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I am still convinced that:
отечество = Fatherland
родина = Motherland (Homeland)

But, it is probably just me being silly again.

Yes, I just noticed that :D

pretty simple explanation when you think about it :)

World War II was the WHOLE word war i.e. 1939-1945
The great war of the fatherland was only once the Soviet Union joined the war, i.e....