Why is Russia called the "Motherland," or "Mother Russia," and Germany is the "Fatherland?"

by I_Pavlov

My mother is Russian, but when I asked her, she basically just said that's how it always has been.

Thanks in advance!

Searocksandtrees

hi! it might be worth x-posting to a Russian and/or German sub (/r/Europe?), but this question comes up frequently here. Check out this post, which includes links to several more

popojala

Russia is called отечество, fatherland, (отец = father). Most famously WWII from barbarossa on is called the great patriotic war (Вели́кая Оте́чественная война́) not a war for the motherland or mother Russia.