Bert Eriksson

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Bert Eriksson (June 30, 1931 – October 2, 2005) was a leading Belgian neo-Nazi and Flemish nationalist.

Born in Antwerp to a Finnish father and Flemish mother, Eriksson became a Nazi at anearly age and joined the Hitler Youth before the end of the Second World War. A staunch anti-communist, he went in 1950 to fight in the Korean War.

In 1968 he opened a cafe, 'Den Odal', in Antwerp which became a leading centre for neo-Nazis after the War. He took command of the Vlaamse Militanten Orde in the 1971 and after it was outlawed in 1984 became associaited with the Flemish Block, as well as the Odal Group, which presented itself as the successor to the VMO. He had come to attention in 1973 by going to Austria and digging up the remains of Belgian collaborator Cyriel Verschaeve, which he then reburied in Alveringem. He later claimed to have done the same with the remains of Staf De Clercq and Anton Mussert.

Eriksson had been at the heart of the formation of the Flemish Block, setting up a series of talks in 1978 between right wing leaders that ultimately led to the formation of the party.

He also went on to be associated with the Wehrwolf-Verbond, an anti-Semitic group based in Antwerp, and addressed their rally in 1996 ([1]).

He died in Westdorpe, Netherlands from lung disease, aged 73.