Victor de Laveleye
Encyclopedia
Victor Auguste de Laveleye (Brussels
, 5 November 1894 - Elsene, 14 December 1945) was a Belgian liberal politician and minister. De Laveleye was a doctor in law. He was municipality Council member of Sint-Gillis, President of the Liberal Party
(1936–1937) and Liberal member of parliament (1939–1945) for the district Brussels. De Laveleye was minister of justice (1937) and of public education (1944–1945). During World War II
he was director of the Belgian French-speaking broadcasts on the BBC
(1940–1944).
On 14 January 1941, he asked all Belgians to choose the letter "V" as a rallying sign, being the first letter of victoire (victory) in French and of vrijheid (freedom) in Dutch”. This was the beginning of the "V campaign"" which saw "V" graffities on the walls of Belgium and later all of Europe and introduced the use of the V sign
for victory and freedom.
De Laveleye competed for Belgium in tennis at the 1920
and 1924 Summer Olympics
.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, 5 November 1894 - Elsene, 14 December 1945) was a Belgian liberal politician and minister. De Laveleye was a doctor in law. He was municipality Council member of Sint-Gillis, President of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Belgium)
The Liberal Party was a Belgian political party that existed from 1846 until 1961, when it became the Party for Freedom and Progress, Partij voor Vrijheid en Vooruitgang/Parti de la Liberté et du Progrès or PVV-PLP, under the leadership of Omer Vanaudenhove.-History:The Liberal Party was founded...
(1936–1937) and Liberal member of parliament (1939–1945) for the district Brussels. De Laveleye was minister of justice (1937) and of public education (1944–1945). During 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 was director of the Belgian French-speaking broadcasts on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
(1940–1944).
On 14 January 1941, he asked all Belgians to choose the letter "V" as a rallying sign, being the first letter of victoire (victory) in French and of vrijheid (freedom) in Dutch”. This was the beginning of the "V campaign"" which saw "V" graffities on the walls of Belgium and later all of Europe and introduced the use of the V sign
V sign
The V sign is a hand gesture in which the index and middle fingers are raised and parted, while the other fingers are clenched. It has various meanings, depending on the cultural context and how it is presented...
for victory and freedom.
De Laveleye competed for Belgium in tennis at the 1920
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
and 1924 Summer Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
.
See also
- V campaign and the victory/freedom sign