122 Colombian Nazis met in a Bogota hotel on Easter weekend to commemorate Adolf Hitler’s 122nd birthday, newspaper Semana reported Sunday.
The group, Tercera Fuerza, is led by a man named Diego, known as “El Comandante” by his followers.
“It is a tribute this month to the birthday of our great leader,” he said of the event.
On the walls of the establishment, the group mounted photos of Hitler, along with the Nazi motto “Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Fuhrer” (One people, one empire, one leader). The military dress of those present was decorated with various insignias, including that of the extinct National Socialist Worker’s Party, and the letters T and F to represent the group’s name.
Diego said that the Nazis do not consider themselves illegal, as they are guaranteed the right to freedom of expression by the Colombian constitution. He said that they are a “cultural association” that defends “a cultural and ethical heritage, love for our nation and affiliation with the national socialist family.”
The group meets two times a week, and members are indoctrinated with lectures and video discussions, as well as participating in some military-style physical training. The majority of the group, according to Semana, is composed of members under 25 years of age, and some children were present with their parents at the meeting.
“We hope to have some 100,000 militants in five years, so that we can constitute a [political] party. Otherwise, we will only continue spreading our message,” said Diego.