Arnold Meijer
Encyclopedia
Arnoldus Jozephus Meijer (5 May 1905, Haarlemmermeer
– 17 June 1965, Oisterwijk
) was a Dutch
fascist politician.
Brought up a devout Roman Catholic and educated in a number of seminaries he soon became influenced by Wouter Lutkie
, a Catholic priest and fascist. After a brief stopover in the Roman-Catholic State Party
, which he found far too moderate, Meijer began to write for the authoritarian De Rijkseenheid and the General Dutch Fascist League
's De Fascist. He soon joined the League and, having inherited money from his father, launched his own journal Zwart Front. Rising to a position of influence in the League, he quarreled with leader Jan Baars
and in 1934 split from the group, taking a number of followers with him. Before long he had revived the Zwart Front name for his new movement and even visited Benito Mussolini
with Lutkie to gain the fascist leader's approval.
The Front failed to make much impact in elections, notably managing only 0.2% of the vote in the 1939 general election (although Meijer managed a 21.4% vote share in Oisterwijk). As a result it was absorbed into the new National Front in 1940. This movement was banned on 13 December 1941 by the Nazis, largely due to their Catholicism. Despite the ban Meijer was allowed to simply retire from politics. Arrested in 1944 he escaped to Belgium
but returned in 1946 to face a five year jail sentence.
He was released from prison in 1948 and returned to politics, writing for the Aristo journal which was sympathetic to Lutkie.
Haarlemmermeer
Haarlemmermeer is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is a polder, consisting of land reclaimed from water, and the name Haarlemmermeer means Haarlem's Lake, still referring to the body of water from which the region was reclaimed in the 19th century.Its main...
– 17 June 1965, Oisterwijk
Oisterwijk
- The city of Oisterwijk :Oisterwijk received city rights in 1230. Part of the municipality of Oisterwijk includes the 'Oisterwijkse bossen en vennen' and the 'Kampina'. Both are nature reserves of outstanding natural beauty. The reserves are owned and kept by the 'Vereniging Natuurmonumenten'...
) was a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
fascist politician.
Brought up a devout Roman Catholic and educated in a number of seminaries he soon became influenced by Wouter Lutkie
Wouter Lutkie
Wouterus Leonardus Lutkie was a Dutch Catholic priest and fascist.Lutkie came from a wealthy business family and initially was influenced by the idealism of Ernest Hello and Léon Bloy. However he soon became more interested in nationalism and combining it with his fervent Catholicism...
, a Catholic priest and fascist. After a brief stopover in the Roman-Catholic State Party
Roman-Catholic State Party
Roman-Catholic Political Party was a Dutch Catholic Christian-Democratic political party. The party was founded in 1926 as a continuation of the General League. In 1945 the party became the Catholic People's Party .-History:...
, which he found far too moderate, Meijer began to write for the authoritarian De Rijkseenheid and the General Dutch Fascist League
General Dutch Fascist League
The General Dutch Fascist League was a minor Dutch fascist party founded in 1932. The party sought to create a volksfascisme, although they failed to fully define this aim and were considered closer to Mussolini than Hitler despite their rhetoric. The party failed to gain support in the 1932...
's De Fascist. He soon joined the League and, having inherited money from his father, launched his own journal Zwart Front. Rising to a position of influence in the League, he quarreled with leader Jan Baars
Jan Baars
Joannes Antonius Baars was a leading Dutch fascist during the 1930s.During the 1920s Baars emerged as part of the group associated with De Bezems, a fascist journal aimed at the poor. The magazine split in 1930 and Baars supported Alfred Haighton over H.A. Sinclair de Rochemont, joining Haighton's...
and in 1934 split from the group, taking a number of followers with him. Before long he had revived the Zwart Front name for his new movement and even visited Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
with Lutkie to gain the fascist leader's approval.
The Front failed to make much impact in elections, notably managing only 0.2% of the vote in the 1939 general election (although Meijer managed a 21.4% vote share in Oisterwijk). As a result it was absorbed into the new National Front in 1940. This movement was banned on 13 December 1941 by the Nazis, largely due to their Catholicism. Despite the ban Meijer was allowed to simply retire from politics. Arrested in 1944 he escaped to Belgium
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...
but returned in 1946 to face a five year jail sentence.
He was released from prison in 1948 and returned to politics, writing for the Aristo journal which was sympathetic to Lutkie.