Neo-Nazism

The term Neo-Nazism is used to refer to any social or political movement seeking to revive Nazism or a racist form of Fascism, and which postdates the Second World War. Often, especially internationally, those who are part of said movements do not use the term to describe themselves, either eschewing the terms neo-Nazism and/or Neo-Fascism (out of either: tactical avoidance of the stigma surrounding them, or actual ideological distinctiveness from them) or rejecting the 'neo' prefixing their commitment to Fascism or National Socialism. The use of the neo- prefix is not universally used to describe Neo-Nazi groups either, and there are also Neo-Nazi groups that specifically use the prefix.

Neo-Nazism in Germany

Nazi iconography remains to this day heavily restricted in Germany. As German law forbids the production of Nazi devotionalia, such items come into the country mostly (illegally) from the USA and northern European countries. Rock bands such as Landser have been outlawed in Germany, yet bootleg copies of their albums printed and pressed in the United States and other countries are still sold. Study of neo-Nazi literature and propaganda regarding these enterprises, including handbooks and flyers offering employment for such activities show that to Nazis, these actions (though strictly illegal) are viewed as being virtuous and worthy, and it is not looked upon as smuggling contraband, but instead is seen as supporting fellow resistance fighters who struggle under an oppressive regime; much the same way the European resistance viewed their own activities against the Nazis during World War II. Currently, Neo-Nazi websites mostly depend on hosting in the USA and Canada and use other terms for Nazi ideas and symbols. They also invent new symbols, or choose other pre-christian European symbolism reminiscent of the swastika and other symbols used by the Nazis, e.g. the sun disc, sun wheel, hooked cross, wolf's cross, wolf's hook, black sun, or dark star (see fascist symbolism).

Related Topics:
USA - Landser - World War II - Canada - Swastika - Wolf's hook - Fascist symbolism

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In Germany immediately after World War II, Allied forces and the new German governments attempted to prevent the creation of new Nazi movements through a process known as denazification. With this and the total defeat of the Nazi regime, there was little overt neo-Nazi activity in Europe until the 1960s. Some former Nazis retained their ideology and racist beliefs, however, and passed them down to new generations (see Socialist Reich Party, Wiking-Jugend).

Related Topics:
Germany - World War II - Allied forces - The new German government - Denazification - 1960s - Socialist Reich Party - Wiking-Jugend

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After German reunification in the 1990s, neo-Nazi groups succeeded in gaining more followers, mostly among teenagers in Eastern Germany. Many were new groups that arose amidst the economic collapse and subsequent high unemployment in the former East Germany. The activities of these groups resulted in several violent attacks on foreigners, creating a hostile atmosphere for foreigners in some towns. The violence manifested itself especially in attempts to burn down the homes for people in search of asylum in Germany.

Related Topics:
German reunification - East Germany

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• Attacks on accommodation for refugees: Hoyerswerda (17 - 22 September 1991), Rostock-Lichtenhagen (23 - 27 August 1992), Schwedt, Eberswalde, Eisenhüttenstadt, Elsterwerda (October 1991)
• Arson attack on the house of a Turkish family in Solingen (29 May 1993), two women and three girls die in the fire, seven people severely injured.
• Murder of three Turkish girls in an arson attack in Mölln (23 November 1992), nine more people injured.

("Arson attack" is a translation of the German word Brandanschlag, which implies throwing Molotov cocktails into houses (fire-bombing) in an attempt to burn them down.)

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These events preceded demonstrations (Lichterketten, "candle chains") with hundreds of thousands of participants protesting against the re-emergence of one of the darkest chapters in their history. In turn, these precipitated further massive neo-Nazi demonstrations, which continue today. Demonstrations often erupt in violence as Nazis and their anti-Fascist counter-protestors clash in the streets.

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Official German statistics for the year 1990 record 178 right-wing-extremist-motivated crimes of violence (Gewalttaten). In 1991 there were 849 and in 1992 there were 1,485, with a significant concentration in the eastern Bundesländer (1999: 2.19 crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in the eastern Bundesländer and 0.68 in the western ones). After 1992 the numbers went down, although they have risen sharply again in subsequent years. Because public opinion and media coverage concerning Neo-Nazi ideologies is still extremely negative, local authorities often attempt to suppress such large scale organizations by such groups (sometimes unsuccessfully, and almost always only temporarily) when they reach a certain size.

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A trial was held before the Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitution Court), the highest court in Germany, about the prohibition of the NPD (National Democratic Party), considered (though not proven to be) a neo-Nazi party. In the course of the trial it was discovered that some high-ranking party members who should appear as witnesses worked as informants for the domestic intelligence service, the Verfassungsschutz (Constitution Protection). The trial turned into a major political scandal. It was first temporarily suspended and then finally rejected by the court because of the unclear influence of informants in the actions and image of the NPD. This issue has raised similar concerns globally, as attempts by all sides to discredit Neo-Nazi parties often hinge on the availability of evidence that such groups are violent or illegal in some way. With informants and infiltrators in such groups so common, and the very purpose of these agents being to confirm suspicions of malevolent intent, it becomes difficult to discern whether a violent or illegal action is the product of the actual Nazi Party, or of the infiltrators own personal desire to see the party discredited.

Related Topics:
Bundesverfassungsgericht - National Democratic Party - Verfassungsschutz

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In 2004, the NPD received 9.1% of the vote in the parliamentary elections for Saxony, thus earning the right to seat parliament members. The other parties are refusing to enter into discussion with the NPD.

Related Topics:
2004 - Saxony

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There is some involvement, in Germany, of Neo-Nazism with Germanic Neopaganism, notably the Artgemeinschaft, and other organizations who blend Germanic paganism with Nazi mysticism, such as the Armanen-Orden and the Thule-Seminar.

Related Topics:
Germanic Neopaganism - Artgemeinschaft - Germanic paganism - Nazi mysticism - Armanen-Orden - Thule-Seminar

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