The Rise Of Neo-Nazis In Poland: An Epidemic

According to Buzzfeed News and Polish news outlet, Gazeta Wyborcza, neo-Nazis from around the world are planning a multinational music festival in Poland honouring the week of Adolf Hitler’s birthday in April. The event originally came to light in December, when a flyer advertising “a night of identity” was posted on a Facebook page for H8 Machine, an American neo-Nazi group. The flyer has since been removed, however, it stated that the concert would be held “somewhere in Europe.” Currently, a hate group known as Club 28, which has connections to international neo-Nazi organization Blood & Honour, is said to be organizing the concert. White power bands, including the U.S.’s H8 Machine and Germany’s Heiliger Krieg, are scheduled to play.

The announcement of the concert comes after weeks of unrest in Poland as a result of neo-Nazis. In January, the Polish television station TVN24 showed footage from last years celebration of Hitler’s birthday. The celebration included burning wooden swastikas, Nazi flags hanging from trees, and a cake featuring a giant swastika. As a result of the video, three members of Poland’s largest neo-Nazi group, Pride and Modernity, were arrested for breaking Poland’s laws against the use of Nazi symbols and now face up to two years in prison. Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that Poland would not have the “slightest tolerance of Nazi, fascist or communist symbols.” Morawiecki also condemned Pride and Modernity, saying Nazis “were the greatest tragedies of the 20th century and among the greatest tragedies in the history of mankind, and young people… who use [fascist and communist] symbols … are ignorant and should be punished.” Despite these strong words, many organizations claim that Morawiecki and other government officials are not reacting strongly enough to the rise of neo-Nazism in the country. Leslaw Piszewski, president of the Union of Jewish Communities, condemned the government’s previous silence about the group and claimed that they should be doing much more to stop neo-Nazism in Poland.

Piszewski has every right to be outraged. In the past few weeks, it would seem the Polish government has taken a step in support neo-Nazis and other far-right extremists in the country. In February, new laws were passed that would forbid the mentioning of Poland’s complicity during the Holocaust. During World War Two, Poland was conquered by the Germans and 6 million people died. However, many Polish people were still complicit in the Nazi regime and helped aid the death of 3 million Jews. The new law would ban terms like “Polish Death Camps” and aims to make Poland seen as having only been a victim in World War Two. According to reporter Rachel Donadio, the law is meant to appeal to far-right support in Poland, who have helped put the current ruling party, the Law and Justice Party, into power.

The backlash from these new laws has damaged Poland’s international standing. Rex Tillerson, the United States Secretary of State, called the law a threat to “freedom of speech and academic inquiry.” Israel has condemned Poland and canceled various meetings between the two countries. According to Israel’s education minister Naftali Bennett, “The blood of Polish Jews cries from the ground, and no law will silence it.” Bennett was scheduled to visit Poland and has since cancelled her trip.

Polish scholar Jan T. Gross warns that this law will have a widespread impact in a country where the far-right have been expanding their influence. Specifically, Gross highlights the misunderstandings of the Holocaust in Polish society. He said, “The ignorance in Polish society about the Holocaust is extraordinary. There were surveys made and the majority of the people who were asked the question ‘Who suffered more during World War II under German occupation, Poles or Jews?’—the majority of the people responded ‘Poles.’ How ignorant do you have to be?” Gross also warns that the rising nationalism in Poland is helping create an environment that facilitates rewriting the events of the Holocaust. Poland as a nation would rather be seen as victims under the Germans. However, to effectively be the victims, they must ignore the complacency of many of the Polish people. According to Gross, the law is dangerous and “criminalizes all survivors of the Holocaust. Every Jew who is still alive and comes from Poland could be prosecuted.”

The concert, neo-Nazi parades, the complacency of the Polish government, and the new law to effectively rewrite the Holocaust, are all just ways in which the far-right has taken hold of Poland. Like many countries across Europe, Poland is now suffering from a populist agenda that prioritizes appeals to xenophobia and anti-semitism over practical policy changes. Many activists remind us to “never forget” the horrors and atrocities that happened under Hitler’s reign. However, many Holocaust survivors are growing old and dying, leaving Holocaust deniers and supporters to gain control. How can Poland stop the rising hatred in their country?

For a start, Poland should and must get rid of the new law that criminalizes mentioning Poland’s role in the Holocaust. This law erases the violence enacted on Polish Jews and places blame on the real victims while absolving Poland of its crimes. It is not enough for the Polish Prime Minister to simply state that neo-Nazis should be punished. Poland needs to take control and actively discourage neo-Nazi sentiments. The rise of neo-Nazis around the world is in part because governments have empowered their hatred. Poland must make neo-Nazis afraid again, and continue actively condemning the far-right philosophies that enable such concerts and gatherings to exist in the first place.

Poland right now faces a choice that will change the course of history in this country. Do they continue to passively support far-right movements that spread hate and fear in their country, or do they take a stand against extremism and put a stop to neo-Nazism in Poland once and for all? In order to effectively stop the rise of neo-Nazis, Poland must acknowledge their role in the deaths of 3 million Polish Jews and understand the full effect of the Holocaust on their country. Ignoring the problem of neo-Nazis will not make them go away. The future of Poland is at stake and it is too important to let these groups take control of it.

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