Thanks to the German Army, the U.S. Marine Corps has an unofficial mascot.  During World War I many German reports had called the attacking Marines "teufel-hunden," meaning Devil-Dogs.  Teufel-hunden were the vicious, wild, and ferocious mountain dogs of Bavarian folklore.

   Soon afterward a U.S. Marine recruiting poster depicted a snarling English Bulldog wearing a Marine Corps helmet.  Because of the tenacity and demeanor of the breed, the image took root with both the Marines and the public.  The Marines soon unofficially adopted the English Bulldog as their mascot.