Staf De Clercq

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Staf De Clercq (September 16, 1884 – October 22, 1942) was a co-founder and leader of the Flemish nationalist Vlaamsch Nationaal Verbond (Flemish National League, or VNV). He is mostly remembered for his fascist views, although he is somewhat a hero to current far right present in Belgium.

[edit] Biography

He was born as Jeroom Gustaaf De Clercq in Everbeek on September 16, 1884.

In 1936 his party gained 13.6% of the votes in Flanders, and 14.7% in 1939.

Welcoming of the Nazi German occupation, De Clercq naively believed it to constitute a chance for the creation of a Diets state, an unprecedented (apart for the medieval Burgundian personal union) Dutch language-based community uniting Flanders, the Netherlands and even the part of northern France with Flemish dialects (corresponding to French Flanders). Aside from this unlikely project, he was a violent anti-semite, and his organization supported the German occupiers in the identification and round-up of Jews for deportation.

He died in Ghent and was succeeded by Hendrik Elias. In 1978 the Vlaamse Militanten Orde, a neo-Nazi paramilitary group, had his body transferred to the cemetery in Asse.

[edit] References

• Belgian Fascism by R. H. Chertok (Washington University thesis, 1975)
• Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890 edited by Philip Rees (1991, ISBN 0-13-089301-3)

[edit] External links

• A Short History of Flanders and the Flemish Movement from the Vlaams Blok site. (Please note that "Vlaams Blok", recently renamed into "Vlaams Belang", is a party situated on the far right of the political spectrum).