Victory or Death

Victory or death and its equivalents, is used as a motto or battle cry :

• It is given as the translation of the heraldic motto of several Scottish clans :
  • Clan MacDougall - BUAIDH NO BAS ("Victory or death")
  • Clan MacNeil - BUAIDH NO BAS ("Victory or death")
  • Clan Macdowall - VINCERE VEL MORI ("To conquer or die")
  • Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie - VINCERE VEL MORI ("To conquer or die")

• And also the Irish clan :

• • Clan Murphy of Wexford and Cork - VINCERE VEL MORI ("To conquer or die")

• The Bedford Flag, possibly the oldest extant battle flag of the American Revolution, bears the motto VINCE AUT MORIRE (Conquer or Die)

• Before Washington's crossing of the Delaware River at the Battle of Trenton in 1776, "Victory" was the password and "Or Death" was the response

• The Maniots used "Victory or Death" as their motto when they joined the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire in 1821

• The letter written "To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World" during the Battle of the Alamo (1836), ends with "Victory or Death!"

• Adolf Hitler gave the order "Victory or Death" twice :
  • to Erwin Rommel at the Second Battle of El Alamein (1942)
  • to Friedrich Paulus at the Battle of Stalingrad (1942-3)

• The 32nd Armor Regiment of the United States Army has the motto "Victory or Death"
  • The 1960 film G.I. Blues features the regimental emblem as Elvis Presley had served with them in 1958-60.
  • The 1986 film Ferris Buellers Day Off features a black beret bearing the regiment's emblem
  • Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses has the regiment's emblem and motto tattooed on his left arm.

• The 442 Field Artillery Battalion of the US Army have the motto VICTORIA LAETA AUT MORS ("Glorious victory or death")

• The Chilean Navy has the motto Vencer o Morir ("Conquer or Die")

• Also used as a battle cry in medieval Muslim battles and conquests.