🇬🇧 Fascism and National Socialism in the United Kingdom

Introduction

Fascism and National Socialism were not confined to continental Europe in the 20th century. Ideologies advocating for authoritarianism, ultranationalism, and racial prejudice also took root in the United Kingdom, most prominently under the leadership of Sir Oswald Mosley. This document explores the history of British fascist movements, primarily focusing on the British Union of Fascists (BUF) and its post-war successors, and provides resources for studying the continuing evolution of far-right politics in the United Kingdom.

1. Historical Context: The British Union of Fascists (BUF)

The traditional historical perspective of fascism in Britain narrowly views it as a phenomenon of the 1930s, almost exclusively associated with Sir Oswald Mosley and the British Union of Fascists (BUF). This narrow view often relegates the movement to a marginal position within British society, suggesting it was of limited significance.

Sir Oswald Mosley was a Member of Parliament who founded the British Union of Fascists in 1932. Mosley's movement gained notoriety for its large, often violent, rallies and its increasing focus on anti-Semitic rhetoric.

Post-World War II Evolution: Following the war, Mosley reformed his movement as the Union Movement in 1948. This new organization campaigned for imperial control of Africa, a united Europe, and an end to non-white immigration. However, it stopped short of offering a full fascist program, finding itself caught between conventional political parties and the overtly racist fringe.

Emergence of the Extreme Right: More extreme elements soon broke away from Mosley's Union Movement, spawning a range of new groups. These included the National Party, the National Workers Movement, and Chesterton’s League of Empire Loyalists, the latter of which became highly influential as a training ground for a new generation of leaders for the extreme right.

2. Contemporary United Kingdom Far-Right and Neo-National Socialism

In the years following the decline of the traditional Mosleyite movement, far-right politics in the United Kingdom have continued to evolve, often aligning themselves with anti-immigrant sentiment and leveraging modern digital platforms.

Contemporary movements are characterized by:

3. Sources and Further Reading

I. Foundational Historical Context

II. Contemporary and Analytical Articles

Credits and Licensing

Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa and Professional Genealogist.

All materials licensed: Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License by eirenicon limited liability company.