Homeland - Fatherland

Fatherland

Fatherland is the nation of one's "fathers" or "forefathers". It can be viewed as a nationalist concept, insofar as it relates to nations.

The term fatherland (Vaterland) is used throughout German-speaking Europe, as well as in Dutch. For example, "Wien Neêrlands Bloed", national anthem of the Netherlands between 1815 and 1932, makes extensive and conspicuous use of the parallel Dutch word.

Because of the use of Vaterland in German war propaganda, the term "Fatherland" in English has become associated with domestic British and American anti-Nazi propaganda during World War II.

Terms equating "Fatherland" in Germanic languages:

• Danish fædreland
• Dutch vaderland
• Frisian heitelân
• German Vaterland
• Icelandic föðurland
• Norwegian fedreland
• Swedish fäderneslandet (besides the more common fosterlandet)

A corresponding term is sometimes used in Slavic languages, in Serbian is otadžbina or отаџбина in Serbian Cyrillic alphabet, Macedonian татковина (tatkovina), Bulgarian татковина (tatkovina) as well as otechestvo, Czech otčina (although the normal Czech term for "homeland" is vlast), in Polish ojczyzna (besides macierz "motherland"), Russian otechestvo (отечество) or otchizna (отчизна) (although rodina "motherland" is more common).

In Latin America a common way to refer to one's country is Patria which has the same connotation as Fatherland, that is, the nation of our parents/fathers (in Spanish Padres or Papas). Curiously, Spain is usually referred to as la Madre Patria (the Motherland of our forefathers).