21 June 1936: Oswald Mosley and the Fascists in Finsbury Park - Harringay online2024-03-28T13:43:40Zhttps://harringayonline.com/forum/topics/21-june-1936-oswald-mosley-and-the-fascists-in-finsbury-park?groupUrl=historyofharringay&commentId=844301%3AComment%3A505362&groupId=844301%3AGroup%3A10&feed=yes&xn_auth=noAt this time the country was…tag:harringayonline.com,2013-06-28:844301:Comment:5065792013-06-28T10:41:49.580ZChris Setzhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/ChrisSetz
<p>At this time the country was recovering from a global crash and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_National_Government" target="_blank">coalition government</a> was in power (until 1945). As war approached, the rise of fascism must have been a very real threat to the UK, especially given the context in Germany, where brutal antisemites in quasi-military uniforms quickly became the Government. Italy had invaded Abysinnia and our new young King would abdicate by Christmas, unable to…</p>
<p>At this time the country was recovering from a global crash and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_National_Government" target="_blank">coalition government</a> was in power (until 1945). As war approached, the rise of fascism must have been a very real threat to the UK, especially given the context in Germany, where brutal antisemites in quasi-military uniforms quickly became the Government. Italy had invaded Abysinnia and our new young King would abdicate by Christmas, unable to legally marry a divorced foreigner:</p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdication_Crisis_of_Edward_VIII" target="_blank"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Wallis_Simpson_-1936.JPG" class="align-center"/></a></p>
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<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdication_Crisis_of_Edward_VIII" target="_blank"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Edward_abdication.png" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Times were hard and, with war coming, Government control increasingly intrusive. They used Police spies to infiltrate peaceful groups to disempower them. 100,000 hunger marchers had their Trafalgar Square rally fanned into violence by the Govt so as to discredit them. The mere possession of pacifist literature was to be made illegal, as were <a href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/52503369/DUNCAN-v-JONES-(1936)-1-KB-218" target="_blank">peaceful public meetings</a>. The National Council for Civil Liberties (now <a href="http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/about/history/how-liberty-was-founded.php" target="_blank">Liberty</a>) was created in 1934 in response. The far right had attempted a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6_February_1934_crisis" target="_blank">coup in Paris</a> and we had the Battle for Cable Street on a Sunday (October 1936):</p>
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<p>It must have been easy to assume that the UK was on the brink of becoming a fascist state, actively supported by many ordinary people. At it's peak the 'British Union' had 50,000 members and was supported by the Daily Mail. Moseley had held the 'The World's Largest Ever Public Meeting' in Olympia in June 1934:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHuEOwyaEAo" target="_blank"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2162803436?profile=original" width="561" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>The Govt banned military uniform and in January 1937 the BUF held a uniformed rally at the brand new Hornsey Town Hall in Crouch End to defy the law and show their strength. Mosely reportedly wore a black shirt and armband in defiance of the law. Condoned by the 100 police officers on duty that night, the BUF treated dissent violently and got away with it. If anyone visits Hull University, please try to get <a href="http://www.hullhistorycentre.org.uk/dserve/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=%28RefNo%3D%3D%27U%20DCL%2F40%2F6%27%29" target="_blank">the NCCL enquiry into the meeting</a> published.</p>
<p>Not surprising then to come across this photo taken in Crouch End (August 1936). The party chief of the Hilter Youth (which had 5 million members in Germany at the time) greets the Secretary of the YMCA:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/hitler-youth-party-chief-otto-kern-being-greeted-by-r-f-news-photo/3350415" target="_blank"><img src="http://cache2.asset-cache.net/gc/3350415-28th-august-1936-hitler-youth-party-chief-otto-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=LRAYuaSt0SRbVYhzrTaC7n5XSLaxc3Cub3XHzkutX2SarhehedzOhZzrFblx04a1" class="align-center"/></a></p> I'll say. All rather chilling…tag:harringayonline.com,2013-06-25:844301:Comment:5053922013-06-25T08:19:40.835ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p>I'll say. All rather chilling. The pictures somehow bring that dark period home, literally.</p>
<p>I'll say. All rather chilling. The pictures somehow bring that dark period home, literally.</p> A great cure for nostalgia.tag:harringayonline.com,2013-06-24:844301:Comment:5054922013-06-24T23:39:01.770ZHughhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/hjuk
<p>A great cure for nostalgia.</p>
<p>A great cure for nostalgia.</p> Now updated with photographs…tag:harringayonline.com,2013-06-24:844301:Comment:5053882013-06-24T23:26:42.874ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p>Now updated with photographs taken from the (fascist) press at the time. From my research so far more mainstream tabloid papers appear to have largely ignored it.</p>
<p>Now updated with photographs taken from the (fascist) press at the time. From my research so far more mainstream tabloid papers appear to have largely ignored it.</p> I also discovered a piece abo…tag:harringayonline.com,2013-06-24:844301:Comment:5053622013-06-24T11:01:32.341ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
<p>I also <a href="http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/165448.article" target="_blank">discovered a piece</a> about TS Eliot's wife Vivienne, <a href="http://www.harringayonline.com/group/historyofharringay/forum/topics/sad-story-of-the-last-10-years" target="_blank">committed to the asylum at Northumberland House Harringay</a> who was an active member of the BUF and used to wear her fascist uniform to his plays and got hissed at by the audience- one wonders if she was at these big demos in…</p>
<p>I also <a href="http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/165448.article" target="_blank">discovered a piece</a> about TS Eliot's wife Vivienne, <a href="http://www.harringayonline.com/group/historyofharringay/forum/topics/sad-story-of-the-last-10-years" target="_blank">committed to the asylum at Northumberland House Harringay</a> who was an active member of the BUF and used to wear her fascist uniform to his plays and got hissed at by the audience- one wonders if she was at these big demos in the park 2 years earlier.</p> Nice - well done too to Anne…tag:harringayonline.com,2013-06-24:844301:Comment:5052762013-06-24T10:52:16.343ZHughhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/hjuk
<p>Nice - well done too to <a href="http://www.harringayonline.com/forum/topics/turkish-solidarity-protest-in-harringay-as-taksim-square-cleared?commentId=844301%3AComment%3A505192" target="_blank">Anne Barwick for pointing up this wee gem</a>.</p>
<p>Nice - well done too to <a href="http://www.harringayonline.com/forum/topics/turkish-solidarity-protest-in-harringay-as-taksim-square-cleared?commentId=844301%3AComment%3A505192" target="_blank">Anne Barwick for pointing up this wee gem</a>.</p> Makes me think I shouldn't co…tag:harringayonline.com,2013-06-24:844301:Comment:5053562013-06-24T10:49:34.979ZRuthhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Ruth70
<p>Makes me think I shouldn't complain about pop concerts in the park! </p>
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<p>Makes me think I shouldn't complain about pop concerts in the park! </p>
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