43 Group
Encyclopedia
The 43 Group was an English
anti-fascist group set up by Jewish ex-servicemen after World War II
. They did this when, upon returning to London
, they encountered British fascist organisations such as Jeffrey Hamm
's "British League of Ex-Servicemen" and later Oswald Mosley
's reformed fascist party, the Union Movement
. The activities of these fascist groups included antisemitic speeches in public places, inciting racial hatred, and from the rank-and-file fascists, violent attacks on London Jews and Jewish property. Group members broke up far-right meetings, infiltrated fascist groups, and attacked the fascists in street fighting
.
, who served in the Merchant Navy
in World War II
and was torpedoed twice, Gerald Flamberg http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2208254.ece, Middleweight boxing champion, 156 Battalion
, who won the Military Medal
at Arnhem http://www.specialforcesroh.com/awards-4883.htmlURL http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/ww2/Arnhem.html during Operation Market Garden Operation Market Garden
, Leonard Sherman, martial arts expert (Welsh Guards
), and Alec Carson, who flew Hawker Hurricane
s in the Battle of Britain
. A 17-year-old Vidal Sassoon
, joined the group in 1947, and went on to fight in the Israeli Defence Forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
, and later founded an international hairdressing empire.
The group grew to include many hundreds of men and women, and not all Jewish. The initial membership was of around 300 people and included holders of bravery decorations, a VC (Petty Officer "Tommy" Gould) Thomas William Gould
, DSOs, DFCs, DSMs and MMs. The organisation was sometimes portrayed by its enemies as a front for either Jewish terrorists or communists, but this was not the case and it was mostly composed of British ex-servicemen.
, as competitors, and this Jewish establishment also worried that the group's activities could damage the community's reputation, especially in light of the terrorist acts and guerrilla warfare
carried out by militant Zionist groups like the Irgun
in British Mandate Palestine. However 43 Group never sought to replace the more traditional groups who preferred debate and discussion, but who had failed to stop the BUF, partly due to the non-cooperation of the then British Home Secretary
, James Chuter Ede
. Rather, 43 Group sought to prevent the BUF mobilising and gathering support, remembering that the Nazi party
had gained prominence in a similar fashion as the Brownshirts
on the streets of post-WWI Germany.
was formed in the 43 Group's image (but named after the year of founding of the latter incarnation, rather than initial membership), did these British fascists again encounter any significant privately-organised street-level resistance. The overall effect of this movement is unclear, with the group founder Morris Beckman arguing that 43 Group was crucial in stopping a resurgence of fascism in post-war Britain, while Nigel Copsey argues in Anti-Fascism in Britain that the fascists and anti-fascists might have only radicalised each other.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
anti-fascist group set up by Jewish ex-servicemen after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. They did this when, upon returning to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, they encountered British fascist organisations such as Jeffrey Hamm
Jeffrey Hamm
Edward Jeffrey Hamm was a leading British Fascist and supporter of Oswald Mosley.Born in Ebbw Vale, Wales, he came into contact with the British Union of Fascists during a family trip to London and joined in 1935 when he relocated to London although initially, due to his youth, his role in the...
's "British League of Ex-Servicemen" and later Oswald Mosley
Oswald Mosley
Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, was an English politician, known principally as the founder of the British Union of Fascists...
's reformed fascist party, the Union Movement
Union Movement
The Union Movement was a right-wing political party founded in Britain by Oswald Mosley. Where Mosley had previously been associated with a peculiarly British form of fascism, the Union Movement attempted to redefine the concept by stressing the importance of developing a European nationalism...
. The activities of these fascist groups included antisemitic speeches in public places, inciting racial hatred, and from the rank-and-file fascists, violent attacks on London Jews and Jewish property. Group members broke up far-right meetings, infiltrated fascist groups, and attacked the fascists in street fighting
Street fighting
Street fighting is a colloquial term used to denote unsanctioned, illegal in some countries, hand-to-hand fighting in public places, between individuals or groups of people....
.
Early history
The title "43 Group" came from the number of people in the room of Maccabi House during the group's founding meeting. The instigators of the foundation meeting were Morris BeckmanMorris Beckman
Morris Beckman is an English writer. To date he has had five books published.-Early life:Morris Beckman was born in the north-eastern London Borough of Hackney. He attended Hackney Downs School...
, who served in the Merchant Navy
Merchant Navy
The Merchant Navy is the maritime register of the United Kingdom, and describes the seagoing commercial interests of UK-registered ships and their crews. Merchant Navy vessels fly the Red Ensign and are regulated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was torpedoed twice, Gerald Flamberg http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2208254.ece, Middleweight boxing champion, 156 Battalion
156th Parachute Battalion (United Kingdom)
The 156th Parachute Battalion was an airborne infantry battalion of the Parachute Regiment raised by the British Army during the Second World War....
, who won the Military Medal
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
at Arnhem http://www.specialforcesroh.com/awards-4883.htmlURL http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/ww2/Arnhem.html during Operation Market Garden Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
, Leonard Sherman, martial arts expert (Welsh Guards
Welsh Guards
The Welsh Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division.-Creation :The Welsh Guards came into existence on 26 February 1915 by Royal Warrant of His Majesty King George V in order to include Wales in the national component to the Foot Guards, "..though the order...
), and Alec Carson, who flew Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s in the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. A 17-year-old Vidal Sassoon
Vidal Sassoon
Vidal Sassoon, CBE is a widely recognised British hairdresser, credited with creating a simple geometric, "Bauhaus-inspired" hair style, also called the bob...
, joined the group in 1947, and went on to fight in the Israeli Defence Forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
, and later founded an international hairdressing empire.
The group grew to include many hundreds of men and women, and not all Jewish. The initial membership was of around 300 people and included holders of bravery decorations, a VC (Petty Officer "Tommy" Gould) Thomas William Gould
Thomas William Gould
Thomas William Gould VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
, DSOs, DFCs, DSMs and MMs. The organisation was sometimes portrayed by its enemies as a front for either Jewish terrorists or communists, but this was not the case and it was mostly composed of British ex-servicemen.
Relationship with other organisations
43 Group was viewed by established Jewish organisations, such as the Board of Deputies of British JewsBoard of Deputies of British Jews
The Board of Deputies of British Jews is the main representative body of British Jews. Founded in 1760 as a joint committee of the Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jewish communities in London, it has since become a widely recognised forum for the views of the different sectors of the UK Jewish...
, as competitors, and this Jewish establishment also worried that the group's activities could damage the community's reputation, especially in light of the terrorist acts and guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
carried out by militant Zionist groups like the Irgun
Irgun
The Irgun , or Irgun Zevai Leumi to give it its full title , was a Zionist paramilitary group that operated in Mandate Palestine between 1931 and 1948. It was an offshoot of the earlier and larger Jewish paramilitary organization haHaganah...
in British Mandate Palestine. However 43 Group never sought to replace the more traditional groups who preferred debate and discussion, but who had failed to stop the BUF, partly due to the non-cooperation of the then British Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
, James Chuter Ede
James Chuter Ede
James Chuter Ede, Baron Chuter-Ede CH, PC, DL was a British teacher, trade unionist and Labour politician. He notably served as Home Secretary under Clement Attlee from 1945 to 1951.-Early life:...
. Rather, 43 Group sought to prevent the BUF mobilising and gathering support, remembering that the Nazi party
National Socialist German Workers Party
The National Socialist German Workers' Party , commonly known in English as the Nazi Party, was a political party in Germany between 1920 and 1945. Its predecessor, the German Workers' Party , existed from 1919 to 1920...
had gained prominence in a similar fashion as the Brownshirts
Sturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung functioned as a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers' Party . It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s...
on the streets of post-WWI Germany.
Dissolution
The 43 Group was voluntarily disbanded on 5 April 1950, as its members considered that the immediate threat had passed. Although Mosley's Fascist Union Movement remained active throughout the 1950s, it was not until 1962, when the unrelated 62 Group62 Group
The 62 Group was a militant broad-based coalition of anti-fascists in the United Kingdom, set up largely in response to the resurgence of fascism in Britain at the time, and particularly the creation of Colin Jordan's Nationalist Socialist Movement, in 1962...
was formed in the 43 Group's image (but named after the year of founding of the latter incarnation, rather than initial membership), did these British fascists again encounter any significant privately-organised street-level resistance. The overall effect of this movement is unclear, with the group founder Morris Beckman arguing that 43 Group was crucial in stopping a resurgence of fascism in post-war Britain, while Nigel Copsey argues in Anti-Fascism in Britain that the fascists and anti-fascists might have only radicalised each other.
External links
- London's Jewish community after the war
- The 43 Group by Morris Beckman
- Morris Beckman: My favourite books
- Review of Beckman's book
- Interview with Morris Beckman on the 43 group
- The Archive Hour - A Rage in Dalston - BBC Radio program on the 43 group
- http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=the%2043%20group&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv - 20 minute video on 43 group with interviews
- Mark Gould "They stood up to hatred" Guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 27 January 2009 12.03 GMT