NeoNazism

Neo-Nazism is the rebirth of the Nazi Ideology.

# 1945 - 1950

After World War II, the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) was officially dissolved by the Allied Control Council in 1945, marking the end of Nazism. Denazification processes began, and the Nuremberg trials were held, leading to the condemnation of many Nazi leaders and ideologues.

In the 1949 West German elections, some Nazi advocates infiltrated the national conservative Deutsche Rechtspartei, but they eventually formed the more radical Socialist Reich Party (SRP) under Otto Ernst Remer. However, the SRP and similar parties faced legal action due to their opposition to liberal democracy.

In Austria, the Verbotsgesetz 1947 explicitly criminalized the NSDAP and any restoration attempts. In West Germany, a similar law targeted anti-constitutional parties. Some members of the emerging German Nazi movement joined the Deutsche Reichspartei or founded organizations like the Wiking-Jugend. There were also individuals who explored esoteric aspects of Nazism, such as Savitri Devi and the Artgemeinschaft.

# Rise of Neo Nazism

During the Cold War, Otto Strasser, founded the German Social Union, which dissolved in 1962 due to lack of support. Other groups like HIAG and Stille Hilfe focused on supporting Waffen-SS veterans. Former Nazis held prominent positions in German administration during this period, which drew criticism. Laws were passed to prohibit public expression of Nazi beliefs.

Outside of Germany, Nazism emerged in countries that fought against the Third Reich during World War II. These movements sometimes adopted pan-European or universal characteristics. Two notable tendencies were followers of Francis Parker Yockey, who advocated for a pan-European nationalism, and George Lincoln Rockwell, an American conservative who theatrically adopted Nazi aesthetics. Yockey focused on the destiny of Europe and promoted a red-brown alliance against American culture, while Rockwell emphasized anti-Jewish sentiment within the United States.

Yockey's sympathizers included the National Renaissance Party, while Rockwell founded the American Nazi Party. Later white nationalist leaders like David Duke and William Luther Pierce emerged from the American Nazi Party but distanced themselves from explicit self-identification with Nazism.

In 1961, the World Union of National Socialists was founded by George Lincoln Rockwell and Colin Jordan, adopting the Cotswold Declaration. The National Socialist Movement and the British National Socialist Movement were involved in street conflicts with the Jewish 62 Group. In the 1970s, the National Front, led by John Tyndall, faced negative publicity due to televised exposes revealing their Nazi connections.

In Franco's Spain, SS refugees like Otto Skorzeny and Léon Degrelle associated with CEDADE, an organization promoting Third Reich apologetics. Similar Nazi advocates emerged in other countries, including France, Italy, and Mexico.

In Germany, various nostalgic movements aligned with the National Democratic Party of Germany, while Austria saw the rise of the National Democratic Party. Flemish group Vlaamse Militanten Orde radicalized in the 1970s, hosting the "Iron Pilgrimage" conference. The NSDAP/AO, led by Gary Lauck, challenged the influence of Rockwell's World Union of National Socialists.

In the late 1970s, a British subculture associated with Nazism emerged: the skinheads. Some joined the British Movement or the National Front's Rock Against Communism project. Music group Skrewdriver, led by Ian Stuart Donaldson, founded the international Blood & Honour network in 1987, which later developed a paramilitary wing called Combat 18.

On the Masonic level, Miguel Serrano built on existing theories and published his book "Adolf Hitler: The Ultimate Avatar" in 1984. Serrano claimed that Aryans were extragalactic beings who founded Hyperborea, while Jews were creations of the Demiurge Yahweh focused on materialism. His works became influential in Nazi circles.

# World War III

With the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, neo-Nazism gained traction in Eastern Europe. In Russia, a mix of KGB hardliners, Orthodox neo-Tsarist nostalgics, Russian mafia and neo-Nazis formed an alliance known as “Russian National Unity”, led by Alexander Barkashov, represented this movement, advocating for a Russia exclusively for Russians and incorporating Nazi symbols. These forces briefly united during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis. Commemorations for SS volunteers also emerged in newly independent ex-Soviet states like Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine.

German neo-Nazis were enthralled by the Russian developments, envisioning a Berlin-Moscow alliance against what they saw as decadent Atlanticist forces. However, the international neo-Nazi movement and its affiliates became divided over the Bosnian War between 1992 and 1995, with support falling along ethnic and sectarian lines. Germans and French largely backed the Western Catholic Croats, while Russians and Greeks supported the Orthodox Serbs. This period also saw a revival of National Bolshevism, which attracted attention away from overt Russian neo-Nazism by blending ultra-nationalism with admiration for Joseph Stalin while flirting with Nazi aesthetics.

# Far-right nationalist parties

In various countries outside of Germany, neo-Nazi movements have emerged, seeking to rehabilitate ideologies loosely associated with the Axis powers. In Italy, France, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Hungary, Belgium, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece and more..

The skinhead culture gained momentum in the late 1980s and peaked during the late 1990s. In Finland, Somali immigrants became the main targets of Finnish skinhead violence in the early 1990s. Attacks using explosives and a racist murder were carried out against them, with asylum seeker centers being targeted as well. The Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM) is the most prominent neo-Nazi group in Finland, associated with multiple murders, attempted murders, and assaults.

The Finns Party, the second-largest party in Finland, has supported far-right and neo-Nazi movements such as the Finnish Defense League, Soldiers of Odin, NRM, Rajat Kiinni (Close the Borders), and Suomi Ensin (Finland First).

The NRM and other far-right nationalist parties organize an annual torch march demonstration in Helsinki, commemorating the Finnish SS battalion on the country's independence day. The event is met with protests from antifascists, often leading to violent clashes between counterdemonstrators and NRM members acting as security. The demonstration attracts thousands of participants, and extensive police presence is required to prevent further violence.

In France, neo-fascist groups emerged in the post-war period, influenced by collaborationist movements during the German occupation. These groups combined ultra-nationalism and socialism, and Vichy France under Marshal Philippe Pétain emphasized authoritarian Catholic conservative politics.

In the 1960s, French neo-fascism saw an upturn, partly in response to the protests of 1968. The FANE, a pro-Nazi group, was among the most explicitly pro-Nazi factions.

The Front National (FN) was founded in this period, encompassing a broader spectrum of the French hard right.

However, conflicts between national-conservative elements and "national revolutionary" (fascistic and National Bolshevik) splinter groups have since emerged within the FN and other far-right factions.

Neo-Nazi movements emerged in Germany following the failure of the National Democratic Party of Germany in the 1969 elections.

Skinhead culture developed as an anti-authoritarian youth movement, and paramilitary groups like Wehrsportgruppe formed.

Turkish immigrants in Germany have been victims of neo-Nazi violence on multiple occasions, including arson attacks and murders.

The National Socialist Underground (NSU), a neo-Nazi group, carried out a series of murders targeting immigrants and ethnic minorities between 2000 and 2007.

The German intelligence services have faced criticism for their handling of far-right activities and support for informants within these groups.

# The Regime of the Colonels

On April 21, 1967, Greece experienced a military coup led by a faction of right-wing officers. This coup led to the establishment of a junta known as “The Regime of the Colonels”. The regime imposed a far-right ideology and implemented repressive measures, such as censorship, political persecution, and the suppression of civil liberties. These actions further exacerbated the political turmoil and challenges faced by the Greek people during that time.

The dictatorship was characterized by policies promoting anti-communism, severe restrictions on civil liberties, and the imprisonment, torture, and exile of political opponents. Georgios Papadopoulos ruled from 1967 to 1973, attempting to solidify support through a 1973 referendum on the monarchy and gradual moves toward democratisation.

Greece became a refuge for various far-right and neo-Nazi groups from around Europe. Connections between the Greek junta and neo-Nazi parties existed, with Greece serving as a safe haven for these extremist movements. These connections highlight the complex political landscape and influence that extended beyond Greece's borders during that time.

# Aryan Light

Heinrich, a devoted follower of Adolf Hitler, set his sights on Greece, a country that would serve as a breeding ground for the revival of neo-Nazi ideals.  Heinrich dispatched a select group of loyal followers to Athens, led by his trusted lieutenant, Ernst Müller. Müller, a cunning and persuasive individual, was tasked with establishing the foundations of the new Masonic order of “Aryan Light” in the heart of Athens.

With the support of Georgios Papadopoulos, Heinrich and Müller established their headquarters in Athens, in a temple located in the streets of Monastiraki. Within the sacred halls of this temple, they conducted rituals that intertwined ancient Masonic practices with the twisted doctrines of Nazi ideology. Their presence began to cast a dark shadow over Athens, attracting individuals who shared their desire to perpetuate the legacy of Nazism.

As time went on, their influence grew, casting a dark shadow over Athens. The city became a magnet for those who sought to perpetuate the legacy of Nazism. The German Masonic neo-Nazis,

In 1972 Konstantinos Pleuris. Took the leadership of the Aryan Light, Pleuris saw an opportunity to align himself with Heinrich and Müller's cause. Recognizing the potential for spreading their warped ideology, Pleuris became an influential figure within the Masonic order of "Aryan Light."

Under Pleuris' guidance, neo-Nazism grew in power and influence, solidified its grip on Athens, spreading its poisonous ideology and attracting followers from within Greece and beyond. Pleuris, a prominent figure within the order, continued to propagate his beliefs, further fueling the dark resurgence of neo-Nazi ideals in the city.

However, In November 1973, a significant event known as the “Polytechnic uprising” unfolded in Greece. The uprising was a massive demonstration of popular opposition against the military junta. Students and civilians gathered at the Polytechnic University to protest against the dictatorship, demanding democratic reforms and an end to the oppressive regime.

The junta responded to the uprising with force, sending in tanks and armed forces to suppress the demonstrators. Tragically, the situation escalated, and clashes between the protesters and the military resulted in violence and bloodshed.

The events of November 1973 left a profound impact on Greek society and intensified the opposition against the junta. The tragic loss of life and the oppressive response by the regime further fueled public outrage and united various factions in their quest for democracy.

The junta attempted to renew its support through a referendum on the monarchy on December, but the junta's grip on power was further weakened by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. The invasion created significant unrest and pressure on the junta, ultimately leading to its downfall. Subsequently, the restoration of the republic took place, marking the establishment of the Second Republic in Greece.

# Golden Dawn

Following the restoration of the republic in Greece, the Masonic order of "Aryan Light," led by Konstantinos Pleuris, faced repercussions. As the new government sought to dismantle the remnants of the junta and its associated organizations, the Masonic order came under scrutiny for its neo-Nazi ideology and activities.

In the aftermath of the regime's fall, investigations were conducted, and legal actions were taken against individuals associated with the former junta and its supportive organizations. Konstantinos Pleuris, being a prominent figure within the Masonic order and an advocate of extremist beliefs, was among those targeted by the authorities.

As a result, Pleuris faced legal consequences for his involvement in the Masonic neo-Nazi movement. In 1976 he was arrested and subsequently imprisoned for his actions and controversial views. The closure of the Masonic order of "Aryan Light" marked the end of its influence and activities in Greece.

The restoration of the republic also signaled a renewed commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, aiming to prevent the resurgence of such dangerous ideologies in the country.

In 1977, Pleuris stood trial as an accomplice to the actions of Aristotelis Kalentzis, who had been arrested in February on charges of being a bomber. Kalentzis was sentenced to twelve years in prison, while Pleuris was acquitted.

Pleuris and other members of the Aryan Light remained free in Greece since the country's laws didn't persecute ideas, including Nazism.

Consequently, Pleuris had the opportunity to deliver speeches at schools and received praise from the media. However, he faced charges of "spreading false information," "inciting citizens to discord," and "disrupting the country's relations with friendly states."

In the early 1990s, Michaloliakos, a member of the Aryan Light, established connections with other neo-Nazi parties and organizations in the Balkans and Europe.

Following the Macedonian issue and made its first public appearance in Athens during a demonstration on December 10, 1992.

During this event, a group of around 30 armed Michaloliakos followers attacked the occupied ASOEE (Athens University of Economics and Business) building. The media denounced the incident as a "neo-Nazi appearance," while the organization took responsibility for the attacks on "organized anti-national elements."

The following month, Michaloliakos created the neo-Nazi party and newspaper of The Golden Dawn started publishing its own weekly newspaper. In the same year, a bomb exploded at the Golden Dawn headquarters, attributed to the left-wing organization "Revolutionary People's Struggle."

See also -

* Nazi Kiev State
* Golden Dawn - Greece
* Anti-Nazism