Ex-Golden Dawn members give insight into how party operated
Depositions given by two former Golden Dawn members which have helped authorities bring charges against the group’s leader and MPs have given unprecedented insight into how the neofascist party operated.
The two witnesses were members of the chapter in Nikaia, where rapper Pavlos Fyssas was murdered by a Golden Dawn member earlier this month.
The pair explained to authorities how the party’s chapters were split into small cells of five people with members having to account to the leader of their cell, who then reported to his superiors.
There were regular indoctrination classes, including lessons on Adolf Hitler that denied the atrocities carried out by the Nazis, the two ex-members said.
They also claimed that any members who questioned their superiors or the party were beaten. A group of members was dedicated to harassing anyone who left the party to ensure that they would not talk about their experiences.
The witnesses also told authorities that although party members were involved in violent attacks on migrants, they also used immigrants to sell contraband cigarettes and clothing that the party collected from charitable donations.
