German nationalism (German: Deutscher Nationalismus or Deutschnationalismus) refers to the nationalism of Germans and German culture. The earliest origins of German nationalism began with the birth of Romantic nationalism during the Napoleonic Wars when Pan-Germanism started to rise. Advocacy of a German nation began to become an important political force in response to the invasion of German territories by France under Napoleon. After the rise and fall of Nazi Germany that committed the genocide now known as the Holocaust in the name of extreme nationalism against Jews and others during World War II, German nationalism has been generally viewed in the country as negative and taboo. However, during the Cold War a mainstream moderate German nationalism arose that supported the unification of East and West Germany that was achieved in 1990.
Read more about German Nationalism: German Nationalism in Austria, Symbols
Famous quotes containing the words german and/or nationalism:
“Some of us prefer Austrian voices risen in song to ugly German threats.”
—Ernest Lehman (b. 1920)
“The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does; the first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility, but the second a feeling of blind arrogance that leads to war.”
—Sydney J. Harris (1917–1986)