Podcast miniseries about the 43 Group of mostly Jewish ex-servicemen and women who battled Oswald Mosley’s fascists in Britain’s streets after World War II.
We speak with Daniel Sonabend, author of We Fight Fascists: The 43 Group and Their Forgotten Battle for Post-War Britain, as well as Jules Konopinski, who was a member of the group.
All three parts are out now for early listening for the relevant levels of our patreon supporters, as well as two patreon-only bonus episodes.
You can support us and listen to all of it now here: patreon.com/workingclasshistory
- Part 1: The background of anti-Semitism and fascism in Britain, and the formation of the group
- Part 1 bonus: Bonus episode about the early life of Jules Konopinski and how his family escaped the Holocaust (exclusive for patrons)
- Part 2: How the group operated, women and LGBT+ people in the group (early access for patrons)
- Part 3: How the police and the Jewish community reacted, and lessons for today
- Part 3 bonus: The 62 Group and the renewed fight against Mosley in the 1960s (exclusive for patrons)
More information
For more information about the 43 group, check out Daniel’s excellent book: We Fight Fascists, available in our online store.
Proceeds help fund our work – and you can get a 10% discount on it by becoming a WCH patron.
Sources and links
- Jules Konopinski police report
- https://www.bnaibrith.org/past-magazine-articles/imprisoned-on-the-isle-of-man-jewish-refugees-classified-as-enemy-aliens retrieved 22/01/2020
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/timeline/factfiles/nonflash/a6651858.shtml retrieved 22/01/2020
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-two/11698268/Britains-Jews-stand-proud-ready-to-serve-Queen-and-Country.html retrieved 22/01/2020
- MI6: The History of the Secret Intelligence Service 1909-1949 – Keith Jeffery
- Instrumental version of the Yiddish version of Bella ciao: Mishka Ziganoff – Oi oi di Koilen – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0KbSFYbTxA
- Video of fights against Mosley in the 1950s and 60s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REbkAxFbo38&lc
- More information about the 62 group: https://libcom.org/history/history-62-group
- An account of the fight against the racists in the 1958 Notting Hill riots: https://libcom.org/library/1958-beating-back-mosley-in-notting-hill
Corrections
We always endeavour to be as accurate as possible, but we are only human so occasionally we err. In part 1, Daniel Sonabend refers to the liberation of Bergen-Belsen in 1944, it should have been 1945. And the journalist who made the famous broadcast from the camp was actually Richard Dimbleby.
Acknowledgements
As always, huge thanks to our patreon supporters who make this podcast possible.
Our theme tune is Bella Ciao, thanks for permission to use it from Dischi del Sole. You can purchase it here. Or stream it here.
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Related
We also have anti-fascist merchandise like buttons, stickers, t-shirts and hats available here in our online store. Proceeds help fund our work.
