The Blackshirt
Initially a weekly, then a monthly, newspaper covering the period: February 1933-May 1939. From 1 June 1934, it incorporated the short-lived periodical, The Fascist week, and became styled under the title: "The official organ of the British Union of Fascists". With the launch of Action, the focus of The Blackshirt changed, becoming primarily targetted at card-carrying members of the movement, particularly active members in Division 1 and Division 2 Blackshirts. Action, on the other hand, adopted a more soft-sell, magazine-style of journalism, incorporating film and book reviews for example, aimed more at maintaining links with BUF sympathisers and inactive Division 3 Blackshirts, and at recruiting new members. No issues appeared between no. 247 (29 January 1938) and no. 248 (March 1938), when it changed to a monthly with the subtitle "British Union news". From September 1938, issues appeared in three editions: southern, East London and, though none appears to have survived, northern. Each was eight pages in length, the inner pages (p.3-6) being identical, with the outer pages (p.1-2 & p.7-8) being slanted towards regional news and issues. In this collection, nos. 254-259 are reproduced the Blackshirt : southern or Southern Blackshirt edition, while nos. 260-261, the last available, are entitled Blackshirt : East London. |
