Hendrik Elias
Encyclopedia
Hendrik Josef Elias was a Belgian
politician and Flemish
nationalist
.
, the University of Paris
and the University of Bonn
before serving in a number of leading roles in both academia and the law.
He began his political career in 1930 as the secretary of the Vlaams Nationale Verbond (Flemish National Union
). He was a member of 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 expressing a strong personal admiration for Adolf Hitler
. 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
. In an effort to accomplish this he encouraged recruitment into the Luftwaffe
rather than the SS and achieved some success in diverting Flemings away from Heinrich Himmler
's men. Elias came into competition for support from the Germans with Jef van de Wiele
, whose DeVlag movement was allowed to co-exist in occupied Flanders alongside the VNV. Van der Wiele endorsed full integration of Flanders into Germany, a view not supported by the VNV. By April 1943 Elias had become disillusioned with the Nazis as they increasingly backed DeVlag and he came to argue that Nazism and Flemish Catholicism
were incompatible. Despite these private attitudes Elias did not go public with his reservations. In public, he claimed a German victory was needed, supported recruiting for the Eastern Front, defended forced labor service in Germany and requisitions. Towards the end of World War II
he came to co-operate more with the Nazis, fearing a communist
takeover. Just before the liberation he authorized using the VNV militia in actions against the resistance.
He fled to Germany in September 1944 but took no part in the exiled Belgian collaboration movement under van der Wiele. He was arrested by the French
and extradited to Belgium
. He was sentenced to death and this sentence was confirmed in appeal. The Belgian government commuted it to life imprisonment. He was released on 24 December 1959 for health reasons. In 1971 he published Vijfentwintig Jaar Vlaamse Beweging, part history of the Flemish nationalist movement, part autobiography .
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...
politician and Flemish
Flemish people
The Flemings or Flemish are the Dutch-speaking inhabitants of Belgium, where they are mostly found in the northern region of Flanders. They are one of two principal cultural-linguistic groups in Belgium, the other being the French-speaking Walloons...
nationalist
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
.
Biography
Elias was a noted academic, holding doctorates in both Law and Philosophy from studies at the Catholic University of LeuvenCatholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
, the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
and the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
before serving in a number of leading roles in both academia and the law.
He began his political career in 1930 as the secretary of the Vlaams Nationale Verbond (Flemish National Union
Flemish National Union
The Flemish National Union was a Nationalist Flemish political party in Belgium, founded by Staf de Clercq on October 8, 1933. De Clercq became known as den Leider .-Creation:...
). He was a member of Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives
Belgian Chamber of People's Representatives
The Belgian Chamber of Representatives is one of the two chambers in the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Senate...
from 1932 until 1944. He joined the Flemish National Union
Flemish National Union
The Flemish National Union was a Nationalist Flemish political party in Belgium, founded by Staf de Clercq on October 8, 1933. De Clercq became known as den Leider .-Creation:...
(VNV) on its formation in 1933 and soon gained a reputation as a leading moderate in the party, despite expressing a strong personal admiration for Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. He was appointed Mayor of Ghent after the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
invasion, although he continued to oppose plans to incorporate Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
into Nazi Germany, arguing instead for a commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
.
He became leader of VNV in 1942, following the death of Staf De Clercq
Staf De Clercq
Staf De Clercq was a Flemish nationalist collaborator, co-founder and leader of the Flemish nationalist Vlaamsch Nationaal Verbond .-Biography:...
, despite opposition of Gottlob Berger
Gottlob Berger
Gottlob Berger was a German Nazi who held the rank of Obergruppenführer during World War II and was later convicted of war crimes.In 1939, he was Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler's main recruiting officer...
, who was suspicious of his views on keeping the Flemish distinct from the Germans. Elias sought to stop recruitment to 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 disband the Hitler Youth
Hitler Youth
The Hitler Youth was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. It existed from 1922 to 1945. The HJ was the second oldest paramilitary Nazi group, founded one year after its adult counterpart, the Sturmabteilung...
. In an effort to accomplish this he encouraged recruitment into the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
rather than the SS and achieved some success in diverting Flemings away from Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Luitpold Himmler was Reichsführer of the SS, a military commander, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. As Chief of the German Police and the Minister of the Interior from 1943, Himmler oversaw all internal and external police and security forces, including the Gestapo...
's men. Elias came into competition for support from the Germans with Jef van de Wiele
Jef van de Wiele
Fredegardus Jacobus Josephus van de Wiele was a Belgian Flemish Nazi politician.-Nazism:...
, whose DeVlag movement was allowed to co-exist in occupied Flanders alongside the VNV. Van der Wiele endorsed full integration of Flanders into Germany, a view not supported by the VNV. By April 1943 Elias had become disillusioned with the Nazis as they increasingly backed DeVlag and he came to argue that Nazism and Flemish Catholicism
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
were incompatible. Despite these private attitudes Elias did not go public with his reservations. In public, he claimed a German victory was needed, supported recruiting for the Eastern Front, defended forced labor service in Germany and requisitions. Towards the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he came to co-operate more with the Nazis, fearing a communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
takeover. Just before the liberation he authorized using the VNV militia in actions against the resistance.
He fled to Germany in September 1944 but took no part in the exiled Belgian collaboration movement under van der Wiele. He was arrested by the French
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
and extradited to 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...
. He was sentenced to death and this sentence was confirmed in appeal. The Belgian government commuted it to life imprisonment. He was released on 24 December 1959 for health reasons. In 1971 he published Vijfentwintig Jaar Vlaamse Beweging, part history of the Flemish nationalist movement, part autobiography .