Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, was a British politician and founder of the British Union of Fascists (BUF)
Born in 1896, he served during World War I and was elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament in 1918
However, Mosley soon broke away from mainstream politics, criticizing both capitalism and socialism
He founded the New Party in 1931, which eventually evolved into the BUF in 1932
Mosley and the BUF advocated for a totalitarian fascist state and gained popularity, particularly during the 1930s economic depression
However, their anti-Semitic and authoritarian views drew significant opposition, leading to violent clashes with anti-fascist groups
Mosley's black-shirted BUF members, inspired by Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Nazi Party, conducted rallies and street marches
In 1936, Mosley's attempted march through London's East End resulted in the infamous Battle of Cable Street, where anti-fascist protesters and locals successfully prevented the BUF from passing
The government subsequently banned political uniforms, limiting the BUF's activities
With the onset of World War II, Mosley was interned under Defence Regulation 18B due to his fascist sympathies
After the war, he struggled to regain political influence and founded the Union Movement in 1948 but failed to garner significant support
Mosley spent his later years trying to defend his ideologies in books and interviews
The Wikipedia page on Oswald Mosley provides a detailed account of his life, political ideologies, and the controversial rise and fall of the British Union of Fascists
It also analyzes the impact of his ideas on British politics and society during the first half of the twentieth century.
He founded the New Party in 1931, which eventually evolved into the BUF in 1932. Mosley and the BUF advocated for a totalitarian fascist state and gained popularity, particularly during the 1930s economic depression. However, their anti-Semitic and authoritarian views drew significant opposition, leading to violent clashes with anti-fascist groups. Mosley's black-shirted BUF members, inspired by Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Nazi Party, conducted rallies and street marches. In 1936, Mosley's attempted march through London's East End resulted in the infamous Battle of Cable Street, where anti-fascist protesters and locals successfully prevented the BUF from passing. The government subsequently banned political uniforms, limiting the BUF's activities. With the onset of World War II, Mosley was interned under Defence Regulation 18B due to his fascist sympathies. After the war, he struggled to regain political influence and founded the Union Movement in 1948 but failed to garner significant support. Mosley spent his later years trying to defend his ideologies in books and interviews. The Wikipedia page on Oswald Mosley provides a detailed account of his life, political ideologies, and the controversial rise and fall of the British Union of Fascists. It also analyzes the impact of his ideas on British politics and society during the first half of the twentieth century.