Anti-German Riots

The Anti-German Riots were violent protests and disturbances against German communities, primarily in the United States, that occurred during World War I (1914-1918). Fueled by wartime patriotism, suspicion, and anti-German sentiment, these riots involved acts of vandalism, threats, and physical attacks targeting German-Americans and German cultural institutions. They reflected the larger atmosphere of suspicion and nationalism, where German heritage was often stigmatized. The riots highlighted the pressure on immigrant communities to conform and the tensions that wartime fears could stir in domestic society.