The Union created what was essentially the forerunner of western fascist groups as it deemed the Tsar damaged by the ‘revolution’ and resolved to take action itself via newly created paramilitaries. These were formed from people scared of losing their power and status through liberal reforms, from people letting their racism and prejudices guide them, and from criminals seeking a way to loot and plunder without arrest. They thus formed ‘Black Hundreds’, which put on ‘patriotic’ marches under icons and portraits of the Tsar, and then hunted out and attacked their perceived enemies. By the end of 1906 there were a thousand branches of the Union with 300,000 members, and in two weeks alone they killed three thousand Jews. (Figures from Figes, A People’s Tragedy, p. 196)
The Union had high ranking support. The Tsar patronised it and wore its emblem, as did leading courtiers and churchmen. Government ministrys financed it and supplied weapons. The police aided it and refused to prosecute members. The Tsar hoped the Union would transform into a popular political party which would support him, but it developed a dislike of party politics.
