While posts glorifying Adolf Hitler can be found daily, on April 20, numerous neo-Nazis and white supremacists from the United States, Canada, Australia, Russia, Germany, Albania, Hungary, Latvia, Spain, Sweden, France, the UK, Finland, Ukraine, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa celebrated Hitler's birthday on social media platforms Telegram and Gab.
Groups and prominent neo-Nazis and white supremacist figures shared celebratory birthday posts which included photos, graphics, videos, and numerous images of cupcakes and cakes decorated with swastikas.
Extremists' posts online included praise for Hitler and antisemitism, with several users around the world using the opportunity to declare their intent to "finish what [Hitler] started," and declare "we are ready to fight." For instance, an accelerationist Telegram channel posted: "The White Race here in America many of us German Ancestry must do everything we can to liberate our fatherland and kinsmen from this death of despair and diversity."
The following report covers a small sampling of social media content posted by neo-Nazis around the world between April 19 and April 21 in celebration of Adolf Hitler's 134th birthday on April 20, 2023.
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North America
A prominent American neo-Nazi shared a birthday post for Hitler in his Telegram chat, stating: "Happy Birthday my Fuhrer!!!"
Australia
An Australian neo-Nazi group published a post commemorating Hitler's birthday. The Telegram channel wrote: "Today we ... mark the birthday of the man himself - The Fuhrer, Adolf HItler. Happy Birthday Uncle A. On this day we remember your struggle and sacrifice and we pledge to restore you and your memory in history to your rightful place as a HERO to our people. We shall strive to finish what you started, and ensure your legacy lives on. HEIL HITLER."
Europe
A German neo-Nazi group posted a video composed of Nazi-era footage with the "Horst Wessel Song" as the soundtrack on its Telegram channel.
The Telegram channel of a Russian neo-Nazi group published a post commemorating Hitler's birthday. The channel shared an image with the message, "April 20th – Happy Holiday!" and wrote: "Happy Birthday, our Fuhrer!"
The Hungarian chapter of an international neo-Nazi organization posted several images commemorating Hitler's birthday on Telegram. One of which shows three blonde German women drinking beer from large mugs marked digitally edited to state: "Jew Tears." The image is overlayed with words "Happy Birthday Fuhrer."
A neo-Nazi hooligan Telegram channel posted a photo of several neo-Nazi stickers on a table from a French neo-Nazi group. The stickers include images of a Nazi officer in front of a sonnenrad, Celtic crosses, and a Nazi slogan. At the center of the photo is a cake with two swastikas and two candles, referencing an active neo-Nazi group in France.
On Telegram, a British neo-Nazi group posted on its channel a link to an article on its website celebrating Hitler's birthday. The article begins: "... SALUTES APRIL 20th: A Salute to all National Socialists across the White World."
A neo-Nazi, pan-Scandinavian group posted a video on Telegram, stating: "Break time with English speaking Hitler. Happy Birthday, buddy!"
South America
An Argentinian neo-Nazi Telegram channel posted an image showing Adolf Hitler riding in a car and greeting his supporters. In the background are an Argentinian flag and a Kriegsmarine flag. At the bottom of the image is a text reading: "20/4/1889 - Happy Birthday Adolf Hitler.
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