Antifaschistische Aktion

Antifaschistische Aktion, Antifascistische Aktie, Antifascist Action or Antifascistisk Aktion — abbreviated as Antifa (German/Dutch/English) or AFA (Scandinavian) — is a far-left, extra-parliamentary, anti-fascist network in Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway,United States of America whose stated goal is to "smash fascism in all its forms". Some of its members are influenced by the theory of triple oppression; its members oppose sexism, racism, and classism. The point of the organization is to exchange information and to coordinate activities between local groups.

The group's activities have included handing out flyers, organizing demonstrations, direct action, and rioting. They believe that physical aggression and violence are necessary to achieve their goals, due to the supposed violence and aggression minority groups face at the hands of fascists and the far-right. In line with their ideology, and as a consequence of being constantly monitored by the police, the group has no central authority. This means it has a flat organization consisting of many independent groupings, without a board or leader. AFA works with other anti-racist groups all over Europe. It is also described as a heterogeneous group which in the 1940s was mostly made up of social democrats, communists, and progressive Christians.

The first German movement to call itself Antifaschistische Aktion was proclaimed by the German Communist Party (KPD) in their newspaper Rote Fahne in 1932 and had its first rally in Berlin 10 July 1932. May 1932 the communist paramilitary organisation Rotfrontkämpferbund had been banned and after a fight between Nazi and Communist members of parliament the Antifaschistische Aktion was created to ensure that the communists could have a militant organisation to rival the paramilitary organisations of the Nazis. After a forceful dissolution by the Nazis in 1933, the movement was revived during the 1980s.

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