Anti-Fascism is opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals. The anti-fascist movement began in a few European countries in the 1920s, and eventually spread to other countries around the world. It was at its most significant shortly before and during World War II, where the fascist Axis powers were opposed by many countries forming the Allies of World War II and dozens of resistance movements worldwide. After World War II, anti-fascism has become an official policy of many states and numerous decentralized militant groups continue to fight fascism around the world. Anti-fascism has been an element of movements holding many different political positions, including social democratic, nationalist, liberal, conservative, communist, marxist, trade unionist, anarchist, socialist, and centrist viewpoints.
History
See Also: Timeline of Anti-Fascism
Anti-fascism has its origins in black resistance to the KKK in the USA in the late 1800s and republicans fighting anti-semites during the Dreyfus Affair in France. The first militant anti-fascist organisation emerged in 1921 in Italy, known as the Arditi del Popolo, who engaged in gunfights with fascists and violently broke up fascist meetings.