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 the USA

In the USA, the Constitutional guarantee for freedom of speech allows political organizations great latitude in expressing Nazi, racist or anti-Semitic ideology. Nazi groups in the United States can trace back to the 1920s, with the US branch of the National Socialist German Workers Party. This organization merged with Free Society of Teutonia to form the German-American Bund. The Bund and other groups achieved a limited and controversial popularity in the 1930s (at one point having a rally of over 20,000), but rapidly faded with the onset of WWII. The groups either disbanded or were dismantled by force during the war period.

Related Topics:
Constitution - Freedom of speech - Anti-Semitic - National Socialist German Workers Party - Free Society of Teutonia - German-American Bund

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After WWII, new organizations eventually formed which had varying degrees of adoption of Nazi principles, and again built ties with older organizations. As of the 21st century, there are some actual Neo-Nazi groups as well as a number of White supremacist, white separatist, Anti-Semitic, and Fascist groups that share some or large parts of their ideology with Nazism. It should be noted that the Ku Klux Klan is different from, and predates Nazism; it is not a Neo-nazi organization. The KKK has, however, often maintained ties to and sympathized with Nazi groups, including the original Bund during the 1930s.

Related Topics:
White supremacist - White separatist - Ku Klux Klan

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U.S.-based Neo-Nazi and Nazi sympathizer groups often have web sites, occasionally have public demonstrations, and even maintain international ties to groups in Europe and elsewhere. However, they are a vocal few and a tiny percentage of the population. More often than not, they are outnumbered at public demonstrations by counter-protesters and are quickly prosecuted for any crimes. The U.S. Congress passed extra penalties for what are known as hate crimes, such as vandalizing a synagogue with a swastika.

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See Neo-Nazi groups of the United States for a listing of Neo-Nazi and Nazi sympathizer groups

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