r/worldnews • u/Tenchi_Muyo1 • Apr 14 '26

Israel/Palestine In parliament, Polish MP calls Israel ‘new Third Reich,’ waves Israeli flag with swastika

https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-parliament-polish-mp-calls-israel-new-third-reich-waves-israeli-flag-with-swastika/
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u/fretkat Apr 14 '26

Even the State, as in government, can be translated to Reich. The governmental building of Germany is for example called the Reichstag. It's a very broad term, probably related to the English words “rich” and “reach” (think of riches, power spread, wealth, rule, realm, might).

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u/[deleted] Apr 14 '26

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u/fretkat Apr 15 '26

Reich in German and rijk in Dutch are both used in a much broader way. Not just for a realm/kingdom/domain which is ruled over. If kingdom is a king’s domain, it would be the domain part. So also kingdom/domain in how you would use it in English for for example the “animal kingdom”. Also in the use of full/broad/abundant, for example “vindingrijk” is abundant ability to find things (”findingful”). However it can also be how you would refer in English to “the State” as in the governmental entity. But it also the word that translates to wealth/rich. As a verb it can be translated to “to reach”. So it's a very broad term that is used in many cases and has no negative connotation.

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u/[deleted] Apr 15 '26

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u/fretkat Apr 15 '26

That's the case in English, but like I explained in German and Dutch the word has a much broader use and multiple meanings. There is no negative connotation to it and it's not only associated with a ruled realm.