In this episode of "The Rest Is History," Tom and Dominic delve into the history of British fascism, particularly focusing on Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists and the events leading up to the Battle of Cable Street in 1936. They discuss the socio-economic context of Britain in the 1930s, the rise of anti-Semitism, and Mosley's exploitation of these tensions. The hosts debunk the mythologized version of the Battle of Cable Street, revealing that it didn't halt the fascists' activities but may have emboldened them. They also explore the surprising role of British fascists as a "peace party" in the lead-up to World War II, their opposition to war with Germany, and the government's initial reluctance to suppress them until Churchill's crackdown in 1940. The episode sets the stage for the next installment, which will focus on the Mitford sisters and their connections to Nazism.
