Right-Wing Extremist Foreign Fighters in Other European Countries and Areas
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| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
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| Description | This chapter explores the phenomenon of extreme right-wing foreign fighters originating from or active in European countries not extensively covered in previous chapters, with a primary focus on France and additional analysis of other Western, Southern and East-Central European nations. It traces the historical trajectories of far-right militants from the Spanish Civil War, through World War II collaborationist units, to postwar mercenary and paramilitary involvement in global conflicts. The French case is presented in detail, illustrating how successive generations of far-right actors – from the Jeanne d’Arc Battalion to the Waffen-SS Charlemagne Division – engaged in international combat, often driven by anti-communism and ideological solidarity. The chapter also examines post-Cold War and contemporary conflicts, such as those in the Balkans and Ukraine, where French and other European fighters joined both separatist and Ukrainian forces. It reveals how far-right volunteers have adapted to new ideological contexts, shifting between support for authoritarian regimes and participation in anti-Russian or anti-Western causes. The analysis underscores the symbolic, propagandistic and operational roles these actors have played, while also noting variation in legal accountability and the challenges in defining their ideological boundaries. This chapter contributes to a broader understanding of transnational far-right militancy within diverse European political and historical contexts. |
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