diff --git a/webapp/fds-bootstrap.js b/webapp/fds-bootstrap.js
index b2cbf9f25..4d6003b6d 100644
--- a/webapp/fds-bootstrap.js
+++ b/webapp/fds-bootstrap.js
@@ -53,6 +53,26 @@ if (!locale || locale === 'en-us') {
         }
         platformBrowserDynamic().bootstrapModule(FdsModule, {providers: providers});
     }).fail(function () {
-        platformBrowserDynamic().bootstrapModule(FdsModule, {providers: providers});
+        // was this a country specific locale? if so, try to get the generic version of the language
+        const localeTokens = locale.split('-');
+        if (localeTokens.length === 2) {
+            translationFile = './webapp/locale/messages.' + localeTokens[0] + '.xlf';
+            $.ajax({
+                url: translationFile,
+                dataType: 'text'
+            }).done(function (translations) {
+                // add providers if translation file for locale is loaded
+                if (translations) {
+                    providers.push({provide: TRANSLATIONS, useValue: translations});
+                    providers.push({provide: TRANSLATIONS_FORMAT, useValue: 'xlf'});
+                    providers.push({provide: LOCALE_ID, useValue: localeTokens[0]});
+                }
+                platformBrowserDynamic().bootstrapModule(FdsModule, {providers: providers});
+            }).fail(function () {
+                platformBrowserDynamic().bootstrapModule(FdsModule, {providers: providers});
+            });
+        } else {
+            platformBrowserDynamic().bootstrapModule(FdsModule, {providers: providers});
+        }
     });
 }