Professor,
ask that to all the veterans who served in ww2.
I worked for one for several years.. He was a forward observer with Patton's army..
I learned a lot just by listening after asking many questions regarding his time on the battlefields.
That name is what almost all soldiers referred to the enemy as. Krauts. I have no idea where its origins lie but it is almost universally understood to mean German military persons.
I would not care one way or the other what one wants to refer to the German people as. Germans would be the most descriptive. At least in general terms.
How about this one: calling or referring to Japanese soldiers as "nips". Just another one of those pesky ww2 names that were used.
Rooskies has been around awhile referring to the Russian military and people in general. I do not remember when that started but it seems to have stuck..
I don't make up the words.I just have heard them and know what they are referring to.
Ask anyone who was in Vietnam what Charlie means. We ALL know. Slang for vietcong mostly. NVA Regulars was different.
We usually were outgunned over there until M-1's were being replaced.
so, your guess is as good as mine. I have German ancestry. And Polish. And Seneca Indian.
I am a true Heinz 57 on a bun! lol!!!!
Ya can call me anything ya want except late for dinner. 
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