloft, WPG Uitgevers BE - Algemeen, →ISBN, page 309:

     Het moment waarop hij ontdekt had dat zijn vader overtuigd nazi was geweest stond in zijn geheugen gegrift. En niet zomaar eentje uit de schare van Befehl ist Befehl. Over hijos de puta van kaliber gesproken.

     The moment he found out that his father had been a fanatic Nazi was burned into his memory. And not just one from the order of orders are orders. A complete son of a bitch.

Literally, “order is order”.

Used as a defence during the Nuremberg trials (see Nuremberg defense).

Befehl ist Befehl

1. orders are orders (Used wrily when someone attempts to justify questionable actions by referring to rules, laws or orders from higher up.)

• → Dutch: bevel is bevel (calque)
• → English: orders are orders (calque)
• → French: les ordres sont les ordres (calque)
• → Italian: gli ordini sono ordini (calque)