der  Beschuss

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈʃʊs/

💥 What does "der Beschuss" mean?

Der Beschuss is a masculine noun (*Maskulinum*) with two main meanings:

1. Military/Physical: The act of firing projectiles (bullets, shells, etc.) at a target. It signifies continuous or repeated firing, often with heavy weapons.

   • Example: Der Beschuss der Festung dauerte die ganze Nacht. (The shelling of the fortress lasted all night.)

2. Figurative: An intense, sustained series of attacks, usually verbal, such as criticism, questions, or accusations. 🗣️

   • Example: Der Politiker geriet nach seiner Rede unter heftigen Beschuss der Opposition. (The politician came under heavy fire/criticism from the opposition after his speech.)

⚠️ Important: It usually refers to a multitude of shots or critical remarks, not a single shot (*der Schuss*) or a single criticism (*die Kritik*).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "Beschuss" in Detail

The word *Beschuss* is a masculine noun. It is mostly used in the singular. The plural *die Beschüsse* is rare and usually refers to repeated, separate incidents of shelling or criticism.

Declension (Singular)

Declension (Plural - rare)

Example Sentences

• Der Beschuss von feindlicher Artillerie war heftig.
  (The enemy artillery fire was heavy.)
• Wir standen unter ständigem Beschuss.
  (We were under constant fire.)
• Der Zeuge wurde einem wahren Beschuss von Fragen ausgesetzt.
  (The witness was subjected to a real barrage of questions.)
• Aufgrund der wiederholten Beschüsse wurde die Stadt evakuiert. (rare plural)
  (Due to the repeated shellings, the city was evacuated.)

🗣️ How to use "Beschuss"?

Der Beschuss is used in various contexts:

• Military & News: Very common in reports about wars, conflicts, or attacks. (e.g., "Die Stadt steht unter schwerem Beschuss." - "The city is under heavy fire.")
• Figurative (Criticism): In a metaphorical sense for strong criticism, accusations, or probing questions, often in politics, media, or professional life. (e.g., "Der Minister geriet wegen der Affäre unter Beschuss." - "The minister came under fire because of the affair.")
• Figurative (Other Impacts): Less commonly for other types of intense exposure, e.g., light or sound bombardment (*Lichtbeschuss*, *Schallbeschuss*) in physics/technology.

Important Phrases:

• unter Beschuss geraten/stehen: to come/be under fire (literally or figuratively).
• jemanden unter Beschuss nehmen: to fire upon someone or to criticize someone heavily.

Distinction from similar words:

• Der Schuss: A single act of shooting.
• Das Geschoss: The projectile that is fired (bullet, shell).
• Die Kritik: A single critical statement or evaluation. Beschuss implies a series or high intensity.

💡 Mnemonics for "der Beschuss"

Article Mnemonic: Imagine Der General ordering der Beschuss. The noun is masculine, like *der General*.

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of the English word "shush!" - but imagine it's the opposite: a very loud, intense event. Or link *Beschuss* to the verb *schießen* (to shoot) - the 'Be-' prefix often intensifies an action in German, so *Beschuss* is like 'intense shooting' or 'being shot at intensely'.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but different words

• Der Schuss: the shot (single act).
• Das Geschoss: the projectile itself.
• Der Abschuss: the shooting down (e.g., of an aircraft) or permission to hunt/shoot.

😂 A Little Joke

Auf Deutsch: Warum nehmen Journalisten einen Notizblock mit, wenn ein Politiker unter Beschuss gerät?

Damit sie alle verbalen Volltreffer notieren können! 🎯

In English: Why do journalists bring a notepad when a politician comes under Beschuss (fire/criticism)?

So they can note down all the verbal direct hits! 🎯

📜 Poem about Beschuss

Auf Deutsch:
Der Himmel dröhnt, die Erde bebt,
von lautem Beschuss umwebt.
Granaten pfeifen, Kugeln fliegen,
wo einst Stille, jetzt nur Kriegen.

Doch auch das Wort kann treffen hart,
ein Kritikhagel, eiskalt, zart?
Nein, spitz und schnell, ein Wortgefecht,
steht man im Beschuss, fühlt man sich schlecht.

In English:
The sky does roar, the earth does shake,
By loud Beschuss, for goodness sake.
Shells whistle past, and bullets fly,
Where silence reigned, now war is nigh.

But words can hit, a painful blow,
A hail of critique, cold, soft, and low?
No, sharp and fast, a verbal fight,
In such Beschuss, things don't feel right.

🧩 Riddle Time

Auf Deutsch:
Ich kann aus Eisen sein und laut,
hab manche Stadt schon aufgebaut... äh, zerstört.
Ich kann aus Worten sein, die Wunden schlagen,
und bringe viele oft zum Klagen.

Mal bin ich Krieg, mal nur Debatte,
man steht in mir auf heißer Platte.

Was bin ich?

Lösung: Der Beschuss

In English:
I can be made of iron and sound loud,
I've built... er, destroyed many a town's proud cloud.
I can be made of words that inflict a sting,
And cause many people much suffering.

Sometimes I am war, sometimes just debate,
Standing in me feels like a heated plate.

What am I?

Solution: Der Beschuss (firing/barrage/heavy criticism)

✨ Other Information

Word Composition

The word *Beschuss* is derived from the verb *beschießen* (*to shoot at, to shell*). The prefix *be-* often indicates an action directed at an object or an intensification, and *Schuss* comes from the verb *schießen* (*to shoot*).

Common Phrases

• unter Beschuss nehmen: to take under fire (actively attack, militarily or verbally)
• unter Beschuss geraten/stehen: to come/be under fire (to be the target of an attack)
• jemanden ins Kreuzfeuer des Beschusses nehmen: to subject someone to a crossfire of criticism (to criticize someone heavily from multiple sides simultaneously)