Black Front

The Combat League of Revolutionary National Socialists (German: Kampfgemeinschaft Revolutionärer Nationalsozialisten, KGRNS), more commonly known as the Black Front (German: Schwarze Front), was a political group formed by Otto Strasser after his expulsion from the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in 1930.

Overview

Strasser believed the original anti-capitalist nature of the NSDAP had been betrayed by Adolf Hitler. The Black Front was composed of former radical members of the NSDAP, who intended to cause a split in the main party. Strasser's organisation published a newspaper, The German Revolution, and adopted the crossed hammer and sword symbol which is still used by several Strasserite groupings today.

The organisation was unable to oppose the NSDAP effectively, and Hitler’s rise to power proved to be the final straw. Strasser spent the years of the Third Reich in exile, first in Czechoslovakia and later in Canada. The left-wing of the party itself was eradicated in 1934 during the Night of the Long Knives, in which Gregor Strasser, Otto's elder brother, was killed.

Black Front (Netherlands)

The Black Front (Dutch: Zwart Front) was a Dutch fascist movement active before the Second World War.

The front grew out of the southern section of the General Dutch Fascist League, with regional organiser Arnold Meijer quarrelling with leader Jan Baars in 1934 and leading his followers out. The Black Front emerged and soon took over a number of smaller movements, while also gaining some support among the poorer parts of society. Although similar to its parent movement the Black Front emphasised a more Catholic line, in tune with Meijer's own religious beliefs. Taking its cue in part from Italian fascism it adopted that movement's black shirted uniformed while adding a unique emblem featuring a sword between a pair of ram horns.

The group however struggled to gain support from the National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands and in 1940 was renamed as the National Front. The National Front was ultimately banned by the Germans on 14 December 1941 along with all other Dutch political parties except for the National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands (NSB). The majority of its members switched to the NSB although a disillusioned Meijer left politics altogether.