JIM TAGUE attempts to justify his absurd claims that Nazis had close links to socialism by choosing a few despots who under the guise of socialism were responsible for the murder of millions of innocents (HAS, Dec 12).

He fails miserably however to provide a link between the two. Nazis were responsible for the murders of millions of trade unionists, communists and social democrats. At the end of the war, many thousands of Nazis escaped justice by fleeing to “right wing” safe haven states, mainly in South America. Perhaps Jim could prove me wrong and tell HAS readers which socialist states Nazis sought refuge in?

Jim may also consider that while Lord Halifax, Lord Erskine, Baron Lord Rathmore and other well known conservatives were sympathetic to the Nazi cause, UK socialists were at odds with Oswald Mosley’s fascist party. Colonel Thomas Moore, a Conservative MP, describing Oswald’s thugs said: “Surely there cannot be any fundamental difference of outlook between the Blackshirts and their parents, the Conservatives.”

Could I also remind Mr Tague that it was socialists that fought for centuries to introduce welfare reforms, social housing, and health and safety at work in the UK. Most of these reforms were opposed at every stage by the Conservative Party.

Kev Mcstravick, Darlington