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A Jersey-based historian has published a new book that documents the “hidden story” of the fascist movement in the UK.
Norman Ridley's latest publication, 'Hitler's British Nazis: The Hidden Story of the Fascist Movement in the UK', explores the evolution of far-right ideology in Britain from the early 1900s to the end of World War II.
The book, which was published by Pen & Sword Books earlier this month, examines how British fascism took on its own identity that was influenced by the country's victory in World War I.
The book explores how economic difficulties in the 1920s after World War I led to the emergence of fascist leaders like Mussolini and Hitler across Europe.
The author argues that early 1920s fascist movements were evident in the UK, and seen in some tendencies within the Suffragette Movement.
Pictured: Norman Ridley's latest book, 'Hitler's British Nazis: The Hidden Story of the Fascist Movement in the UK', was published earlier this month.
Moving into the 1930s, the book traces how domestic politics and a dire economic situation created a political vacuum that Oswald Mosley and his Blackshirt Movement filled.
During this time, some British elites with anti-Semitic beliefs admired Hitler's Germany and saw it as a model for Britain.
The book looks at the way in which Nazi Germany was portrayed in the UK press and how powerful pro-German press barons influenced public opinion.
Mr Ridley is an Open University Honours graduate who sold his business and retired to devote himself to study.
His previous titles include 'Hitler's Air War in Spain – The Rise of the Luftwaffe', 'The Role of Intelligence in the Battle of Britain', and 'Reading Hitler's Mind: The Intelligence Failure that lead to the Second World War'.
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