National Radical Camp Falanga

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National Radical Camp Falanga (Polish: Obóz Narodowo-Radykalny Falanga, ONR-Falanga) was a Polish political group.

The ONR-Falanga was formed in 1935 following a split by members of the National Radical Camp held in Detention Camp Bereza Kartuska. The group was led by Bolesław Piasecki and advocated a 'Catholic totalitarianism' inspired by Falangism. However, although clearly derived from Falangism, it has been argued that their Catholicism was even more central than that of the Spanish group[1] and indeed their pronouncment that 'God is the highest form of man' recalled the religious fanaticism of Corneliu Zelea Codreanu.[2] Largely based in university campuses, it followed a policy of anti-Semitism and from this basis launched attacks on Jewish students and businesses.[3]

For a time the movement became associated with the Camp of National Unity (OZN) as Colonel Adam Koc, impressed by the organisation of the ONR-Falanga, placed Piasecki in charge of the OZN youth group. Koc called for the creation of a one-party state and hoped to use the youth movement to ensure this although his pronouncements upset many pro-government moderates. As such, Koc was removed from the leadership of the OZN in 1938 and replaced by General Stanisław Skwarczyński who quickly severed any ties to the ONR-Falanga.[4]

Although often considered a fascist movement[5] , it had no support for Nazism and was a (reluctant) part of the Polish Secret State that controlled the Polish resistance movement in World War II (see Konfederacja Narodu).

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Stanley G. Payne, A History of Fascism 1914-1945, London: Routledge, 2001, p. 262
  2. ^ Payne, op cit, pp. 321-2
  3. ^ J.W. Borejsza, "East European Perceptions of Italian Fascism, S. U. Larsen, B. Hagtvet & J. P. Myklebust, Who Were the Fascists: Social Roots of European Fascism, Scandinavian University Press, Oslo, 1980, p. 358
  4. ^ Payne, op cit, p. 322
  5. ^ P. Davies & D. Lynch, The Routledge Companion to Fascism and the Far Right, London: Routledge, 2002. p. 324
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