Albert Folens
Encyclopedia
Albert Folens was a Belgian
-born publisher of educational materials in the Republic of Ireland
. His company, Folens
, is a major publisher of educational materials. He was also the author Aiséirí Flóndrais (The Resurrection of Flanders) a book in Irish discussing the fortunes and rise of the Flanders and the Flemish language vis-à-vis French, with references to the situation of the Irish language.
court to 10 years imprisonment for assisting the Gestapo
in finding members of the Belgian Resistance
. He alleged he had only worked as a translator. He escaped from gaol after 30 months and made his way to the Republic of Ireland
.
Hidden History: Ireland's Nazis, a two-part documentary series shown on RTÉ
revealed his collaboration with the Third Reich. (The first part was broadcast on RTÉ 1 on January 7, 2007, the second on January 16). Juliette Folens, his widow, obtained a temporary High Court
injunction
to prevent the use of a 1987 interview with her husband on an ex parte
basis. The Folens family issued a press release denying that Albert Folens was ever involved with Nazi war crimes, though he was a member of the Flemish Legion
. After the programme was broadcast, a letter containing a death threat was sent to Albert Folens' widow Juliette.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
-born publisher of educational materials in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. His company, Folens
Folens (Irish publishers)
Folens is a major company in Irish educational publishing. It was founded by Albert Folens.-Atlas and British Isles:In October, 2006, Folens announced that the new edition of Folens' atlas would no longer use the term "British Isles" in the new edition of its atlas, to be introduced the following...
, is a major publisher of educational materials. He was also the author Aiséirí Flóndrais (The Resurrection of Flanders) a book in Irish discussing the fortunes and rise of the Flanders and the Flemish language vis-à-vis French, with references to the situation of the Irish language.
Allegations of Nazi Collaboration
After the Second World War, being named on the CROWCASS list of suspected collaborators, he was sentenced by a BelgianBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
court to 10 years imprisonment for assisting the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
in finding members of the Belgian Resistance
Belgian resistance
Belgian resistance during World War II to the occupation of Belgium by Nazi Germany took different forms. "The Belgian Resistance" was the common name for the Netwerk van de weerstand - Réseau de Résistance or Resistance Network , a group of partisans fighting the Nazis...
. He alleged he had only worked as a translator. He escaped from gaol after 30 months and made his way to the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
Hidden History: Ireland's Nazis, a two-part documentary series shown on RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
revealed his collaboration with the Third Reich. (The first part was broadcast on RTÉ 1 on January 7, 2007, the second on January 16). Juliette Folens, his widow, obtained a temporary High Court
High Court (Republic of Ireland)
The High Court of Ireland is a court which deals at first instance with the most serious and important civil and criminal cases. When sitting as a criminal court it is called the Central Criminal Court and there is a jury. It also acts as a court of appeal for civil cases in the Circuit Court...
injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
to prevent the use of a 1987 interview with her husband on an ex parte
Ex parte
Ex parte is a Latin legal term meaning "from one party" .An ex parte decision is one decided by a judge without requiring all of the parties to the controversy to be present. In Australian, Canadian, U.K., Indian and U.S...
basis. The Folens family issued a press release denying that Albert Folens was ever involved with Nazi war crimes, though he was a member of the Flemish Legion
6th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Langemarck
The 27th SS Volunteer Division Langemarck was a German Waffen-SS volunteer division comprising volunteers of Flemish background. It saw action on the Eastern Front during World War II....
. After the programme was broadcast, a letter containing a death threat was sent to Albert Folens' widow Juliette.
External links
- Mentioned at religionnewsblog.com
- Mention in a UCC press release
- Court fight over 'Nazi Folens' claim Sunday Independent story 14 January 2007
- Irish Times news item on injunction (requires subscription for full story)