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British Union of Fascists | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | BUF |
| Founder | Oswald Mosley |
| Founded | 1 October 1932 |
| Banned | 10 July 1940 |
| Merger of | New Party British Fascists |
| Succeeded by | Union Movement |
| Headquarters | London, England |
| Newspaper | The Blackshirt Action |
| Membership (1934) | 40,000 |
| Political orientation | Fascism Corporatism |
The British Union of Fascists (BUF) was a British fascist political party active in the 1930s formed by Oswald Mosley in 1932 as part of his embrace of fascism. Mosley changed its name to the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists in 1936 and, in 1937, to the British Union.
History
Following the failure of Mosley's New Party, on 1 October 1932 Mosley launched the BUF at 12 Great George Street with thirty-two founder members. The organisation had a rocky start, not getting much positive attention but fortunes soon began to change and they received funding from Italian fascist dictator Mussolini.[1]
A BUF Women’s Section was established in March 1933, directed by Mosley's wife, with premises at 233 Regent Street, which had been donated by a Fascist sympathizer. Female Blackshirts made up 20 per cent of the membership, many being attracted by the BUF's superficial commitment to women's rights, including many former suffragettes.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Stephen Dorril (2006). Blackshirt: Sir Oswald Mosley and British Fascism: 'Chapter Twelve: The British Union of Fascists'.