The Rexist movement in Belgium, 1940-1944
ï"żThe Rexist movement led by LĂ©on Degrelle was the principal francophone collaborationist grouping in German-Occupied Belgium during the Second World War. In the 1930s, the Rexists had been a movement on the Catholic right of the political spectrum who advocated the replacement of the outmoded parliamentary regime by a more authoritarian New Order which would enable a return to the spiritual values of the Catholic faith. Soon after the Belgian defeat of May 1940, they emerged as enthusiastic advocates of an agreement with the apparently victorious German invaders and in January 1941 Degrelle publicly declared his support for the Nazi cause. This resulted in a marked decline in popular support for Rex but did not bring it the German recognition which he craved. Only in the summer of 1941 with the formation of a LĂ©gion Wallanie which fought with some distinction alongside the German armies on the Eastern Front was the basis created for closer links between the German authorities and Rex. Subsequently, many Rexists were appointed by the Vehrmacht administrators of Belgium to positions of public responsibility and in January 1943 Degrelle announced the abandonment of his former belief in a unitary Belgian state
Conway, Martin
Fascism ; History ; World War, 1939-1945 ; Collaborationists ; Biography ; Belgium ; 20th century
The Rexist movement in Belgium, 1940-1944. ï"żThe Rexist movement led by LĂ©on Degrelle was the principal francophone collaborationist grouping in German-Occupied Belgium during the Second World War. In the 1930s, the Rexists had been a movement on the Catholic right of the political spectrum who advocated the replacement of the outmoded parliamentary regime by a more authoritarian New Order which would enable a return to the spiritual values of the Catholic faith. Soon after the Belgian defeat of May 1940, they emerged as enthusiastic advocates of an agreement with the apparently victorious German invaders and in January 1941 Degrelle publicly declared his support for the Nazi cause. This resulted in a marked decline in popular support for Rex but did not bring it the German recognition which he craved. Only in the summer of 1941 with the formation of a LĂ©gion Wallanie which fought with some distinction alongside the German armies on the Eastern Front was the basis created for closer links between the German authorities and Rex. Subsequently, many Rexists were appointed by the Vehrmacht administrators of Belgium to positions of public responsibility and in January 1943 Degrelle announced the abandonment of his former belief in a unitary Belgian state
movement belgium movement lead principal francophone group german occupied belgium second_world_war movement catholic right political_spectrum advocate replacement outmode parliamentary regime authoritarian new order would enable return spiritual value catholic faith soon belgian defeat emerge enthusiastic advocate agreement apparently victorious german invader publicly declare support nazi cause result marked decline popular support bring german recognition formation fight distinction alongside german army eastern front basis create closer links german authority subsequently many appoint administrator belgium position public responsibility announce abandonment former belief unitary belgian state