Hubert Pierlot
Encyclopedia
Hubert Marie Eugène, Count Pierlot (23 December 1883, Cugnon (Bertrix)
– 13 December 1963, Uccle
) was a Belgian
Walloon
politician and jurist
, the 32nd Prime Minister of Belgium between 1939 and 1945 (a mandate coinciding with World War II
and Nazi Germany
's occupation of the country).
for Luxembourg Province (between 1926 and 1936) and Arlon (from 1936 to 1946). He also served as Minister of Internal Affairs (1934-1935), Minister of Agriculture
(1934-1935; 1936-1939), and Minister of Foreign Affairs
(1939). He first led a coalition
of Catholics and Socialists
, and then one of Catholics and Liberals
.
When the Phony War
broke, Pierlot became the leader of a national government
(or rather a tripartite one), which stayed in power until the German invasion in 1940. During the invasion he and his government came into serious conflict with the Belgian King Leopold III
. A few hours after Belgium capitulated on 27 May, he and Paul-Henri Spaak
met with the leaders of France
- Paul Reynaud
, Maxime Weygand
, and Philippe Pétain
. The meeting was conflictual, as both Belgian leaders attempted to explain their country's position in front of French hostility.
Pierlot later left for London
, where he led the government in exile
for the rest of the conflict. He gave full backing to the Free French Forces
, recognizing Charles de Gaulle
as the true leader of France in 1941. His government also directed the formation of the Free Belgian Forces
, a force that grew to over 100,000 men under arms by VE Day. Upon his return to Belgium, he led another large coalition, which also included members of the Communist Party of Belgium
. Later in 1945, Pierlot was appointed Minister of State
.
Bertrix
Bertrix is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg.On 1 January 2007 the municipality, which covers 137.7 km², had 8,164 inhabitants, giving a population density of 59.3 inhabitants per km²....
– 13 December 1963, Uccle
Uccle
Uccle or Ukkel is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.Uccle is known for its well-to-do areas, its green spots and its high rental rates.-History:...
) was a Belgian
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...
Walloon
Walloons
Walloons are a French-speaking people who live in Belgium, principally in Wallonia. Walloons are a distinctive community within Belgium, important historical and anthropological criteria bind Walloons to the French people. More generally, the term also refers to the inhabitants of the Walloon...
politician and jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
, the 32nd Prime Minister of Belgium between 1939 and 1945 (a mandate coinciding with World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
's occupation of the country).
Biography
He was a representative of the Catholic Party (which took various names during his lifetime) in the Chamber of Deputies in 1925 (for Neufchâteau), then to the SenateBelgian Senate
The Belgian Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Chamber of Representatives. It is considered to be the "upper house" of the Federal Parliament.-History and future:...
for Luxembourg Province (between 1926 and 1936) and Arlon (from 1936 to 1946). He also served as Minister of Internal Affairs (1934-1935), Minister of Agriculture
Minister of Agriculture (Belgium)
The Agriculture Minister of Belgium is the political minister office responsible for agriculture.-Flanders:*1995-1999 : Eric Van Rompuy *1999-2003 : Vera Dua *2003-2004 : Ludo Sannen...
(1934-1935; 1936-1939), and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs
-1800s:-1900s:-2000s:...
(1939). He first led a coalition
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
of Catholics and Socialists
Socialist Party (francophone Belgium)
The Socialist Party is a Francophone social-democratic political party in Belgium. As of the 2010 elections, it is the second largest party in the Belgian Chamber of Representatives and the largest Francophone party...
, and then one of Catholics and Liberals
Liberal Party (Belgium)
The Liberal Party was a Belgian political party that existed from 1846 until 1961, when it became the Party for Freedom and Progress, Partij voor Vrijheid en Vooruitgang/Parti de la Liberté et du Progrès or PVV-PLP, under the leadership of Omer Vanaudenhove.-History:The Liberal Party was founded...
.
When the Phony War
Phony War
The Phoney War was a phase early in World War II – in the months following Britain and France's declaration of war on Germany in September 1939 and preceding the Battle of France in May 1940 – that was marked by a lack of major military operations by the Western Allies against the German Reich...
broke, Pierlot became the leader of a national government
National unity government
A national unity government, government of national unity, or national union government is a broad coalition government consisting of all parties in the legislature, usually formed during a time of war or other national emergency.- Canada :During World War I the Conservative government of Sir...
(or rather a tripartite one), which stayed in power until the German invasion in 1940. During the invasion he and his government came into serious conflict with the Belgian King Leopold III
Leopold III of Belgium
Leopold III reigned as King of the Belgians from 1934 until 1951, when he abdicated in favour of the Heir Apparent,...
. A few hours after Belgium capitulated on 27 May, he and Paul-Henri Spaak
Paul-Henri Spaak
Paul Henri Charles Spaak was a Belgian Socialist politician and statesman.-Early life:Paul-Henri Spaak was born on 25 January 1899 in Schaerbeek, Belgium, to a distinguished Belgian family. His grandfather, Paul Janson was an important member of the Liberal Party...
met with the leaders of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
- Paul Reynaud
Paul Reynaud
Paul Reynaud was a French politician and lawyer prominent in the interwar period, noted for his stances on economic liberalism and militant opposition to Germany. He was the penultimate Prime Minister of the Third Republic and vice-president of the Democratic Republican Alliance center-right...
, Maxime Weygand
Maxime Weygand
Maxime Weygand was a French military commander in World War I and World War II.Weygand initially fought against the Germans during the invasion of France in 1940, but then surrendered to and collaborated with the Germans as part of the Vichy France regime.-Early years:Weygand was born in Brussels...
, and Philippe Pétain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
. The meeting was conflictual, as both Belgian leaders attempted to explain their country's position in front of French hostility.
Pierlot later left for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he led the government in exile
Pierlot IV Government
The Pierlot IV Government, also known as the Pierlot Government in London, was the government in exile of Belgium from May 1940 until 1944, during the Nazi occupation of Belgium. The government was led by Hubert Pierlot....
for the rest of the conflict. He gave full backing to the Free French Forces
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
, recognizing Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
as the true leader of France in 1941. His government also directed the formation of the Free Belgian Forces
Free Belgian Forces
The Free Belgian Forces were members of the Belgian armed forces in World War II who continued fighting against the Axis after the surrender of Belgium and its subsequent occupation by the Germans...
, a force that grew to over 100,000 men under arms by VE Day. Upon his return to Belgium, he led another large coalition, which also included members of the Communist Party of Belgium
Communist Party of Belgium
Communist Party of Belgium was a political party in Belgium. The youth wing of KPB/PCB was known as the Communist Youth of Belgium. The party published Le Drapeau Rouge in French and De Roode Vaan in Dutch.- History :It was formed at a congress in Anderlecht on September 3-4 1921...
. Later in 1945, Pierlot was appointed Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
.
Quote
- "Serious to the point of severity, honest to the point of scrupulosityScrupulosityScrupulosity is a psychological disorder characterized by pathological guilt about moral or religious issues. It is personally distressing, objectively dysfunctional, and often accompanied by significant impairment in social functioning...
, a never-tired worker, a devout Christian, a patriot, a model of civic, professional, and family virtues, he was an exceptional man." (Spaak on Pierlot; P.-H. Spaak, Combats inachevés, FayardFayardFayard is a French Paris-based publishing house established in 1857. Fayard is controlled by Hachette Livre.-Works published:Works published by Editions Fayard include:...
1969, vol. I, p. 59)