Fact check: What are neo-nazis?

1. Summary of the results

Neo-Nazis are modern-day adherents of Nazi ideology who emerged after World War II. They are characterized by:

• Extreme xenophobia, antisemitism, and pursuit of ethnic homogeneity ^[1]
• White supremacist beliefs and a self-perceived victim mentality regarding free speech ^[2]
• Operation through online forums and message boards to spread ideology and organize ^[3]
• Holocaust denial or relativization of Nazi crimes ^[1]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are worth noting:

• Online Organization: Modern neo-Nazi groups have evolved to utilize anonymous online platforms like IronMarch to create militant organizations such as the Atomwaffen Division ^[3]
• Real-World Impact: While they organize high-profile events like the Charlottesville rally ^[2], their actual political influence is minimal. For example:
• In Germany, only about 6,000 neo-Nazis were registered in 2017 ^[1]
• In Ukraine, far-right parties rarely exceed 3% of votes ^[4]
• Generational Aspect: There's a concerning trend of a new generation uncritically adopting Nazi views ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The term "neo-Nazi" can be subject to various interpretations and misuse:

• Political Manipulation: Different groups might benefit from either exaggerating or minimizing the neo-Nazi threat:
• Security agencies and anti-extremist organizations benefit from highlighting the threat
• Far-right groups benefit from downplaying their connections to Nazi ideology
• Scale Misrepresentation: While neo-Nazi groups exist in many countries, experts emphasize they are numerically insignificant and don't represent mainstream political thought ^[4]
• Evolution of Movement: The movement has evolved from traditional street-level activism to sophisticated online operations ^[3], making it harder to accurately assess their true numbers and influence