Nazi Blockaders, Fascist Phalanges, and Student Protests: The Government’s Painful Abuse of History!
Have you ever seen a government so desperate to crush a student movement that it compares them to the worst evil of the 20th century? Welcome to Serbia 2024, where students aren’t just rebels—they’re “Nazis” and “Fascists”!
Fascism on Campuses?
President Aleksandar Vučić and Speaker of the National Assembly Ana Brnabić spare no words. Students blocking universities are called “Nazi phalanges” and “fascist hordes.” Vučić even compared the attack on student Miloš Pavlović to events in Vienna in the late 1930s, declaring that “fascism in Serbia will not pass” and that “better ćaci than naci”. Yes, you read that right—students are Nazis, and the government is here to stop them!
Media Witch Hunt and Political Manipulation
Pro-government media have been using the harshest historical labels for weeks to demonize students. This rhetoric is not just verbal assault; it serves as justification for violence and repression against young people daring to protest.
Historian Milivoj Bešlin warns that equating civil disobedience with fascism and Nazism is classic historical abuse. It’s not just ignorance—it’s a dangerous relativization of the most horrific crimes of the 20th century.
History Abused as a Weapon of Power
This rhetoric serves not only to delegitimize students but to dehumanize them. Jelena Kleut, a media studies professor, explains that Nazi and fascist symbols are manipulated in public discourse to portray the student movement as a threat to the state.
When the government calls students “Nazis,” it leads to arrests, beatings, and detentions of young people. This is no accident—it’s a systemic strategy to suppress any dissent.
Ultimatum and Repression Ahead of Protests
Before the Vidovdan protest, the government issued an ultimatum to students, using language reminiscent of Nazi and fascist ultimatums from World War II. This is not just rhetoric—it’s a warning of impending repressive measures.
Education as a Tool of Ideological Control
The Speaker of Parliament announced plans to amend the education system to make visits to sites of Serbian suffering during World War II mandatory. On the surface, this sounds good, but experts warn it’s just another attempt to falsify history and spread ultra-right propaganda.
Jelena Kleut fears these educational changes will narrow young people’s perspectives and ideologically shape them according to nationalist and chauvinist narratives.
Why Is This Dangerous?
Relativizing fascism and abusing history harms not only the student movement but society as a whole. It normalizes extreme nationalism and violence while erasing lessons from the past that should protect us from repeating mistakes.
Conclusion
As the government uses history as a weapon against young people demanding justice and change, Serbia faces a dangerous trend that could have long-term consequences for democracy and freedom of expression.
If you thought students were just rebels, think again—they are now “Nazis” and “Fascists” in the government’s narrative. And you? Will you stay silent while history is abused, or join the conversation? Drop a comment, crack a joke, or just share your thoughts—because this isn’t just their fight, it’s ours too!
