Hendrik Elias

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Hendrik Josef Elias (June 12, 1902 – February 2, 1973) was a Belgian politician and Flemish nationalist.

He began his political career in 1930 as the secretary of the Vlaams Nationale Volkspartij and represented Ghent-Eeklo in the Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives from 1932 until 1944. He joined the Flemish National Union (VNV) on its formation in 1933 and soon gained a reputation as a leading moderate in the party. Despite this he was appointed Mayor of Ghent after the German invasion, although he continued to oppose plans to incorporate Flanders into Nazi Germany, arguing instead for a commonwealth.

He became leader of VNV in 1942, following the death of Staf De Clercq, despite opposition of Gottlob Berger, who was suspicious of his views on keeping the Flemish distinct from the Germans. Elias sought to stop recruitment to the Waffen-SS and disband the Hitler Youth, although towards the end of World War II he came to co-operate more with the Nazis, fearing a communist takeover.

He fled to Germany in September 1944 but took no part in the exiled Belgian collaboration movement under Jef van der Wiele. He was arrested by the French and extradited to Brussels where a death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. He was released on December 24, 1959 and published an autobiography, Vijfentwintig Jaar Vlaamse Beweging in 1971.