Nazism has a long history in Lebanon. In 1936, Pierre Gemayale was a young athlete at the Berlin Olympics. Fascinated by the organization of the Nazi state he wanted to emulate it in Lebanon and founded the student organization al-Katab [Phalange] in that effort. As Gemayale matured, so did his organization to become the largest Christian party in Lebanon and eventually boosting its own militia.

The Phalange molded itself on the Nazi fascination with notions of the superior race [in this case the Lebanese Christians being superior to Muslims], cubic symbols and youth councils that even included a Hier Hilter induction ceremony. The Phalange hosted party meetings were they touted the doctrine of “quality versus quantity:” the argument that Christians have the right to rule in larger numbers over the increasingly Muslim population of Lebanon due to the sheer “fact” that Christians are superior to Muslims.

After being battered in 15 years of Civil War, the Phalange party no longer maintains the status it once did. It has been reduced to being a coalition members in the equally fascistic Lebanese Forces. The Gemayale, which did more than any other family to introduce fascism to Lebanon, has also be regulated to being a watcher than an actor on the Lebanese stage.

But their ideology is still there. Party meetings are still held and youth induction ceremonies as well. The party still trades in the bigoted “quality versus quantity” platform. And the party every year mourns the death of Bashir Gemayala, an assassinated Phalange president, in cult fashion. It is this ideology of sectarianism that holds Lebanon back.

Phalange party members still carry the flag - not the Lebanese flag in this divided nation - but the fascist flag:

A swearing in ceremony [that is Bashir Gemayale in the background]:

And many are also proud to show where their inspiration is rooted:

The Auto Nazi