>But I always hesitate at the the term, “neo-Nazi” when referring to Ukranians. What exactly made them neo-Nazis? Did they all have little Hitler mustaches, say “Hiel Hitler”, and walk with a goose step?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azov_Battalion
The unit was described as having connections to neo-Nazism, with members wearing neo-Nazi and SS symbols and regalia; the unit has neo-Nazis among its ranks. German ZDF television observed Azov battalion fighters wearing helmets with swastikas and “the ‘SS runes’ of Hitler’s infamous black-uniformed elite corps”, and on other occasions some of the soldiers have been reported to have SS tattoos.[65][66][67]
In writing about the battalion’s ideology, Richard Sakwa states that its founding member Andryi Biletsky (leader of the neo-Nazi Social-National Assembly) made statements about “historic mission” to lead “White Races of the world in a final crusade for their survival ... a crusade against the Semite-led untermenschen”; according to Sakwa, this ideology has its root in national integralism of 1920s and 30s.[68]
Ivan Katchanovski in an interview with Radio Sweden described the ideology of the battalion in the following words: “The SNA/PU advocate a neo-Nazi ideology along with ultranationalism and racism. The same applies to the SNA/PU commanders and members of the Azov battalion and many football ultras and others who serve in this formation. Biletsky is called the ‘White Leader’.”[69]
Some of their abuses:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/03/10/ukraine-azov-brigade-nazis-abuses-separatists/24664937/
>I think this might be a manufactured term to describe Ukranians who just wanted to make Ukraine great again - to coin a term - and wanted the Russians out of their country. And NATO took advantage of this sentiment to further its own interests.
The state department did use them to overthrow the government. Since then they’ve been trying to remove them from power, but the Ukraine is more like a series of gangsters territories controlled by private armies than a functioning government. As typical for the Obama state department, they screwed everything up.
>I’d be interested to know where the “neo-Nazi” term came from regarding the Ukranians.
The Ukrainians joined the SS during WW2 to get revenge on the Russians. Oddly enough the most effective fighting unit the Ukrainian army(I use that term loosely, more like a collection of loosely coordinated private armies) today has is the neo-nazi Azov Battalion. The rest of the Ukriagina army is trash.
Ok, thanks again.
Sounds like a lot of “it was reported” kind of reporting. My girlfriend is from L’viv and she doesn’t remember any neo-Nazis. Though she does remember a definite resolve to get Russians out of Ukraine.
You seem to be smarter than the average bear on this. Do you have a particular dog in this fight?
Anyway, I’ll try my own research and get back to you.
Happy Thanksgiving!