Dutch Fascist Union Nederlandse Fascistische Unie | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | NFU |
| Founded | 1932 (1932) |
| Registered | 26 February 1933 |
| Dissolved | c. 1933 (1933) |
| Newspaper | De Aanval |
| Youth wing | Fascist Youth Union |
| Paramilitary wing | Fascist Storm Troopers |
| Ideology | Fascism |
| Political position | Far-right |
| Religion | Catholicism |
TheDutch Fascist Union,[a] officially theGeneral Dutch Fascist Union,[b] was afascist, pro-Catholic political party in theNetherlands. It was formed in 1932 and registered as a political party in 1933. It contested the1933 parliamentary election, garnering only 0.19% of the popular vote and winning no seats. It faded from written records shortly afterwards. The NFU had a paramilitary wing, a youth wing, and a publication titledDe Aanval (lit. 'The Attack').
During theinterwar period, Dutch fascists were split into three groups: followers ofItalian fascism (or classical fascism), fascists who supported the Catholic Church in particular, and secular fascists who identified withNazism andantisemitism.[1] The Dutch Fascist Union (NFU) was founded in 1932 as an attempt to unite the Catholic fascists.[1][2] Many members had split from the largerGeneral Dutch Fascist League. It was registered as a political party in the Netherlands on 26 February 1933.[3]
The NFU contested the1933 parliamentary election, receiving 1,771 votes (0.05%) and no seats. InThe Hague the party won 0.19% of the popular vote, inAmsterdam 0.03%, inHaarlem 0.09%, inUtrecht 0.18%, and inZwolle 0.28%. The NFU disappeared from written records soon thereafter.[3]
During the interwar period, some fascist parties in the Netherlands – such as theNational Socialist Dutch Workers Party – were criticised by other fascist parties for their perceived moderateness and focus oncorporatism. The criticised groups were labelled "right-wing fascists" as opposed to "far-right fascists" who closely followed Italian fascism or Nazism.[4] The NFU advocated its own loosely defined ideology calledvolks-fascisme (lit. 'people-fascism').[4]
Leading figures of the party included Karel Eduard van Charante and Tony W. Hooykaas.[3]
The NFU membership reportedly never exceeded 1,000 followers.[5]
The NFU had an armed wing – a militia known as the Fascist Storm Troopers whose members dressed inblack uniforms. It also had a youth wing named the Fascist Youth Union.[6]
The NFU publishedDe Aanval (lit. 'The Attack').[3]
