Staf De Clercq (16 September 1884 – 22 October 1942) was a Flemish nationalist collaborator, co-founder and leader of the

Flemish Flemish may refer to: * Flemish, adjective for Flanders, Belgium * Flemish region, one of the three regions of Belgium *Flemish Community, one of the three constitutionally defined language communities of Belgium * Flemish dialects, a Dutch dialec ...

nationalist

Vlaamsch Nationaal Verbond The (, "Flemish National Union" or "Flemish National League"), widely known by its acronym VNV, was a Flemish nationalist political party active in Belgium between 1933 and 1945.

(Flemish National League, or VNV).

Biography

He was born as Jeroom Gustaaf De Clercq in Everbeek,

East Flanders East Flanders ( ; ; ; ) is a Provinces of Belgium, province of Belgium. It borders (clockwise from the North) the Netherlands, Dutch province of Zeeland and the Belgian provinces of Antwerp (province), Antwerp, Flemish Brabant, Hainaut (provinc ...

on 16 September 1884. He was a member of the moderate

Frontpartij The ''Frontpartij'' (, "Front Party") was a Belgian political party that campaigned for increasing recognition for the Flemish people and their language. Originating from the earlier ''Frontbeweging'' (, "Front Movement"), the ''Frontpartij'' wa ...

, became party leader in 1932, and moved them to the right, converting them into VNV the following year. In 1936 his new party gained 13.6% of the votes in

Flanders Flanders ( or ; ) is the Dutch language, Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, la ...

, and 14.7% in 1939. Welcoming of the

Nazi German Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a totalitarian dictat ...

occupation, De Clercq believed it to constitute a chance for the creation of a '' Diets state'', an unprecedented (apart from the medieval Burgundian personal union) Dutch language-based community uniting Flanders, the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

and even the part of northern France with Flemish dialects (corresponding to

French Flanders French Flanders ( ; ; ) is a part of the historical County of Flanders, where Flemish—a Low Franconian dialect cluster of Dutch—was (and to some extent, still is) traditionally spoken. The region lies in the modern-day northern French regi ...

). His organization supported the German occupiers in the identification and round-up of

Jews Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

for deportation. He died in

Ghent Ghent ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...

and was succeeded by Hendrik Elias. In 1978 the

Vlaamse Militanten Orde The Order of Flemish Militants ( or VMO) – originally the Flemish Militants Organisation (''Vlaamse Militanten Organisatie'') – was a Flemish nationalist activist group in Belgium defending far-right interests by propaganda and political act ...

had his body transferred to the cemetery in

Asse Asse () is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. It comprises the towns of Asse proper, Bekkerzeel, Kobbegem, Mollem, Relegem and Zellik. Asse is also situated in the Pajottenland. ...

. He remains revered among some far-right Flemish nationalists in modern Belgium.

References

Bibliography

* ''Belgian Fascism'' by R. H. Chertok (

Washington University in St. Louis Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is a private research university in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1853 by a group of civic leaders and named for George Washington, the university spans 355 acres across its Danforth ...

thesis, 1975) * '' Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890'' edited by Philip Rees (1991, )

Footnotes

External links

''A Short History of Flanders and the Flemish Movement''
from the

Vlaams Blok Vlaams Blok (, VB; ) was the name of a Belgian far-right and secessionist political party with an anti-immigration platform.Erk, 2005, pp. 493-502. Its ideologies embraced Flemish nationalism, calling for the independence of Flanders. The part ...

site. * {{DEFAULTSORT:De Clercq, Staf 1884 births 1942 deaths People from Brakel, Belgium Flemish National Union politicians Members of the Chamber of Representatives (Belgium) Belgian collaborators with Nazi Germany Holocaust perpetrators in Belgium