During the First World War, the term "Fritz" was used by British soldiers as a derogatory nickname for German soldiers. It was derived from the German name "Friedrich" (Frederick), which was seen as a typically German name. The use of "Fritz" as a nickname for German soldiers was similar to the way in which the Germans used the term "Tommy" for British soldiers. Both nicknames were used in a derogatory sense, but they also reflected the fact that the soldiers on both sides were often fighting against each other for long periods of time and developed a certain familiarity with each other.