Mosley changed its name to the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists in 1936 and, in 1937, to the British Union. In 1939, following the start of the Second World War, the party was proscribed by the British government and in 1940 it was disbanded.

Flag of the British Union of Fascists Benito Mussolini with Oswald Mosley during Mosley's visit to Italy in April 1933

In the summer of 1935, Eric H. Piercy, the commander of the Fascist Defence Force, designed the emblem and presented it to Oswald Mosley, the BUF's leader. [1] The official colors were: a white lightning bolt ("flash") and circle, a blue roundel, and a red background.

Designed by Eric H. Piercy, commander of the paramilitary Fascist Defence Force, to replace the fasces symbol initially adopted as the symbol of Mosely’s organisation. 2 It was often depicted on a red background suggestive of the Nazi flag and likely inspired by the fascist iconography of Germany and Italy.

May 23, 2015 · Mosley, the party's leader, had founded the New Party on 1 May 1932 and this party changed name to British Union of Fascists in late 1932. BUF's emblem was the one used by Italian fascists and by other fascist movements, the fasces.

He adopted the fasces, the symbol of Imperial Rome, representing unity and the authority of the state in an obvious imitation of the Italian fascists. Later, this was dropped in favour of the “flash and circle”, symbolising union and action.

Oct 11, 2023 · 1930’s Oswald Mosley British Union of Fascists (B.U.F) Banner / Standard, interesting large double sided cloth banner flag for the British 1930’s political party. The red cloth flag has large single lightning bolt emblem to the centre and around ‘BRITISH UNION OF FASCISTS’ to both sides.

Feb 23, 2022 · Emulating Goebbels, the successful Nazi propaganda minister, Mosley threw in large visible doses of patriotism by holding mass rallies coloured by seas of Union Jacks and fascist flags.” Oswald Mosley leads British Union of Fascists members before a rally in Trafalgar Square, London, 1934.

This Large B.U.F political banner/ flag measures 104.14cm width x 205.74cm, this B.U.F flag is marked in a blank ink stamp on the back “B.U.F. HOLLOWAY” in which this is believed to be from HMP Holloway prison where Mosley and many other BUF members & supporters were interned.

Nov 7, 2024 · Flags bearing the Union Jack and the lightning flash, a symbol adopted from the BUF, were also flown. Following the Windrush in 1948, members of the UM also began to attack immigrants from the West Indies but antisemitism remained at the core.