Völkisch movement

The völkisch movement was a type of nationalist movement in Germany that began in the late 1800s. It was based on the idea that ethnic Germans, or 'Völk' (meaning a group of people who shared the same cultural and ethical values), were different from other peoples. It was a movement that was against new ideas and argued for a return to traditional German values. It also embraced a homogeneous state, proclaiming that all Germans had the same language, culture and laws. The völkisch movement had strong anti-Semitic beliefs, which ultimately led to its downfall. The ideas of the movement were taken up by the Nazis in their rise to power.