pan-Germanism

Movement that developed during the 19th century to encourage unity between German- and Dutch-speaking peoples in Austria, the Netherlands, Flanders, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. Encouraged by the unification of Germany after 1871, the movement had an increasingly high profile in the period up to 1914.

Pan-Germanism also had an impact in Belgium (Flemish separatism) and in Poland during World War I. Despite the defeat of Germany in 1919, its ideas were revived under the Nazi dictator Hitler's plans to expand through Europe.