Combat 18

Combat 18 (or C18) was a British neo-Nazi organization formed in 1991 after meetings between the group Blood & Honour and football hooligans such as the Chelsea Headhunters. The "18" in their name is commonly used by neo-Nazi groups, and is derived from the initials of Adolf Hitler: A and H are the first and eighth letters of the Latin alphabet.

Combat 18 outside Britain

According to Germany's Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV), or internal security service, C18 maintains divisions in the U.S., France, Sweden, and Germany. This is unlikely, however, as the group remains widely discredited among other far-right groups because of the honey-trap suspicions. Combat 18's use of the cell structure, and its call for a so-called "leaderless resistance", has nevertheless remained popular among other unaligned groups.

Related Topics:
Verfassungsschutz - U.S. - France - Sweden - Germany - Far-right - Honey-trap - Cell structure - Leaderless resistance

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On October 28, 2003 the German police conducted raids against 50 properties in Kiel and Flensburg believed to be linked to German supporters of the group. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3220563.stm

Related Topics:
October 28 - 2003 - Kiel - Flensburg

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In Northern Ireland, Combat 18 have tried to forge alliances with the different loyalist paramilitary groups. Most loyalists have remained opposed to any links, although former Ulster Defence Association commander Johnny Adair (a C18 member in his youth) encouraged the approaches. Some informal links remain, and many of the racist attacks in south Belfast in recent years are thought to have been carried out by Ulster Volunteer Force members sympathetic to the aims of Combat 18. They are also thought to have links with loyalists in Coleraine and Bushmills. Many C18 members attend the annual Orange Order parades in Northern Ireland. At a 1995 soccer match in Dublin between England and Ireland, Combat 18 members led other English supporters in chants of "No surrender to the IRA!" after Ireland scored, and the Englishmen soon began breaking up the stands. The game was called off, and the troublesome supporters were herded onto the pitch, where the Garda Síochána had a quiet word in their ears. Members of C18 have acted as stewards for loyalist Apprentice Boys of Derry parades in London.

Related Topics:
Northern Ireland - Loyalist - Ulster Defence Association - Johnny Adair - Belfast - Ulster Volunteer Force - Coleraine - Bushmills - Orange Order - 1995 - Dublin - England - IRA - Garda Síochána - Apprentice Boys of Derry

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~