Australian Army soldiers associated with white supremacist groups lead investigation
Rats in the ranks: Fear of extremist groups has infiltrated the Australian military as it launches an investigation into serving soldiers linked to white supremacist groups
- Several soldiers have ties to alt-right groups
- The Australian Army has launched an investigation
A handful of Australian soldiers have been linked to neo-Nazi groups, prompting an urgent investigation by the military.
At least three soldiers are said to have joined the armed forces after joining or communicating with a white supremacist group.
One has close ties to Operation Werewolf, an alt-right group that promotes Aryan supremacy and teaches its members unarmed combat training and hunting.
A handful of Australian soldiers have been linked to neo-Nazi groups, prompting an urgent investigation by the military
Another soldier joined the army after completing a white supremacist group training camp and mingled with at least two members of another chapter.
The soldier had completed an obstacle course for the Antipodean Resistance, a white supremacist group that promotes race wars.
The Australian Security Intelligence Organization has launched several investigations into the group since its inception in 2016.
The alt-right organization uses the slogan, “We are the Hitlers you’ve been waiting for.”
The group was behind several racist campaigns and targeted schools with a large ethnic population by plastering posters reading ‘Keep Australia White’.
Members also spread false propaganda linking homosexuality to pedophilia in the run-up to gay marriage by mail in 2017.
The soldier who attended the training camp also associated with two members of the National Socialist Network, Australia’s largest neo-Nazi group.
The Melbourne-based group has generated a lot of publicity for its alt-right stunts in the past.
The members performed a Nazi salute at Swinburne University in 2020 and crashed into Australia Day celebrations to sing “white power” at the Grampians National Park in 2021.
A police anti-terrorism briefing seen by The age claimed the group previously had access to firearms.
The soldier who attended the training camp also associated with two members of the National Socialist Network, Australia’s largest neo-Nazi group (pictured NSN members giving the Hitler salute at Swinburne University in 2020)
“NSN advocates that its members drive a ‘white revolution’ to inspire change for the white race, accomplished by overthrowing the current social and political order to establish a National Socialist system,” it read.
Revelations from the white supremacist affiliates have raised concerns about gaps in the vetting process in the Australian military.
An Australian Defense Force spokesman said soldiers with questionable links to groups or improper activities would be investigated.
“There is no place for unlawful or inappropriate dealings with groups or organizations engaged in advocacy for extremist ideologies, extremist views or criminal activity within the Australian Defense Force,” he said.
“Defense is working closely with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to identify and counter threats to defense and defense personnel related to ideologically motivated extremism.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Defense Force for comment.