Joannes Antonius Baars ( Amsterdam, 30 June 1903 – Andijk, 22 April 1989) was a leading Dutch

fascist Fascism is a far-right, Authoritarianism, authoritarian, ultranationalism, ultra-nationalist political Political ideology, ideology and Political movement, movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and pol ...

during the 1930s. During the 1920s Baars emerged as part of the group associated with ''De Bezem'', a fascist journal aimed at the poor. Philip Rees, '' Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890'' The magazine split in 1930 and Baars supported

Alfred Haighton Coenraad Alfred Augustus Haighton (26 October 1896 – 13 April 1943) was a millionaire businessman and the leader of the Netherlands' first fascist movement. Fascism From a privileged background, Haighton was born in Rotterdam and was well e ...

over

H.A. Sinclair de Rochemont Hugues Alexandre Sinclair de Rochemont (Hilversum, 6 January 1901 – 13 March 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 Ger ...

, joining Haighton's ''Fascistische Jongeren Bond''. The two quarrelled in 1932 however and the rabble-rousing Baars soon set up his own movement, the General Dutch Fascist League (ANFB). The stated purpose of this new group was to unite the various strands of fascism within the Netherlands under a single umbrella.R.J.B. Bosworth, ''The Oxford Handbook of Fascism'', Oxford University Press, 2009, p. 454 Baars gained some support amongst the poor as his coarse, down-to-earth style of rhetoric could easily be identified with by people who spoke in the same manner. This group joined Haighton's movement and the National Union in 1933 to form a 'corporative concentration', although Baars, who was a market trader by profession, had little time for

Carel Gerretson Doctor Frederik Carel Gerretson (born Kralingen, 9 February 1884 – died Utrecht, 27 October 1958) was a Dutch writer, essayist, historian, and politician. Early years Gerretson was educated in a public elementary school in Rotterdam before co ...

, the university professor who led the new group. He stood down from the ANFB as a consequence in 1934 and that group soon fell apart. After a brief involvement in opposing Anton Mussert and the NSB, Baars quit politics in 1936 and returned to market trading. Having previously criticized Adolf Hitler's treatment of the Jews, Baars played no role in

collaboration Collaboration (from Latin ''com-'' "with" + ''laborare'' "to labor", "to work") is the process of two or more people, entities or organizations working together to complete a task or achieve a goal. Collaboration is similar to cooperation. Most ...

and was even active in the Dutch resistance.

References

1903 births 1989 deaths Dutch fascists Politicians from Amsterdam Dutch resistance members Dutch people of World War II Fascist politicians {{Netherlands-politician-stub