H. A. Sinclair de Rochemont
Encyclopedia
Hugues Alexandre Sinclair de Rochemont (Hilversum
, January 6, 1901 - March 13, 1942) was a Dutch
fascist and later a collaborator
with the Nazis.
Whilst studying Indology
at Leiden University
he became associated with the rightist professor Gerardus Johannes Petrus Josephus Bolland
and upon leaving university in 1924 set up the country's first fascist movement, the Verbond van Actualisten, with Alfred Haighton
. This group had stood in the 1925 general election
but managed to win only 0.08% of the vote. Alongside this he worked as a journalist for De Vaderlander and as a strike breaker
. In 1927 he began editing De Bezem (The Broom), a fascist journal aimed at the working classes and continued to publish under this name after 1930, when he split from Haighton.
Having split from Haighton he became associated with Joris Van Severen
of Belgium
, although most of his time was given over to his work as a civil servant and then as an antiquarian bookseller. He joined both the National Front and the National Socialist Dutch Workers Party
in 1940, having become fully convinced of Nazism
, even to the point of accepting the incorporation of the Netherlands into the Third Reich.
After spells in prison for homosexuality
and attempting to assassinate Anton Mussert
Sinclair volunteered for the Dutch legion of the Waffen-SS
and was killed on active duty near Grisi in the Soviet Union
.
Hilversum
is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller villages...
, January 6, 1901 - March 13, 1942) was a Dutch
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...
fascist and later a collaborator
Collaborationism
Collaborationism is cooperation with enemy forces against one's country. Legally, it may be considered as a form of treason. Collaborationism may be associated with criminal deeds in the service of the occupying power, which may include complicity with the occupying power in murder, persecutions,...
with the Nazis.
Whilst studying Indology
Indology
Indology is the academic study of the history and cultures, languages, and literature of the Indian subcontinent , and as such is a subset of Asian studies....
at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
he became associated with the rightist professor Gerardus Johannes Petrus Josephus Bolland
Gerardus Johannes Petrus Josephus Bolland
Gerardus Johannes Petrus Josephus Bolland , also known as G.J.P.J. Bolland, was a Dutch autodidact , linguist, philosopher, biblical scholar, and lecturer...
and upon leaving university in 1924 set up the country's first fascist movement, the Verbond van Actualisten, with Alfred Haighton
Alfred Haighton
Coenraad Alfred Augustus Haighton was a millionaire businessman and the leader of the Netherlands' first fascist movement.-Fascism:...
. This group had stood in the 1925 general election
Dutch general election, 1925
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on July 1, 1925.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti Revolutionary Party * Agrarians' League...
but managed to win only 0.08% of the vote. Alongside this he worked as a journalist for De Vaderlander and as a strike breaker
Union busting
Union busting is a wide range of activities undertaken by employers, their proxies, and governments, which attempt to prevent the formation or expansion of trade unions...
. In 1927 he began editing De Bezem (The Broom), a fascist journal aimed at the working classes and continued to publish under this name after 1930, when he split from Haighton.
Having split from Haighton he became associated with Joris Van Severen
Joris Van Severen
Joris Van Severen was a Belgian nationalist politician, ideologist and leader of the national-solidarist Verdinaso.-Early years:...
of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, although most of his time was given over to his work as a civil servant and then as an antiquarian bookseller. He joined both the National Front and the National Socialist Dutch Workers Party
National 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...
in 1940, having become fully convinced of Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
, even to the point of accepting the incorporation of the Netherlands into the Third Reich.
After spells in prison for homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
and attempting to assassinate Anton Mussert
Anton Mussert
Anton Adriaan Mussert was one of the founders of the National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands and its de jure leader. As such, he was the most prominent national socialist in the Netherlands before and during the Second World War...
Sinclair volunteered for the Dutch legion of the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
and was killed on active duty near Grisi in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.