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Randy S. Eisenberg's avatar

Well, you nailed it again. I do not know how you make the time to send us such unfiltered and in-depth information. And opposition thoughts, this is something few or none of most of my other follows do.

"Atomwaffen" bothered me from the moment I heard about it, one of my lifelong fascinations has been atomic energy and weapons (the other being the Holocaust) I was somewhat troubled by their name but these lifelong fascinations, unfortunately, may have prepared me for what's happening. With the relative ease of building a dirty bomb or worse, they may someday live up to it. I am sure others feel the same way. (As Sheldon Cooper tried, maybe by now they could just order up some yellowcake from Niger.)

This is kind of long but if your readers want a small taste of what those guys are about (and too busy to do the research, read on- (from Wikipedia):

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"The Atomwaffen Division (AWD) is a neo-Nazi terrorist organization founded in 2015 by Brandon Russell

Operating as decentralized terror cells, the group's ideology is based on accelerationism—the belief that society must be pushed into an apocalyptic collapse through violent acts to make way for a white ethnostate.

The name "Atomwaffen Division" is German for "atomic weapons," and the group became one of the most violent neo-Nazi movements in the 21st century. Its members have been implicated in multiple murders, terrorist plots, and acts of intimidation, and several have been arrested and convicted of related crimes. While the group has reportedly experienced a decline in activity, it continues to inspire other extremist networks.

Ideology and influences

Accelerationism: Atomwaffen members believe that Western society is irredeemably corrupt and can only be replaced by a white supremacist state after a violent, revolutionary collapse.

"Siege" and James Mason: A core inspiration for the group is the Siege doctrine, a collection of neo-Nazi essays by James Mason. The doctrine advocates for the use of terrorism and a "leaderless resistance" model to achieve societal destruction, and Atomwaffen is credited with popularizing this ideology.

Other influences: The group also draws inspiration from figures like cult leader Charles Manson and esoteric Nazism. They have praised other mass murderers, including Dylann Roof and Timothy McVeigh, as "saints" for their violent acts.

Antisemitism and homophobia: A central part of AWD's propaganda includes virulent antisemitism and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.

Activities and violence

Murders: Since its founding, Atomwaffen members or associates have been linked to almost a dozen murders. Notable incidents include:

In 2017, member Devon Arthurs murdered two of his roommates, who were also AWD members. Arthurs told police that he killed them because they disrespected his conversion to Islam.

In 2017, Nicholas Giampa, a 17-year-old AWD member, killed his girlfriend's parents after they argued about his neo-Nazi views.

Terrorist plots:

In 2017, following Arthurs's arrest, police discovered bomb-making materials in the apartment he shared with founder Brandon Russell. Prosecutors alleged Russell had planned attacks on nuclear facilities and synagogues.

In 2025, Russell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a separate plot to attack Maryland's power grid.

Intimidation and harassment: In 2020, FBI agents arrested multiple members for a conspiracy to intimidate and harass journalists and employees of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The members distributed threatening flyers displaying neo-Nazi symbols at their victims' homes.

"Hate camps": Atomwaffen held paramilitary-style training camps, where members practiced with firearms and produced propaganda videos.

Structure and current status

Structure: The organization is arranged in a system of decentralized "terror cells" and utilizes a "leaderless resistance" model. This structure is meant to protect members from law enforcement and is inspired by older white supremacist groups like The Order.

International reach: While founded in the U.S., Atomwaffen grew to have an international footprint, with connections to cells in Europe, including Germany, Russia, and the UK.

Decline and dissolution: The group is believed to have largely dissolved around 2020 due to intense scrutiny from law enforcement and the media. However, its influence, including its violent ideology and aesthetic, has continued to affect other extremist networks. Groups like the National Socialist Order (NSO) and the Base have formed from former Atomwaffen members.

Terrorist designation: Both the UK and Canadian governments have officially designated the Atomwaffen Division as a terrorist organization.

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Mary E's avatar

RSE, thank you for these details.

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Jo Burns's avatar

Thanks for this in-depth further explanation. Until today, this name has escaped me.

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Mary E's avatar

How safe is Steven Carillo in prison?

How safe is Cash Patel?

How safe is Usha Vance?

How safe is Bernie Sanders?

How safe are Jared & Ivanka Kusher, Stephen Miller, Howard Lutnick, David Sacks, Steve Witkoff, and Lee Zeldin?

How safe is the current president himself/herself if these chaos cells remain unchecked?

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Sarah Brennan's avatar

And indeed hiw safe is Ghislaine Maxwell.

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Jane B In NC🌼's avatar

This is the terrifying information that I need to read and understand, yet I do not want to.

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Jo Burns's avatar

Well done, Jack! I knew we had cells of homegrown terrorists, but was thinking large not groups of 3-4. That does make sense. It is easier to track members. Less likely to include non terrorists in their plans. Easier for disavowal of knowledge too. It is good to know action was taken under Biden, however it is scary to think Trump will foment the occasion and fertilize the movement with his ignorant vitriol. I also was unaware there were actual named entities. Thanks for all the in-depth information and explanation to the lay person. So much of this was not on my radar. I also appreciate your thoughts on how to view this and how to handle the information. This was really appreciated!

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Sarah Brennan's avatar

Absolute good sense. Thank you. Trump is just the symptom; Putin and his so called libertarian soldiers are the disease. You need VAST circulation with this!

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Michel Equality's avatar

Jack- are these the same terrorist groups that are reported on the Southern poverty Law Center’s Hate Map?

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Cherae Stone's avatar

Dayum, Hopkins!

Do I need to learn to shoot? Please say no.

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Mo Robinson's avatar

I listened to an excellent documentary on CBC Radio One, called “ White Hot Hate” with an undercover FBI agent, Scott Payne, who infiltrated everything from biker gangs to drug cartels, to Patriot Front, Atomwaffen, and The Base. I listened to it over 6 days, and my heart was pumping at the end of each episode. He described a lot of what you just wrote, and I was amazed at the depth of deception needed, to infiltrate them. I hope there are a helluva lot Scott Paynes out there!

He has written a memoir, Codename:Pale Horse.

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Mantis's avatar

Thank you, Jack. It is simple on what these groups want to accomplish and incredibly simple on how they are organizing and radicalizing. Khrushchev, 1956: "We will take America without firing a shot. We do not have to invade the US. We will destroy you from within."

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JP4M's avatar

Thank you for all of this, Jack. A lot of your information is new to me and makes me wonder a lot. Thank you for including the Thomas Edison success account and reading sources.

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Sarah Brennan's avatar

Question: what’s happening with Ivanka and Jarrod these days?

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Joan's avatar

Why are so many men attracted to these groups? I suppose there are some women who support them but probably not many. Why so much anger against "others"? The scariest is the young men who should be our hope to build a better future, but choose these dark and dangerous communities instead. Toxic masculinity indeed.

Jack, thank you for bringing the facts and information to all your readers.

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