Exit (group)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Exit was the name of both a Swedish and a German organisation. The German organisation was modelled on the Swedish one. Both groups aimed to provide support for neo-Nazis wanting to leave that subculture, as well as support for parents and those whose work brings them into contact with (usually young) people involved in Nazism.
Particular problems that Exit was designed to address were the problems of suddenly losing the support structure offered by the Nazi subculture, and the high risk of violence committed by Nazis against former members: in some cases the work of Exit was reminiscent of a witness protection program.
Between 1998 and 2001, 125 Swedes were said to have left the scene out of 133 assisted by Exit [1] - although there were some issues with claims made by the organisation, as well as accusations of improprieties relating to funds [2].
The Swedish group was founded by former neo-Nazi Kent Lindahl. The German organisation was co-founded by the former leader of Nazism in what was East Germany, Ingo Hasselbach.
A separate Exit group was founded in 1999 in Motala, Sweden by a local school welfare officer and a police officer. This organisation worked with the Stockholm-based Exit group until 2002. The 'Exit Motala' group differed from the main group in offering programs for immigrant young people involved in gangs, and a specific program for girls who were associated with the neo-Nazi scene. This latter program operated throughout Sweden [3].
