Ordre Nouvenu is the largest fascist organisation in France. It grew out of the pro-Nazi Occident ("The West) after the latter was banned in 1969.
In the aftermath of the upbeavals of May/June '68. the French state authorities became aware of the need to root the revolutionaries out of their base in the universities and colleges AL the same time they were aware that any dieect attack by the state would only serve to strengthen the support of the mass of students for the left, Their answer was to encourage the development of fascist groups within the student movement, and to turn a blind eye to physical assaults by these groups on revolutionacies and left wing organisations. Armed Attacks However the radicalisation that had taken place among students during May June meant that the traditional support for the righl-wing among students had declined immensely, while the left was both stronger and more willing to fight back As a result the fascists quickly turned their attention from leafletting to launching armed attacks on colleges known for their lett-wing sympathics One such attack was launched against a Pain college in May 1969 by Occident, The raiding party faced a determined defensive response. from the college students The raiders were forced to retreat, but as they were being driven out one of their mumber tossed a live band grenade, which exploded blowing off the hand of one young anti-fascist militant. It was this incident which forced the authorities to order the dissolution of Occident, but there was no attempt to identify and proscoute tbose responsible for the raid and its consequences.
Ordre Nouveau In 1970. Ordre Nouveau was created by the supporters of the former Occident. Support and financial backing was received from various reactionary quarters including two major French banks.
The government also provided cover for the resolidarity), this campaige produced a number of very nasty attacks on immigrant workers, particularly in smaller provincial towns. This upsurge of fascist activity has coincided with a number of armed attacks by fascist bands on groups of striking workers, such as the Peugeot workers during April. Defend the Communist League In general, the traditional workers organisa tions have failed to take any effective initia tives ngainst the lascist organisations, It Has fallen to Ihe Communist League to agitate tor the setting up of workers self defuse aguinst the fascist altacks and, in alliance with other groups of the 'ultra left', to campaiga against the public activities of the fascists The fascist bands are seen by French big bustness and the French state as playing an impor tant part in their strategy to weaken the working class movement. That is one of the major reasons why they bave dealt wid the Commu mist League in such a prompt and ruthless fashion. The defence of the Communist League is the defence of the whole French working class movement agaiest the depradations of fascism and the capitalist repressin machine. Cris Balou
The following are the central points made by Alain Kricine, a leading member of the former their presence a simple. These weapons were