Alfred Haighton
Encyclopedia
Coenraad Alfred Augustus Haighton (born Rotterdam
, October 26, 1896 - died Beekbergen
, April 13, 1943) was a millionaire businessman and the leader of the Netherlands
' first fascist movement.
and producing a thesis on Arthur Schopenhauer
, although he was also physically disabled for his entire life. Haighton's father had been a highly successful businessman, making a fortune in particular from his lottery
insurance
business LOTISICO. He died early and as such Alfred Haighton inherited the highly profitable business, allowing him to devote much of his time to politics. He soon became close to H.A. Sinclair de Rochemont and in 1924 the two set up the Verbond van Actualisten, a group which looked for inspiration to Italian fascism
. The group broke down in 1927 and Haighton then put his money into a journal, De Bezem and eventually his own movement, the Fascistische Jongeren Bond. This movement was deplted in 1932 when his close ally Jan Baars
broke from him to set up the General Dutch Fascist League
(ANFB).
(NSNAP), although once again his abrasive personality meant that the relationship was not to last. He dropped out of politics for a spell before joining Arnold Meijer
's Zwart Front, although he declined to join the National Front when this group absorbed the Zwart Front in 1940. Officially a member of the NSNAP again he took little role in active politics and instead concentrated on his anti-Semitic writing and literary pursuits.
line. Writers such as Jan Eekhout
, a staunchly pro-Nazi novelist noted for his use of archaiac and dialect Dutch
words as part of an attempt to construct rustic literature, were featured and widely praised under Haighton.
The Dutch literary establisment reacted negatively to Haighton's stewardship of the magazine, to the point that by 1943 De Nieuws Gids had only 98 registred subscribers. Haighton died suddenly that same year.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, October 26, 1896 - died Beekbergen
Beekbergen
Beekbergen is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Apeldoorn, about 5 km south of that city.Beekbergen was a separate municipality until 1818, when it became a part of Apeldoorn....
, April 13, 1943) was a millionaire businessman and the leader of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
' first fascist movement.
Fascism
From a privileged background, Haighton was well educated, studying in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and producing a thesis on Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher known for his pessimism and philosophical clarity. At age 25, he published his doctoral dissertation, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason, which examined the four separate manifestations of reason in the phenomenal...
, although he was also physically disabled for his entire life. Haighton's father had been a highly successful businessman, making a fortune in particular from his lottery
Lottery
A lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize.Lottery is outlawed by some governments, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of regulation of lottery by governments...
insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
business LOTISICO. He died early and as such Alfred Haighton inherited the highly profitable business, allowing him to devote much of his time to politics. He soon became close to H.A. Sinclair de Rochemont and in 1924 the two set up the Verbond van Actualisten, a group which looked for inspiration to Italian fascism
Italian Fascism
Italian Fascism also known as Fascism with a capital "F" refers to the original fascist ideology in Italy. This ideology is associated with the National Fascist Party which under Benito Mussolini ruled the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 until 1943, the Republican Fascist Party which ruled the Italian...
. The group broke down in 1927 and Haighton then put his money into a journal, De Bezem and eventually his own movement, the Fascistische Jongeren Bond. This movement was deplted in 1932 when his close ally Jan Baars
Jan Baars
Joannes Antonius Baars was a leading Dutch fascist during the 1930s.During the 1920s Baars emerged as part of the group associated with De Bezems, a fascist journal aimed at the poor. The magazine split in 1930 and Baars supported Alfred Haighton over H.A. Sinclair de Rochemont, joining Haighton's...
broke from him to set up the General Dutch Fascist League
General Dutch Fascist League
The General Dutch Fascist League was a minor Dutch fascist party founded in 1932. The party sought to create a volksfascisme, although they failed to fully define this aim and were considered closer to Mussolini than Hitler despite their rhetoric. The party failed to gain support in the 1932...
(ANFB).
Nazism
Haighton had become a strong anti-Semite and as such led the followers he had left into the National Socialist Dutch Workers PartyNational Socialist Dutch Workers Party
The National Socialist Dutch Workers Party was a minor Dutch national socialist party founded in 1931 and led by Ernst Herman van Rappard...
(NSNAP), although once again his abrasive personality meant that the relationship was not to last. He dropped out of politics for a spell before joining Arnold Meijer
Arnold Meijer
Arnoldus Jozephus Meijer was a Dutch fascist politician.Brought up a devout Roman Catholic and educated in a number of seminaries he soon became influenced by Wouter Lutkie, a Catholic priest and fascist...
's Zwart Front, although he declined to join the National Front when this group absorbed the Zwart Front in 1940. Officially a member of the NSNAP again he took little role in active politics and instead concentrated on his anti-Semitic writing and literary pursuits.
Literature
In 1938 Haighton purchased the literary journal De Nieuws Gids, a work that held a high reputation amongst the Dutch artistic set. Under Haighton however the once respected journal became intensely partisan, presenting a highly pro-Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
line. Writers such as Jan Eekhout
Jan Eekhout
Jan Henrik Eekhout was a Dutch writer, poet and translator, particularly known as the author of the novel Pastoor Poncke . During the Second World War Eekhout was a staunch Nazi...
, a staunchly pro-Nazi novelist noted for his use of archaiac and dialect Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
words as part of an attempt to construct rustic literature, were featured and widely praised under Haighton.
The Dutch literary establisment reacted negatively to Haighton's stewardship of the magazine, to the point that by 1943 De Nieuws Gids had only 98 registred subscribers. Haighton died suddenly that same year.