How did the Nazi and fascist movements use folk songs in military ceremonies?

During the 1920s to 1940s, Nazi and fascist movements in Germany and Italy incorporated folk songs into the canons of their military ceremonies.1

These regimes utilized such music as part of a broader strategy of mass mobilization, which relied on theatrical, highly organized gatherings—such as the rallies at Nürnberg—to foster patriotic fervor and fanatic enthusiasm. By integrating folk traditions into these events, the movements sought to align their ideologies with the perceived spirit of the people, or Volk, while simultaneously promoting military values such as discipline, physical strength, and unquestioning obedience to authority.234

This practice was consistent with the fascist tendency to exploit emotional appeals over reason, using martial music, uniforms, and nationalistic ceremonies to regiment the population and consolidate political power.24