Hendrik Elias | |
|---|---|
 Elias (1942) | |
| Born | Hendrik Jozef Elias (1902-06-12)12 June 1902 |
| Died | 2 February 1973(1973-02-02) (aged 70) |
| Occupation | politician |
Hendrik Jozef Elias (12 June 1902 – 2 February 1973) was aBelgian politician andFlemishnationalist, notable as the leader of theVlaams Nationaal Verbond between 1942 and 1944.
Elias was a noted academic, holding doctorates in both Law and Philosophy from studies at theCatholic University of Leuven, theUniversity of Paris and theUniversity of Bonn before serving in a number of leading roles in both academia and the law.[1]
He began his political career in 1930 as the secretary of the Vlaams Nationale Verbond (Flemish National Union). He was a member ofBelgian Chamber of People's Representatives from 1932 until 1944.[2] He joined theFlemish 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 forAdolf Hitler.[1] He was appointedMayor of Ghent after the German invasion, although he continued to oppose plans to incorporateFlanders intoNazi Germany, arguing instead for acommonwealth.[2]
He became leader of VNV in 1942, following the death ofStaf Declercq, despite opposition ofGottlob Berger, who was suspicious of his views on keeping the Flemish distinct from the Germans.[2] Elias sought to stop recruitment to theWaffen-SS and disband theHitler Youth.[2] In an effort to accomplish this he encouraged recruitment into theLuftwaffe rather than the SS and achieved some success in diverting Flemings away fromHeinrich Himmler's men.[3] Elias came into competition for support from the Germans withJef van de Wiele, whoseDeVlag movement was allowed to co-exist in occupied Flanders alongside the VNV. Van de Wiele endorsed full integration of Flanders into Germany, a view not supported by the VNV.[4] By April 1943 Elias had become disillusioned with the Nazis as they increasingly backedDeVlag and he came to argue that Nazism and FlemishCatholicism were incompatible.[5] 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.[5] Towards the end ofWorld War II he came to co-operate more with the Nazis, fearing acommunist takeover.[2] 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.[2] He was arrested by theFrench and extradited toBelgium. He was sentenced to death and this sentence was confirmed in appeal. The Belgian government commuted it to life imprisonment.[2] He was released on 24 December 1959 for health reasons. In 1971 he publishedVijfentwintig Jaar Vlaamse Beweging, part history of the Flemish nationalist movement, part autobiography .[2]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | effective mayor of Ghent 1941–1944 | Succeeded by Alfred Vanderstegenincumbent mayor Edward Anseele Jr.acting mayor |
