Rexism
Encyclopedia
Rexism was a fascist
political movement in the first half of the 20th century in Belgium
.
It was the ideology of the Rexist Party (Parti Rexiste), officially called Rex, founded in 1930 by Léon Degrelle
, a Walloon
. The name was derived from the Roman Catholic
social teachings concerning Christus Rex, and it was also the title of a conservative
Catholic journal.
of Rexism, which was disseminated in the writings of Jean Denis
, called for the moral renewal of Belgian society in conformity with the teachings of the Church, by forming a corporatist
society, and abolishing democracy
. The Rexist movement attracted support mostly among the Walloons; it had a counterpart on the Flemish
side in the Vlaamsch Nationaal Verbond, or VNV. It also faced competition from the likes of Paul Hoornaert
's National Legion.
and to incorporate Nazi
-style antisemitism into its platform after Adolf Hitler
's rise to power, and got financial support from German interests, while ties to the Roman Catholic Church
were increasingly cut off one-sidedly by the Belgian bishop
s. Some former Rexists went into the underground resistance against Nazi Germany, after they had come to see the Nazis' somewhat anticlerical and very anti-Semitic policies enforced in occupied Belgium (although others, notably José Streel
, simply withdrew from political activity as a result of this). Most Rexists, however, proudly supported the occupiers and assisted Nazi Germany
in its endeavors wherever they could.
, a paramilitary
organization along the lines of the SS. After Operation Barbarossa
started, the Legion Wallonie and its Flemish VNV counterpart, the Legion Flandern
sent respectively 25,000 and 15,000 volunteers to fight against the Soviet Union
. Whilst Degrelle served with the SS nominal leadership of the movement passed to Victor Matthys.
in Belgium and sentenced to death
, but requests for Spain to extradite
him were unavailing. Degrelle died in Málaga
in 1994.
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
political movement in the first half of the 20th century in 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...
.
Léon Degrelle
Léon Joseph Marie Ignace Degrelle was a Walloon Belgian politician, who founded Rexism and later joined the Waffen SS which were front-line troops in the fight against the Soviet Union...
, a Walloon
Walloons
Walloons are a French-speaking people who live in Belgium, principally in Wallonia. Walloons are a distinctive community within Belgium, important historical and anthropological criteria bind Walloons to the French people. More generally, the term also refers to the inhabitants of the Walloon...
. The name was derived from the Roman Catholic
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...
social teachings concerning Christus Rex, and it was also the title of a conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
Catholic journal.
Ideology
The ideologyIdeology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
of Rexism, which was disseminated in the writings of Jean Denis
Jean Denis (politician)
Jean Denis was a Belgian politician and writer. Through his written work he was the chief ideologue of the Rexist movement....
, called for the moral renewal of Belgian society in conformity with the teachings of the Church, by forming a corporatist
Corporatism
Corporatism, also known as corporativism, is a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common...
society, and abolishing democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
. The Rexist movement attracted support mostly among the Walloons; it had a counterpart on the Flemish
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...
side in the Vlaamsch Nationaal Verbond, or VNV. It also faced competition from the likes of Paul Hoornaert
Paul Hoornaert
Paul Hoornaert was a Belgian far right political activist. Although a pioneer of fascism in the country he was an opponent of Nazism and died in a Nazi concentration camp....
's National Legion.
Development
In the Depression-era 1936 Belgian legislative election, the Rexists garnered over 30 per cent of the popular vote in the French-speaking province of Luxembourg, compared to 9 per cent in equally French-speaking Hainaut. Rexism soon began to ally itself with the interests of 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...
and to incorporate Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
-style antisemitism into its platform after 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...
's rise to power, and got financial support from German interests, while ties to the Roman Catholic Church
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 increasingly cut off one-sidedly by the Belgian bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s. Some former Rexists went into the underground resistance against Nazi Germany, after they had come to see the Nazis' somewhat anticlerical and very anti-Semitic policies enforced in occupied Belgium (although others, notably José Streel
José Streel
Lucien Alphonse Joseph Streel was a Belgian journalist and supporter of Rexism.-Background and political activities:...
, simply withdrew from political activity as a result of this). Most Rexists, however, proudly supported the occupiers and assisted Nazi Germany
Nazi 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...
in its endeavors wherever they could.
Co-operation with other groups
Closely affiliated with Rexism was the Légion Wallonie5th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Wallonien
The 28th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Wallonien was formed from the 5th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Wallonien which was a Belgian Waffen SS volunteer brigade comprising volunteers of Walloon background...
, a paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organization along the lines of the SS. After Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
started, the Legion Wallonie and its Flemish VNV counterpart, the Legion Flandern
6th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Langemarck
The 27th SS Volunteer Division Langemarck was a German Waffen-SS volunteer division comprising volunteers of Flemish background. It saw action on the Eastern Front during World War II....
sent respectively 25,000 and 15,000 volunteers to fight against 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....
. Whilst Degrelle served with the SS nominal leadership of the movement passed to Victor Matthys.
End of Rexism
With the fall of Nazi Germany in 1945, Degrelle took refuge in Francoist Spain. He was convicted of treasonTreason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
in Belgium and sentenced to death
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
, but requests for Spain to extradite
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
him were unavailing. Degrelle died in Málaga
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
in 1994.
See also
- Paul ColinPaul Colin (journalist)Paul Colin was a Belgian journalist, famous as the leading journalist and editor of the Rexist collaborationist newspapers "Le Nouveau Journal" and "Cassandre".-Biography:...
- Pierre DayePierre DayePierre Daye was a Belgian Nazi collaborator and follower of Rexism, who exiled himself to Juan Peron's Argentina after World War II....