Greek Fascisms - From Metaxas to Golden Dawn (Spanish Edition)

The Rise and Fall of Golden Dawn: Tracing the History of Greek Fascism

The name Golden Dawn, at one point, was an unexpected whirlwind that swept across Greek politics. Initially, the "system" did not foresee it. It was impossible that, after more than half a century of anti-Nazi propaganda, a party whose leadership had been inspired by the experience of the NSDAP could achieve double-digit electoral results. In 2019, the phenomenon had been conjured away thanks to initiatives that mobilized the traditional political class, the judicial-police apparatus, and the media.

In 2020, the leaders of Golden Dawn entered prison to serve harsh judicially unjustified sentences. Case closed... But fascism was not something new in Greece. Since the 1930s, there has always been an organized current of sympathy towards German National Socialism (which, in turn, garnered admiration towards Hellas) in the Hellenic country. Many also opted to collaborate with the Germans (the Reich occupied Greece to prevent the British from taking over the country) during the war, and there was also an "armed collaboration" against the communists. Later, in the post-war period, there was no shortage of neo-fascist movements. And, finally, during the seven years of military government, there was talk of a certain form of "barracks fascism."

Alfonso de Filippi has gathered material on all these historical phases of Greek fascisms and presents it in this monographic dossier.

The unexpected rise of Golden Dawn initially caught the "system" off guard. After decades of anti-Nazi propaganda, it was unimaginable that a party inspired by the NSDAP could achieve such electoral success in Greece. However, in 2019, the phenomenon was neutralized through initiatives involving the traditional political class, the judicial-police apparatus, and the media. In 2020, Golden Dawn's leaders were imprisoned, ostensibly on unjustified charges, resolving the issue.

Yet, fascism was not a new phenomenon in Greece. Since the 1930s, there had been an organized current of sympathy towards German National Socialism, which in turn fostered admiration for Hellas. Many Greeks also opted to collaborate with the occupying Germans during World War II, and there was "armed collaboration" against the communists. In the post-war period, neo-fascist movements emerged, and the military government's "barracks fascism" was also discussed.

Alfonso de Filippi has compiled material on these various historical phases of Greek fascisms, presenting it in a monographic dossier.

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