During the Summer of 2021, neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups in the United States, Australia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Scandinavia, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom hosted summer camps. Some European groups have connected with groups in the United States and cooperated, promoting one another's summer camps on their Telegram accounts.
The camps serve as a recruitment tool. Several groups promoted their camps on their social media accounts prior to the camp, calling on those interested to apply to be vetted. Following the event, groups posted photos and videos, promoting the group and urging supporters to "join the movement." Some groups shared member testimonials to recruit more attendees.
Many of the summer camps, which white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups are advertising as "family camps," are geared toward youth and families. The summer camps often showcased speeches and discussions about white supremacist ideology and other focuses.
The camps often featured intensive training in hand-to-hand combat, drone piloting, firearms training, and martial arts. Members also engage in fighting, marksmanship, and knife tournaments. Other activities included distributing stickers, ceremonies, banner drops, gymnastics, crafts, hiking, camping, and survival skills.
The following are excerpts from international groups promoting and recapping their 2021 summer camps.
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Australia
On June 18, 2021, an Australian neo-Nazi group wrote about an overnight camping trip on which the group went. The group claimed: "While Queensland activists were on an overnight camping trip appreciating the nature of our country, the vermin at Channel 9 drafted up a slew of lies about us. These scum have no shame; they even went so far as to outright falsely brand us as 'a breed of terrorism.' Queensland activists engaged in heinous behaviour such as physical exercise, appreciating the nature of our country, and caring for vulnerable wildlife. Apparently, according to Channel 9, this equates to us 'unsuspectingly recruiting Queenslanders'. Well, Queenslander, if you'd like to be unsuspectingly recruited, come join us."
France
An extreme-right nationalist group posted a photo of a group from the group's summer camp on July 23-24 with a Celtic wheel cross flag. The several men and one woman are wearing the group's t-shirts. The channel wrote: "Two days of intensive walking toward the ocean and Ile d'Yeu," which is an island off the Vendée coast of western France. The post has two hashtags, one reading "March of Rehabilitation" and the other reading "Marshal Petain." Both refer to Philippe Petain, a French general who later served as Chief of State of Vichy France.
Germany
A German neo-Nazi party published on July 2 an article on its website. The article reports on the recently held community self-defense training session, where party members, supporters, and people from the public assembled and trained in self-defense techniques. The article reads: "Due to increasing aggression perpetrated by left-wing extremists, migrants, and paid goon squads, our national-revolutionary party invited [people] to a public self-defense seminar in the region of Anhalt."
Hungary
A Hungarian neo-Nazi group published on August 24 photos of group members physically training in firearms and hand-to-hand combat, taken at a recent camp organized by a Hungarian neo-Nazi paramilitary organization. The accompanying text read: "At the insider camp, in addition to the daily morning gymnastics and running, there was also a ground fighting tournament, an obstacle course race, and an air rifle shooting tournament. Of course, the camp was not just about sport, you can find out more about it at the link below."
Italy
A French extreme-right Telegram channel posted on July 19-20 a series of photos taken at a summer camp run by a youth fascist group.
Netherlands
On July 21, a Dutch neo-Nazi group posted on its English Telegram channel multiple photos of group members holding the group's flag and what appears to be a flag of South Holland with the group's emblem on top of the red dragon. In the corner of the top photo is a Netherlands flag. Other photos show members training and drinking together. The caption reads: "Our summer camp was once again a success! Members of the our group have organised our second annual sailing and camping trip. During this summer camp there was time for both sports and fun."
Romania
On September 24, 2020 a social media account posted images of a summer camp held by an ultranationalist soccer hooligan group.
Scandinavia
A Scandinavian neo-Nazi group shared on August 22, 2021, on its official website an article about an annual event the group hosts featuring sparring, relay races, a pentathlon, and competitions for children. The article noted that the event took place on August 14 in Vastmanland. White nationalist-themed products were available for purchase and members gave speeches.
Ukraine
Every year, a Ukrainian neo-Nazi group posts photos from its annual summer camp to its Telegram channel. On August 11 the group posted photos from its 2021 summer camp. The photos show dozens of men hiking and camping.
United Kingdom
On July 10 a neo-Nazi movement posted on their website an article about their 2021 summer camp. The article describes the camp, which was held in the UK from June 18-20. During the camp, participants went sightseeing, played games, and went hiking. The article includes images of participants that include several children.
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