"Up to now, no one has established great goals for German culture".[Nietzsche, Nachlass 1874]

All great culture is by definition 'Patriotic'.It is no coincidence that those Germans of the 19th century such as Nietzsche, who closely identified with the ancient Greeks, would raise the banner of Patriotism. For it is with the Greeks that the Noble blood-stream of Patriotic thought begins, and is nurtured by them before it flows out, fully formed into the veins of the Romans, the Elizabethan English and the 19th century Germans.

This Patriotism is, for Nietzsche, a means;
"Great human beings are the apex for whom everything else exists".[ib.]
And this is, as he puts it, a 'mission';"The early Germanic vigour found within the ranks of our army justifies us in entertaining the hope that our German Mission has not yet been fulfilled".[Nietzsche, letter to Gersdorff early 1870s].
Here the philosopher echoes the great Italian Patriot Mazzini;"
Among all beautiful lives, Nietzsche envied Mazzini's in a very special way - that utter concentration upon a single idea that becomes as it were a flame in which the whole individuality is consumed".[Malwida von Meysenbug (a close friend and intellectual confident of Nietzsche's)]

Mazzini was adamant that;
"Life is a Mission. Every other definition of life is false, and leads all who accept it astray. Religion, science, philosophy all agree in this, that every existence is an AIM". [Mazzini, 'Tempest of Doubts'].
"Life is a Mission", then "duty is its Highest Law".[ib.]

This perspective remained with Nietzsche throughout his working life; we are reminded of Nietzsche's political outlook, as evidenced in 'Beyond Good and Evil' for example, by Mazzini's saying that;
"Great events are in the offing, events which, whenever they may materialise, will necessarily bring on a European war and a World War, since principles are involved. Only one thing can prevent this catastrophe, a league of peoples, a league of freemen of all countries - 'Young Europe' in short!".[Mazzini, 'Nationality and Nationalism']
Nietzsche's later formulation of 'Good Europeans' is prefigured here, remembering that Mazzini died in 1872, i.e., at the peak of Nietzsche's Wagner Period.

Mazzini defines Nationalism thus;
"Every people has its special Mission, which will co-operate towards the ful-filment of the general Misssion. That Mission constitutes its NATIONALITY.
Nationality is Sacred".[Mazzini, point 17 of 'Young Europe: General Instructions for the Initiators']