Poland's neo-fascist nationalists show their colours

Thousands of nationalist and fascist demonstrators have taken part in a march in Poland their country's Independence Day in what is believed to have been one of the largest far-right gatherings in the world. The Warsaw demonstration was organised by far-right groups and the turn-out dwarfed that of previous years. It attracted far-right and nationalist campaigners from elsewhere in Europe, including the UK’s Tommy Robinson, alongside protesters from Sweden, Germany and Slovakia. Participants expressed sympathy for xenophobic or white supremacist ideas, with one banner reading: “White Europe of brotherly nations.” Another participant said he was taking part “to remove Jewry from power.” 

Poland has seen a surge in nationalist thinking and activity. The country is believed to have the fifth highest number of far-right activists in the world, behind Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic and the United States.  TVP, the state broadcaster, called the event a “great march of patriots".

Participants marched under the slogan “We Want God”. Speakers talked of standing up against liberals and defending "traditional" Polish Christian values. Rafal Pankowski, head of the anti-extremist association Never Again, says that despite the references to God, the march should not be viewed as being inspired by religious beliefs.  "They use Christianity as a kind of identity marker, which is mostly about being anti-Islam now.”

The organisers included the National-Radical Camp, the National Movement and the All Polish Youth, radical organisations that trace their roots to anti-Semitic groups active before World War II.  Some also carried banners depicting a falanga, a far-right symbol dating to the 1930s.