Henk van den Breemen
Encyclopedia
Hendrik Gijsbert Bernhard "Henk" van den Breemen (Valkenswaard
, March 23, 1941) is a retired Dutch military officer.
Van den Breemen started his military career as a Midshipsman for the Marines in 1960. From June 1987 till June 1998 he served as Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander
of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps
. As Vice Chief of Defence Staff he was actively involved with the reorganization of the Defence Staff, being responsible for the Defence Priority Papers (“Quality for Quantity”) (1991–1994). Van den Breemen ended his military career as Chief of Defence Staff (August 1994 – June 1998).
Former minister Henk Kamp
said that one of the reasons to appoint Van den Breemen as CoD was his role as Commanding Officer
of the first Amphibious Combat Group (1981–1982) and the development of the Dutch-British “Amphibious Force” which will become a “Battlegroup” between 2006 and 2010.
Van den Breemen was appointed as Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau
with Swords and as Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion. He is also decorated as Commander in the Legion of Merit
(USA) and the “Grosse Verdienstkreuz mit Stern und Schulterband des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland”. Sweden, Norway and the Czech Republic
also decorated Van den Breemen.
Recently, Van den Breemen, together with four former colleagues, wrote a pamphlet entitled: “Towards a Grand Strategy for an Uncertain Word; Renewing Transatlantic Partnership”. The “Gang of five”, as they were called when the pamphlet was presented in Washington DC (January 2008), consisted of General (ret.) John Shaliskasvili (USA), General (ret.) Dr. Klaus Naumann
(Germany), Admiral (ret.) Jacques Lanxade and Field Marshal
the Lord Inge (UK).
In the pamphlet an analyses of trends and challenges is given as well as an analyses of the present capabilities of institutions, organizations and politics. Based on this, a Grand Strategy is suggested and an Agenda for Change
is given. The whole idea is about restoring certainty by renewing the Transatlantic Partnership.
The pamphlet was presented in Washington DC and in Brussels. It was also presented to presidents, prime-ministers, ministers and the leadership of the NATO and the EU
.
Van den Breemen nowadays acts among other activities as an advisor, e.g. of the Noaber Foundation, where is Chairman of the Advisory Board. The Noaber Foundation is a Dutch Venture Philanthropist and Social Venturer.
On March 18, 2010 the general was named as the source for general John J. Sheehan
's claim that the Srebrenica massacre
was caused because the Dutch UN troops included gays. In a Dutch Defense Ministry statement, van den Breemen responded that this claim was "absolute nonsense"; Sheehan later issued a full retraction and apology to van den Breemen by e-mail, stating that the failure of Dutch UN troops "was in no way the fault of the individual soldiers".
Valkenswaard
Valkenswaard is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. The municipality had 30,871 citizens and spans an area of 56,50 square kilometers ....
, March 23, 1941) is a retired Dutch military officer.
Van den Breemen started his military career as a Midshipsman for the Marines in 1960. From June 1987 till June 1998 he served as Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander
Deputy Commander
Deputy commander was a rank in the London Metropolitan Police which existed between 1946 and 1968.In 1946, the rank of chief constable, which was between superintendent and deputy assistant commissioner, was renamed deputy commander. At the same time, the rank of deputy assistant commissioner was...
of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps
Netherlands Marine Corps
The Korps Mariniers is the marine corps and amphibious infantry component of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The marines are trained to operate anywhere in the world in all environments, under any condition and circumstance, as a rapid reaction force. The Korps Mariniers can be deployed to a given...
. As Vice Chief of Defence Staff he was actively involved with the reorganization of the Defence Staff, being responsible for the Defence Priority Papers (“Quality for Quantity”) (1991–1994). Van den Breemen ended his military career as Chief of Defence Staff (August 1994 – June 1998).
Former minister Henk Kamp
Henk Kamp
Henricus Gregorius Jozeph "Henk" Kamp is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy . He is the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment since October 14, 2010 in the Cabinet Rutte. He was the Commissioner of the Netherlands Antilles from January 1, 2009 until October, 10...
said that one of the reasons to appoint Van den Breemen as CoD was his role as Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the first Amphibious Combat Group (1981–1982) and the development of the Dutch-British “Amphibious Force” which will become a “Battlegroup” between 2006 and 2010.
Van den Breemen was appointed as Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau
Order of Orange-Nassau
The Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was created on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. The Order is a chivalry order open to "everyone who have earned special merits for...
with Swords and as Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion. He is also decorated as Commander in the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
(USA) and the “Grosse Verdienstkreuz mit Stern und Schulterband des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland”. Sweden, Norway and the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
also decorated Van den Breemen.
Recently, Van den Breemen, together with four former colleagues, wrote a pamphlet entitled: “Towards a Grand Strategy for an Uncertain Word; Renewing Transatlantic Partnership”. The “Gang of five”, as they were called when the pamphlet was presented in Washington DC (January 2008), consisted of General (ret.) John Shaliskasvili (USA), General (ret.) Dr. Klaus Naumann
Klaus Naumann
Klaus Naumann is a retired German General, who served as Chief of Staff of the Bundeswehr, the German armed fources, from 1991 to 1996, and as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee from 1996 to 1999, succeeding the British general Richard Frederick Vincent, Baron Vincent of Coleshill...
(Germany), Admiral (ret.) Jacques Lanxade and Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
the Lord Inge (UK).
In the pamphlet an analyses of trends and challenges is given as well as an analyses of the present capabilities of institutions, organizations and politics. Based on this, a Grand Strategy is suggested and an Agenda for Change
Agenda for Change
Agenda for Change is the current National Health Service grading and pay system for all NHS staff, with the exception of doctors, dentists and some senior managers...
is given. The whole idea is about restoring certainty by renewing the Transatlantic Partnership.
The pamphlet was presented in Washington DC and in Brussels. It was also presented to presidents, prime-ministers, ministers and the leadership of the NATO and the EU
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
Van den Breemen nowadays acts among other activities as an advisor, e.g. of the Noaber Foundation, where is Chairman of the Advisory Board. The Noaber Foundation is a Dutch Venture Philanthropist and Social Venturer.
On March 18, 2010 the general was named as the source for general John J. Sheehan
John J. Sheehan
General John J. "Jack" Sheehan is a retired United States Marine Corps general. His final active duty commands, culminating 35 years of service in the Marine Corps, were as the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic for NATO and as Commander-in-Chief for the U.S...
's claim that the Srebrenica massacre
Srebrenica massacre
The Srebrenica massacre, also known as the Srebrenica genocide, refers to the July 1995 killing, during the Bosnian War, of more than 8,000 Bosniaks , mainly men and boys, in and around the town of Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina, by units of the Army of Republika Srpska under the command of...
was caused because the Dutch UN troops included gays. In a Dutch Defense Ministry statement, van den Breemen responded that this claim was "absolute nonsense"; Sheehan later issued a full retraction and apology to van den Breemen by e-mail, stating that the failure of Dutch UN troops "was in no way the fault of the individual soldiers".