The Fighting 60s: 62 Group

Posted on November 21, 2014 by jyoud Standard Reply

I have been sent an article Steve Silver wrote on the militant anti-fascist organisation the 62 Group for Searchlight in 2002. I’m more than happy to put up articles on the Anti-Fascist Archive and if you have any please send them to me.

He talks about the origins of the 62 Group and it’s familiarities with the 43 Group from the 1940s. The 62 Group was also largely made up of working class Jews and it’s main opponents were Mosley’s fascists but also the future leaders of the fascist movement: Colin Jordan’s and John Tyndall’s group the Nationalist Socialist Movement.

Silver’s article contains a large amount of eyewitness accounts and photographs.

To download the article click here.

To find out more on the 43 Group pick up fantastic book by Morris Beckman – 43 Group: Battling with Mosley’s Blackshirts.

Fascism and anti-fascism in 1930s Manchester

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Anti-Fascist Archive Standard Reply

Manchester's Radical History

The following article on Fascist leader Oswald Mosley’s humiliation by anti-fascists at Belle Vue is reproduced by kind permission of Manchester University’s Centre for Jewish Studies, and is by Michael Wolf of the anti-fascist periodical Searchlight. The introduction to the article is based on an article by Yaakov Wise, also on the CJS website.

One of Manchester’s most unpleasant claims to fame is its connections to Sir Oswald Mosley, the founder of the British Union of Fascists and supporter of Hitler and Mussolini. Mosley Street in Manchester city centre is named after his family – although not after Oswald Mosley himself. Early meetings of BUF were held in Hyndman Hall on Liverpool Street in Salford and rallies held at Queen’s Park in Harpurhey.

In 1933 a BUF meeting at the Free Trade Hall descended into rioting between fascists and anti-fascist communists and was broken up by police…

View original post 1,094 more words

Undertones: Anti-Fascism and the Far-Right in Ireland 1945-2012

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Anti-Fascist Archive Standard Reply

Anti-Fascist Action Ireland, related to AFA which existed in Britain, celebrated its 21st Birthday last weekend with a number of events including the launch of its pamphlet Undertones: Anti-Fascism and the Far-Right in Ireland 1945-2012.

The 100 page pamphlet has been well produced, the cover, design and colour images are excellent. Brunch Crew in Berlin help with the publishing by hosting a benefit gig in February 2012. O’Reilly, AFA Ireland and everyone who helped in the production should be proud.

The pamphlet is split into two sections: firstly, a chronological history of fascism in Ireland from 1945 to the late 90s and the second section details the origins and history of AFA Ireland through stories of events and actions. Another good aspect to the book is that O’Reilly has fully referenced all his research and claims.

This first section gives a fantastically detailed and researched history, with names, dates and addresses; yet it is easy to read and follow the chronology of the faces and groups on the far-right in Ireland. It begins with Ailtiri na hAiseirghe in the 1940s and flows through to the National Socialist Irish Workers Party in the 1970s and the Irish fascist links to groups in the North of Ireland in the 90s.

It is in this section that O’Reilly argues that it was an IRA unit who burnt down Oswald Mosley‘s County Galway mansion in an unsanctioned operation; in previous literature it has been described as an accident (p. 7).

Its not solely Irish fascists who are detailed but also their international connections to British fascists, Mosley; American, George Lincoln Rockwell; German, Otto Strasser; plus more. After reading the section Ireland is painted as Europe’s “Argentina”.

The second section begins with the origins of AFA Ireland and ends with their most recent activity. It describes the politicisation of the young punks who would later become the founding members through Nazi stickering and a strike a the Dunnes Stores, Dublin.

The section then progresses through 25 stories of activity against the likes of David Irving, Le Pen, Immigration Control Platform, Czech neo-Nazis and anti-drugs activity.

I highly recommend buying the book. A steal at €6! Visit the AFA Ireland site and send them an email.

Here is a picture of the plaque AFA Ireland unveiled on Connolly Books, Dublin as part of its birthday celebration:

A mural to local man Bob Doyle, IRA volunteer and International Brigader, was unveiled outside The Cobblestone in Smithfield, Dublin as part of the event too.