Rexist Party

The ideology of Rexism, which was also based on the ideas of the politician Jean Denis , called for a “moral renewal” of Belgian society through the rule of the Catholic Church, forming a corporate society and abolishing liberal democracy . ^[3] Jean Denis became an enthusiast of the movement, and later wrote for the party newspaper Le Pays Réel . The Rexism program also has large borrowings from Charles Morras' ideas. He rejected liberalism, which he considered decadent, and was categorically against both Marxism and capitalism, instead striving for a corporate economic model idealizing rural life and traditional family values. ^[four]

In the early period, until 1937 , Rexism cannot be accurately classified as a fascist movement. Most likely it was a populist, ^[4] authoritarian and conservative Catholic nationalist movement, ^[5] which initially tried to gain power in a democratic way and not to completely eliminate democratic institutions. But the party increasingly used the rhetoric of the fascist style, and after Degrel was defeated in April 1937 , he openly accepted anti-parliamentarism and began to sympathize with German Nazism . Historian Roger Griffin views the Rexist Party during the German occupation of Belgium as “completely fascist”, and before - “ protofascist ”. ^[6]

The Rexist movement attracted support almost exclusively from Wallonia . On October 6, 1936, Degrel made a secret agreement with his Flemish counterpart Staf de Klerk , leader of the Flemish National Union. Both movements sought the corporate system, but unlike the Rexists, the de Klerk movement sought to separate Flanders from Belgium and unite it with the Netherlands . The Flemish side canceled the agreement only a year later. ^[7] He also faced competition from the ideologically similar (but clearly anti-German) Légion Nationale (“National Legion”) Paul Hoornart .

The Rexist Party was founded in 1935 after its leader Leon Degrell left the Catholic Party , which he considered too moderate. He aimed at more radical groups such as traditionalist Catholics , veterans, petty merchants, and the unemployed. In the era of depression, he initially gained considerable popularity - mainly due to his charisma . His greatest success was when he won 11.5% of the vote in the 1936 election . ^[8] The Rexist Party was able to take 21 out of 202 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 8 out of 101 in the Senate , thus becoming the fourth strongest in parliament . However, party support was extremely localized: Rexists managed to collect more than 30% of the vote in the French-speaking province of Luxembourg , compared with 9% in the equally French-speaking Hainaut . ^[3] Degrel admired the rise of Adolf Hitler and gradually imitated the NSDAP , and the Belgian clergy increasingly rejected the connection of the movement with the Roman Catholic Church .

Degrel fled on the eve of the April 1937 election in Brussels against Prime Minister Paul van Zeland from the Catholic Party, who was supported by all other parties, including even the Communists , to avoid the victory of the Rexists. ^[9] Archbishop Mechelen and Primate of the Catholic Church of Belgium, Joseph van Ruy, reproached Rexist voters and called Rexism "a danger to the country and to the Church." Degrell was decisively defeated: he lost from 20 to 80%. ^[ten]

Since then, the proxist movement agreed with the interests of Nazi Germany even more and included Nazi slogans in its platform. At the same time, his popularity fell sharply: in the 1939 elections , the percentage of votes dropped to 4.4%, and the party lost 17 out of 21. ^[11]

After the German invasion of Belgium in 1940, the Rexists welcomed the German occupation, although they were initially supported by the pre-war policy of neutrality. ^[12] Although some former Rexists went underground or (like Lucien Strel ) left politics after being supported by the Nazi movement, however, most Rexists supported the occupiers and helped German forces repress their territory wherever they were. ^[12] However, the popularity of the movement continued to decline. In 1941 , at a rally in Liege , Degrel was booed by about a hundred demonstrators. ^[12]

In August 1944, the Rexist militia was responsible for the massacre in Courcelles .

The Walloon Legion, whose members later became part of the Walloon Division of the SS, was closely associated with the movement. Degrell himself commanded this division and fought on the Eastern Front , giving nominal leadership to Viktor Mattis during his absence.

After the liberation of Belgium in September 1944, the party disbanded, and later completely banned. Many former Rexists were imprisoned or executed for their role during the collaboration: Victor Mattis and Lucien Strel were shot, ideologist Jean Denis was imprisoned.

Degrell took refuge in Francoist Spain . He was convicted of treason in absentia and sentenced to death, but repeated requests for his extradition were rejected by the Spanish government. Degrel, deprived of citizenship and excommunicated, died in Malaga in 1994 .

• Brustein, William. The Political Geography of Belgian Fascism: The Case of Rexism (English) // American Sociological Review : journal. - 1988 .-- February ( vol. 53 , no. 1 ). - P. 69-80 . - DOI : 10.2307 / 2095733 .
• Conway, Martin. Collaboration in Belgium: Leon Degrelle and the Rexist Movement 1940–1944 . ISBN 0-300-05500-5
• de Bruyne, Eddy. For Rex and For Belgium: Leon Degrelle and Walloon Political & Military Collaboration 1940–45 / Eddy de Bruyne, Marc Rikmenspoel. - Helion, 2004 .-- ISBN 1-874622-32-9 .
• De Wever, Bruno. Catholicism and Fascism in Belgium (English) // Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions : journal. - 2007. - Vol. 8 , no. 2 . - P. 343-352 . - DOI : 10.1080 / 14690760701321312 .
• Littlejohn, David. The Patriotic Traitors: A History of Collaboration in German-occupied Europe, 1940–45 . ISBN 0-434-42725-X
• Streel, José. La révolution du XXème siècle (réédition du livre paru en 1942 à la NSE à Bruxelles), préface de Lionel Baland, Déterna, Paris, 2010.
• Baland Lionel, Léon Degrelle et la presse rexiste, Paris, Éditions Déterna, 2009 ( ISBN 978-2-913044-86-9 )