diff --git a/Documentation/config.txt b/Documentation/config.txt
index 1766ed1320..d11f4c7a42 100644
--- a/Documentation/config.txt
+++ b/Documentation/config.txt
@@ -1787,6 +1787,12 @@ submodule.<name>.update::
 	URL and other values found in the `.gitmodules` file.  See
 	linkgit:git-submodule[1] and linkgit:gitmodules[5] for details.
 
+submodule.<name>.fetch::
+	A boolean to enable/disable recursive fetching of this submodule. It can
+	be overriden by using the --[no-]recursive command line option to "git
+	fetch" and "git pull".	This setting overrides any setting made in
+	.gitmodules for this submodule.
+
 submodule.<name>.ignore::
 	Defines under what circumstances "git status" and the diff family show
 	a submodule as modified. When set to "all", it will never be considered
diff --git a/Documentation/fetch-options.txt b/Documentation/fetch-options.txt
index 470ac31396..aff4dafd83 100644
--- a/Documentation/fetch-options.txt
+++ b/Documentation/fetch-options.txt
@@ -64,6 +64,12 @@ endif::git-pull[]
 	specified with the remote.<name>.tagopt setting. See
 	linkgit:git-config[1].
 
+--[no-]recursive::
+	By default new commits of all populated submodules will be fetched
+	too. This option can be used to disable/enable recursive fetching of
+	submodules regardless of the 'fetch' configuration setting (see
+	linkgit:git-config[1] or linkgit:gitmodules[5]).
+
 -u::
 --update-head-ok::
 	By default 'git fetch' refuses to update the head which
diff --git a/Documentation/gitmodules.txt b/Documentation/gitmodules.txt
index bcffd95ada..febfef46a5 100644
--- a/Documentation/gitmodules.txt
+++ b/Documentation/gitmodules.txt
@@ -44,6 +44,14 @@ submodule.<name>.update::
 	This config option is overridden if 'git submodule update' is given
 	the '--merge' or '--rebase' options.
 
+submodule.<name>.fetch::
+	A boolean to enable/disable recursive fetching of this submodule.
+	If this option is also present in the submodules entry in .git/config of
+	the superproject, the setting there will override the one found in
+	.gitmodules.
+	Both settings can be overriden on the command line by using the
+	"--[no-]recursive" option to "git fetch" and "git pull"..
+
 submodule.<name>.ignore::
 	Defines under what circumstances "git status" and the diff family show
 	a submodule as modified. When set to "all", it will never be considered
diff --git a/builtin/fetch.c b/builtin/fetch.c
index 6fc5047703..757478a7f8 100644
--- a/builtin/fetch.c
+++ b/builtin/fetch.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "parse-options.h"
 #include "sigchain.h"
 #include "transport.h"
+#include "submodule.h"
 
 static const char * const builtin_fetch_usage[] = {
 	"git fetch [<options>] [<repository> [<refspec>...]]",
@@ -27,7 +28,13 @@ enum {
 	TAGS_SET = 2
 };
 
-static int all, append, dry_run, force, keep, multiple, prune, update_head_ok, verbosity;
+enum {
+	RECURSIVE_UNSET = 0,
+	RECURSIVE_DEFAULT = 1,
+	RECURSIVE_SET = 2
+};
+
+static int all, append, dry_run, force, keep, multiple, prune, recursive = RECURSIVE_DEFAULT, update_head_ok, verbosity;
 static int progress;
 static int tags = TAGS_DEFAULT;
 static const char *depth;
@@ -53,6 +60,8 @@ static struct option builtin_fetch_options[] = {
 		    "do not fetch all tags (--no-tags)", TAGS_UNSET),
 	OPT_BOOLEAN('p', "prune", &prune,
 		    "prune tracking branches no longer on remote"),
+	OPT_SET_INT(0, "recursive", &recursive,
+		    "control recursive fetching of submodules", RECURSIVE_SET),
 	OPT_BOOLEAN(0, "dry-run", &dry_run,
 		    "dry run"),
 	OPT_BOOLEAN('k', "keep", &keep, "keep downloaded pack"),
@@ -926,6 +935,12 @@ int cmd_fetch(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		}
 	}
 
+	if (!result && recursive) {
+		gitmodules_config();
+		git_config(submodule_config, NULL);
+		result = fetch_populated_submodules(recursive == RECURSIVE_SET);
+	}
+
 	/* All names were strdup()ed or strndup()ed */
 	list.strdup_strings = 1;
 	string_list_clear(&list, 0);
diff --git a/git-pull.sh b/git-pull.sh
index 8eb74d45de..4bc8a60c64 100755
--- a/git-pull.sh
+++ b/git-pull.sh
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ test -z "$(git ls-files -u)" || die_conflict
 test -f "$GIT_DIR/MERGE_HEAD" && die_merge
 
 strategy_args= diffstat= no_commit= squash= no_ff= ff_only=
-log_arg= verbosity= progress=
+log_arg= verbosity= progress= recursive=
 merge_args=
 curr_branch=$(git symbolic-ref -q HEAD)
 curr_branch_short="${curr_branch#refs/heads/}"
@@ -105,6 +105,12 @@ do
 	--no-r|--no-re|--no-reb|--no-reba|--no-rebas|--no-rebase)
 		rebase=false
 		;;
+	--recursive)
+		recursive=--recursive
+		;;
+	--no-recursive)
+		recursive=--no-recursive
+		;;
 	--d|--dr|--dry|--dry-|--dry-r|--dry-ru|--dry-run)
 		dry_run=--dry-run
 		;;
@@ -220,7 +226,7 @@ test true = "$rebase" && {
 	done
 }
 orig_head=$(git rev-parse -q --verify HEAD)
-git fetch $verbosity $progress $dry_run --update-head-ok "$@" || exit 1
+git fetch $verbosity $progress $dry_run $recursive --update-head-ok "$@" || exit 1
 test -z "$dry_run" || exit 0
 
 curr_head=$(git rev-parse -q --verify HEAD)
diff --git a/submodule.c b/submodule.c
index 91a4758747..23806383fd 100644
--- a/submodule.c
+++ b/submodule.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "string-list.h"
 
 struct string_list config_name_for_path;
+struct string_list config_fetch_for_name;
 struct string_list config_ignore_for_name;
 
 static int add_submodule_odb(const char *path)
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ void set_diffopt_flags_from_submodule_config(struct diff_options *diffopt,
 	}
 }
 
-static int submodule_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
+int submodule_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 {
 	if (!prefixcmp(var, "submodule."))
 		return parse_submodule_config_option(var, value);
@@ -100,6 +101,14 @@ int parse_submodule_config_option(const char *var, const char *value)
 			config = string_list_append(&config_name_for_path, xstrdup(value));
 		config->util = strbuf_detach(&submodname, NULL);
 		strbuf_release(&submodname);
+	} else if ((len > 5) && !strcmp(var + len - 6, ".fetch")) {
+		strbuf_add(&submodname, var, len - 6);
+		config = unsorted_string_list_lookup(&config_fetch_for_name, submodname.buf);
+		if (!config)
+			config = string_list_append(&config_fetch_for_name,
+						    strbuf_detach(&submodname, NULL));
+		config->util = git_config_bool(var, value) ? (void *)1 : NULL;
+		strbuf_release(&submodname);
 	} else if ((len > 7) && !strcmp(var + len - 7, ".ignore")) {
 		if (strcmp(value, "untracked") && strcmp(value, "dirty") &&
 		    strcmp(value, "all") && strcmp(value, "none")) {
@@ -229,6 +238,55 @@ void show_submodule_summary(FILE *f, const char *path,
 	strbuf_release(&sb);
 }
 
+int fetch_populated_submodules(int forced)
+{
+	int result = 0;
+	struct child_process cp;
+	const char *argv[] = {
+		"fetch",
+		NULL,
+	};
+	struct string_list_item *name_for_path;
+	const char *work_tree = get_git_work_tree();
+	if (!work_tree)
+		return 0;
+
+	memset(&cp, 0, sizeof(cp));
+	cp.argv = argv;
+	cp.env = local_repo_env;
+	cp.git_cmd = 1;
+	cp.no_stdin = 1;
+	cp.out = -1;
+
+	for_each_string_list_item(name_for_path, &config_name_for_path) {
+		struct strbuf submodule_path = STRBUF_INIT;
+		struct strbuf submodule_git_dir = STRBUF_INIT;
+		const char *git_dir;
+
+		if (!forced) {
+			struct string_list_item *fetch_option;
+			fetch_option = unsorted_string_list_lookup(&config_fetch_for_name, name_for_path->util);
+			if (fetch_option && !fetch_option->util)
+				continue;
+		}
+
+		strbuf_addf(&submodule_path, "%s/%s", work_tree, name_for_path->string);
+		strbuf_addf(&submodule_git_dir, "%s/.git", submodule_path.buf);
+		git_dir = read_gitfile_gently(submodule_git_dir.buf);
+		if (!git_dir)
+			git_dir = submodule_git_dir.buf;
+		if (is_directory(git_dir)) {
+			printf("Fetching submodule %s\n", name_for_path->string);
+			cp.dir = submodule_path.buf;
+			if (run_command(&cp))
+				result = 1;
+		}
+		strbuf_release(&submodule_path);
+		strbuf_release(&submodule_git_dir);
+	}
+	return result;
+}
+
 unsigned is_submodule_modified(const char *path, int ignore_untracked)
 {
 	ssize_t len;
diff --git a/submodule.h b/submodule.h
index 386f410a66..9e6257edf1 100644
--- a/submodule.h
+++ b/submodule.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ struct diff_options;
 
 void set_diffopt_flags_from_submodule_config(struct diff_options *diffopt,
 		const char *path);
+int submodule_config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb);
 void gitmodules_config();
 int parse_submodule_config_option(const char *var, const char *value);
 void handle_ignore_submodules_arg(struct diff_options *diffopt, const char *);
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ void show_submodule_summary(FILE *f, const char *path,
 		unsigned char one[20], unsigned char two[20],
 		unsigned dirty_submodule,
 		const char *del, const char *add, const char *reset);
+int fetch_populated_submodules(int forced);
 unsigned is_submodule_modified(const char *path, int ignore_untracked);
 int merge_submodule(unsigned char result[20], const char *path, const unsigned char base[20],
 		    const unsigned char a[20], const unsigned char b[20]);
diff --git a/t/t5526-fetch-submodules.sh b/t/t5526-fetch-submodules.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..489ef1a933
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/t5526-fetch-submodules.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# Copyright (c) 2010, Jens Lehmann
+
+test_description='Recursive "git fetch" for submodules'
+
+. ./test-lib.sh
+
+pwd=$(pwd)
+
+add_upstream_commit() {
+	(
+		cd submodule &&
+		head1=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD) &&
+		echo new >> subfile &&
+		test_tick &&
+		git add subfile &&
+		git commit -m new subfile &&
+		head2=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD) &&
+		echo "From $pwd/submodule" > ../expect.err
+		echo "   $head1..$head2  master     -> origin/master" >> ../expect.err
+	)
+}
+
+test_expect_success setup '
+	mkdir submodule &&
+	(
+		cd submodule &&
+		git init &&
+		echo subcontent > subfile &&
+		git add subfile &&
+		git commit -m new subfile
+	) &&
+	git submodule add "$pwd/submodule" submodule &&
+	git commit -am initial &&
+	git clone . downstream &&
+	(
+		cd downstream &&
+		git submodule init &&
+		git submodule update
+	) &&
+	echo "Fetching submodule submodule" > expect.out
+'
+
+test_expect_success "fetch recurses into submodules" '
+	add_upstream_commit &&
+	(
+		cd downstream &&
+		git fetch >../actual.out 2>../actual.err
+	) &&
+	test_cmp expect.out actual.out &&
+	test_cmp expect.err actual.err
+'
+
+test_expect_success "fetch --no-recursive only fetches superproject" '
+	(
+		cd downstream &&
+		git fetch --no-recursive >../actual.out 2>../actual.err
+	) &&
+	! test -s actual.out &&
+	! test -s actual.err
+'
+
+test_expect_success "using fetch=false in .gitmodules only fetches superproject" '
+	(
+		cd downstream &&
+		git config -f .gitmodules submodule.submodule.fetch false &&
+		git fetch >../actual.out 2>../actual.err
+	) &&
+	! test -s actual.out &&
+	! test -s actual.err
+'
+
+test_expect_success "--recursive overrides .gitmodules config" '
+	add_upstream_commit &&
+	(
+		cd downstream &&
+		git fetch --recursive >../actual.out 2>../actual.err
+	) &&
+	test_cmp expect.out actual.out &&
+	test_cmp expect.err actual.err
+'
+
+test_expect_success "using fetch=true in .git/config overrides setting in .gitmodules" '
+	add_upstream_commit &&
+	(
+		cd downstream &&
+		git config submodule.submodule.fetch true &&
+		git fetch >../actual.out 2>../actual.err
+	) &&
+	test_cmp expect.out actual.out &&
+	test_cmp expect.err actual.err
+'
+
+test_expect_success "--no-recursive overrides fetch setting from .git/config" '
+	add_upstream_commit &&
+	(
+		cd downstream &&
+		git fetch --no-recursive >../actual.out 2>../actual.err
+	) &&
+	! test -s actual.out &&
+	! test -s actual.err
+'
+
+test_done
diff --git a/t/t7403-submodule-sync.sh b/t/t7403-submodule-sync.sh
index 02522f9627..6f3e966b05 100755
--- a/t/t7403-submodule-sync.sh
+++ b/t/t7403-submodule-sync.sh
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ test_expect_success 'change submodule url' '
 
 test_expect_success '"git submodule sync" should update submodule URLs' '
 	(cd super-clone &&
-	 git pull &&
+	 git pull --no-recursive &&
 	 git submodule sync
 	) &&
 	test -d "$(git config -f super-clone/submodule/.git/config \