October 4th sees us celebrate the anniversary of the so-called "Battle of Cable Street" - but what actually transpired that day in East London? Contemporary figures mythologise that Oswald Mosley & British Fascism were defeated, yet first-hand sources reveal a different story 🧵
Firstly we must establish what the prevailing Cable Street narrative is so that we may deconstruct it. The story goes something like this: nasty fascists wanted to march through a "jewish" area of East London but were decisively repelled by outraged locals.
This is the foundational myth of the contemporary British Left. Cable Street was the moment that fascism was defeated, and brutally. People recall stories of family members steamrolling crowds of fascists. But how true are these stories? Watch as they fall apart under scrutiny.
Let's start with this Police special branch report that concludes: “The general cry is that the entire population of East London had risen against Mosley...This statement is, however, far from reflecting accurately the state of affairs.”
Myth: fascism was defeated at Cable Street Fact: in the following London local elections they polled as high as 23% despite a handicap barring their young membership from voting - otherwise they would have won seats! Communists were "disturbed".
Myth: Mosley and his men were severely beaten & sent packing Fact: Mosley obeyed orders from Sir Philip Game to stand his men down: for the assorted anti-fascists & communists had turned the streets into a warzone The fighting was actually between the police and protestors.
Myth: this was a spontaneous uprising as the good people of East London simply couldn't stomach evil fascism Fact: this was a well coordinated protest intent on causing disorder, using imagery of armed struggle in promotion materials - effectively domestic terrorism!
So what did this so-called battle actually look like, then, if the fascists weren't violently repelled? This scene from the 1998 "Mosley" TV series is an accurate portrayal of Cable Street. Fascists assembled for their march and obliged police orders to stand down. No fights.
Many falsely believe that the battle of Cable Street was a fight between the common man of London against fascism, but this couldn't be further from the truth. What transpired was mass rioting from imported political factions & aliens while the fascists respected order.
The next point is perhaps the most important when breaking the Cable Street myth. Just ten days after the riot Mosley returned to the streets of East London, to scenes that completely contradict everything people will tell you about Cable Street. Do these people look mad?
Mosley was able to return just ten days after the battle of Cable Street, and to jubilant scenes. The battle of Cable Street had actually backfired: people had been made aware of a subversive element within England which preached violence against indigenous sentiment.
Conventional wisdom would tell you this couldn't, or rather *didn't* happen. We are told fascism was run out, defeated, embarrassed - every fantasy you can imagine, they have claimed. This one picture contradicts the very basis of their myth.
Primary sources once again destroy the Cable Street myth. This newspaper scan brags about Mosley's infamous return to East London, describing in great detail events of the night that prove Cable Street was nothing more than a lawless communist riot. "THEY SHALL PASS"
"BLACKSHIRT propaganda is making great strides in East London since the memorable October 4". Another primary source documents four successful November meetings in East London - yet if we are to believe the Cable Street myth these events couldn't have taken place!
This newspaper front cover from almost a year after Cable Street is INCREDIBLY revealing. Why? Quite simple: the event was still being used for pro-fascist propaganda! Cable Street was not a win for the left, it was a crushing defeat. Fascist order vs communist disorder.
Cable Street was in fact a catalyst for the growth of British fascism. The opposite of what you'd expect from the prevailing narrative, but when you realise what actually transpired it makes a lot more sense. 600 new members signed up in Limehouse alone.
A fine example is the story of Gladys Walsh - who was so disgusted by the sight of communists rolling marbles under police horses' hooves (coupled with stuffing broken glass up their noses!) that she became an active BUF member & women's district leader.
Here a jewish antifascist eyewitness at Cable Street recalls antifascists attacking horses with much glee, yet she's bewildered at the police reaction: "I thought I could understand it if the police were doing this to Mosley's men, but they were doing this to the good guys".
It would be foolish to omit that the fascists were massively outnumbered and outgunned: the full weight of the organised left fell on London that day, and many skirmishes were had, but not exactly in the way leftists mythologise.
Perhaps the most memorable encounter was that of Tommy Moran, who in a story comparable to that of the Spartans at Thermopylae led a brave vanguard group who were attacked. Scenes of him single-handedly decking communists were seen nationwide: a hero was born.
Perhaps the most important Cable Street media you will ever consume - Oswald Mosley himself speaking on the so-called battle of Cable Street. This was before much of the mythologising, his ability to cut through & describe what occurred that day is first-rate. Listen carefully.
Surprisingly enough it's not just fascists who indulge in Cable Street revisionism - it has long been widely acknowledged by the jewish community as a disaster - whilst leftists continue to celebrate it!
Funnier still is that four fascist meetings along the proposed route *still went ahead* at Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, Bow & Limehouse. So much for "they shall not pass". The meeting at Limehouse was eventually shut: but support for the fascists vastly outnumbered the reds.
So membership swelled, support grew, Mosley was vindicated and his opponents were made out to be uncivilised thugs who were too embarrassed to turn up at the next Mosley event. "The Battle of Cable Street" was a disaster: yet it's now a foundational myth that the left lives by.
Last point would be that the British Union held their biggest indoor meeting in 1939 - so to say a riot in 1936 defeated them is pure fantasy. Objectively it did more harm than good: it was factually a catalyst for the growth of fascism. Thanks for reading, follow me for more!
Mini thread on Tommy Moran just so people believe the hype about him decking communists: https://x.com/ukipperlad/statu...
@ukipperlad Well done lad. Yet another national myth exploded. I’ve known this for years. People just laughed in my face when I try to explain to liberal and lefty cretins.
@ukipperlad Great thread 👍. It's heartbreaking to see how things turned out, I often wonder what our society would look like had the communists been crushed back then as they deserved.
@ukipperlad @infinitehorus If your "English March" is led by 3rd World brown people and old lesbians you're already putting forth a counter narrative... You're in fact proving the points Mosley was trying to make... only more effectively
@ukipperlad @frenlyflanker Funny how leftists never bring up the ‘Battle of Waterloo Station 1992’ when they got absolutely smashed.
@ukipperlad One take from looking closely at who fought is that East London was already well on the way to being ‘not English’ by the 30s. The Krays, born around this time, are very typical of this.
@ukipperlad So many of these myths need to be busted, especially from the proverbial communist retrospective narrative controllers. Well done on collating the facts of the 'actual' event."
@ukipperlad Mines shorter and less dramatic, but hey it’s nice to see someone reach the same analysis.
@ukipperlad We're so back
@ukipperlad They weren't defeated. They just got moved to Hyde Park
