Anschlag

Anschlag is a German noun with several related meanings, most commonly used in three senses. First, it denotes a violent attack against persons or property, including acts of terrorism or physical assaults. In media and official language these attacks are often described as a “Terroranschlag” or simply “Anschlag,” sometimes distinguished from an assassination by using terms like “Attentat” for political killings. Second, the word can mean an attempt to commit a crime, especially a violent or political one, as in “ein Anschlag wurde geplant” or “ein Anschlagsversuch.” Third, Anschlag can refer to a public notice or posted sign, i.e., information affixed in a public place; in this sense the term appears in phrases such as “Anschläge am Schwarzen Brett,” though more common synonyms in everyday language include “Aushang” or “Hinweis.”

Etymology and sense development: the word derives from the verb anschlagen, historically meaning to strike against or to affix. The attack sense reflects the idea of forceful action against a target, while the notice sense is connected to attaching information publicly.

Usage notes: in contemporary German, Anschlag is most frequently encountered in discussions of violent incidents (e.g., “bei dem Anschlag wurden mehrere Menschen verletzt”). The term is often paired with qualifiers such as terrorist, political, or attempted to specify the nature of the act. Plural form is Anschläge.

See also: Attentat, Terroranschlag, Anschlagsserie, Anschlagsort, Anschlagsziel.