When Germany was unified in 1871, what was the reaction to the German diaspora in other empires (such as in Russia or Austria)? Was there any effort to join the German nation?

by PigeonDetective
ChosenTom

Since the german minorities in Eastern Europe did not have any political power during that time, there was no documented effort. After WW1 right-wing German politicians tried to exploit those people for territorial claims. The Nazis used the "Volksdeutschen" in their propaganda, but as far as I know they were mostly unpolitical peasents trying to get along with their lives.