During World War I and World War II the popularity of the Dachshund declined dramatically as Anti-German propaganda fueled support for the war, and contributed to intolerance on the home front. Unfortunately for the Dachshund it became an easy to use and ready recognizable symbol of all things German. As anti-German sentiment continued to grow, Dachshunds were renamed liberty dogs, German measles were renamed liberty measles, and the City University of New York reduced by one credit every course in German. Dachshunds were routinely kicked or stoned to death in the streets of England; owners of Dachshunds that dared venture out into public risked being assaulted and labeled as German sympathizers, or having their pet ripped from their arms to be kicked and stomped to death in front of them.

Under such duress, the Dachshund population of the Allied world crashed during the Great War. In Chicago a frightened breeder; after being harassed and tormented by overzealous patriots and self proclaimed spy catchers, is said to have gone home and shot every Dachshund in his kennel rather than face further reprisal. In 1913, 217 Dachshunds were registered in Britain; in 1919, none. In the United States the poor Dachshund went from one of the ten most popular breeds in 1913 to being represented by 12 survivors in 1919.

Fourteen states banned the speaking of German in public schools. Even though the military adversary was thousands of miles away, it was German-Americans and the Dachshund as a symbol of Germany that provided convenient local targets for anti-German sentiment. In Van Houten, New Mexico, an angry mob accused an immigrant miner of supporting Germany and forced him to kneel before them, kiss the flag, and shout “To hell with the Kaiser”. In Illinois, a group of zealous patriots accused Robert Prager, a German coal miner, of hoarding explosives. Though Prager professed his American loyalty to the very end, he was eventually lynched by the angry mob. Explosives were never found. The War to End All Wars Emotional appeals and simplistic caricatures of the enemy provided the necessary fuel to ignite the spark of hatred and influence many Americans to commit heinous acts.

With the conclusion of the War to end all wars, those dedicated to the Dachshunds began a campaign to restore their good name. They in turn created ads to demonstrate the Dachshunds loyalty and patriotism.