Jan Baars
Encyclopedia
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 Fascistische Jongeren Bond. The two quarrelled in 1932 however and the rabble-rousing Baars soon set up his own movement, the General Dutch Fascist League
(ANFB). The stated purpose of this new group was to unite the various strands of fascism within the Netherlands under a single umbrella.
Baars gained some support amongst the poor as his coarse, down-to-earth style of rhetoric could easily be identified with by people who spoke in the same manner. This group joined Haighton's movement and the National Union
in 1933 to form a 'corporative concentration', although Baars, who was a market trader by profession, had little time for Carel Gerretson
, the university professor who led the new group. He stood down from the ANFB as a consequence in 1934 and that group soon fell apart. After a brief involvement in opposing Anton Mussert
and the NSB
Baars quit politics in 1936 and returned to market trading. Having previously criticized Adolf Hitler
's treatment of the Jews
, Baars played no role in collaboration
and was even active in the Dutch resistance
.
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
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
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
Alfred Haighton
Coenraad Alfred Augustus Haighton was a millionaire businessman and the leader of the Netherlands' first fascist movement.-Fascism:...
over H.A. Sinclair de Rochemont, joining Haighton's Fascistische Jongeren Bond. The two quarrelled in 1932 however and the rabble-rousing Baars soon set up his own movement, 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...
(ANFB). The stated purpose of this new group was to unite the various strands of fascism within the Netherlands under a single umbrella.
Baars gained some support amongst the poor as his coarse, down-to-earth style of rhetoric could easily be identified with by people who spoke in the same manner. This group joined Haighton's movement and the National Union
National Union (Netherlands)
The National Union was a Dutch fascist political party active during the 1920s and 1930s.The Union was set up in 1925 by Carel Gerretson and Robert Frédéric Groeninx van Zoelen initially as a study group with the intetion of arresting the factionalism that was gripping the Dutch far right at the...
in 1933 to form a 'corporative concentration', although Baars, who was a market trader by profession, had little time for Carel Gerretson
Carel Gerretson
Doctor Frederik Carel Gerretson was a Dutch writer, essayist, historian, and politician.-Early years:...
, the university professor who led the new group. He stood down from the ANFB as a consequence in 1934 and that group soon fell apart. After a brief involvement in opposing Anton Mussert
Anton Mussert
Anton Adriaan Mussert was one of the founders of the National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands and its de jure leader. As such, he was the most prominent national socialist in the Netherlands before and during the Second World War...
and the NSB
National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands
The National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands was a Dutch fascist and later national socialist political party. As a parliamentary party participating in legislative elections, the NSB had some success during the 1930s...
Baars quit politics in 1936 and returned to market trading. Having previously criticized Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's treatment of the Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
, Baars played no role in collaboration
Collaboration
Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing...
and was even active in the Dutch resistance
Dutch resistance
Dutch resistance to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II can be mainly characterized by its prominent non-violence, summitting in over 300,000 people in hiding in the autumn of 1944, tended to by some 60,000 to 200,000 illegal landlords and caretakers and tolerated knowingly...
.