Falanga (organisation)

Falanga was the name of several Polish nationalist and far-right organizations, primarily active in the interwar period and during World War II.

The most well-known Falanga was the Ruch Narodowo-Radykalny Falanga (National Radical Movement Falanga), founded in 1935 by Bolesław Piasecki after a split within the National Radical Camp (ONR). Falanga espoused a radical, authoritarian, and anti-Semitic ideology, drawing inspiration from Italian fascism and other European far-right movements. Its core tenets included the creation of a "Great Poland" based on national solidarity, a strong state, and the eradication of perceived foreign influences.

During World War II, some members of Falanga participated in the Polish resistance, while others collaborated with the German occupiers. Bolesław Piasecki himself was imprisoned by the Gestapo and later participated in establishing the PAX Association, a pro-communist Catholic organization in post-war Poland.

Other organizations also used the name "Falanga" at different points in Polish history, often associated with similar nationalist and far-right ideologies. These groups generally represented a relatively small segment of Polish society but have held a persistent presence in the country's political landscape. Their actions and ideologies have been widely criticized for their extremism and intolerance.