Völkisch Movement

The Völkisch Movement was a German cultural and political movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that emphasized racial identity, national pride, and a return to traditional German values. It often promoted ideas of racial superiority and romanticized a pure German heritage, rejecting modernization and migration. The movement influenced nationalist and far-right groups, including the Nazi Party, and contributed to ideas of ethnic purity and nationalism that had dangerous political implications. Its focus was on fostering a sense of communal identity rooted in ethnicity, culture, and folklore, often intertwined with xenophobia and anti-Semitism.