Victor Matthys
Encyclopedia
Victor Matthys was a Belgian
politician who served as both deputy and acting leader of Rexism
. He was later executed for collaboration with Nazi Germany.
An early member of the Rexist movement, Matthys took over the editorship of the movement's journal, Le Pays Réel, in 1936 and in May 1941 was promoted to director of propaganda
. He became official leader of Rex that same July after Léon Degrelle
left to serve in the Waffen SS. He was nominated for the position as he was a weak character who posed no real threat to Degrelle's position as leader. Matthys was also popular with the Germans
as he had a long standing admiration for Adolf Hitler
.
As Rexist leader Matthys proved as weak and ineffective as Degrelle had hoped, although he also demonstrated a propensity towards violence to mask his failings. His position eventually came under scrutiny after he ordered the massacre of 27 people in Courcelles
as a reprisal against resistance activity. The move was roundly condemned as being too heavy-handed and Matthys gave of the leadership of the Rexists in favour of Louis Collard. He was sentenced to death for collaborationism
and executed.
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...
politician who served as both deputy and acting leader of Rexism
Rexism
Rexism was a fascist political movement in the first half of the 20th century in Belgium.It was the ideology of the Rexist Party , officially called Rex, founded in 1930 by Léon Degrelle, a Walloon...
. He was later executed for collaboration with Nazi Germany.
An early member of the Rexist movement, Matthys took over the editorship of the movement's journal, Le Pays Réel, in 1936 and in May 1941 was promoted to director of propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
. He became official leader of Rex that same July after Léon Degrelle
Léon Degrelle
Léon Joseph Marie Ignace Degrelle was a Walloon Belgian politician, who founded Rexism and later joined the Waffen SS which were front-line troops in the fight against the Soviet Union...
left to serve in the Waffen SS. He was nominated for the position as he was a weak character who posed no real threat to Degrelle's position as leader. Matthys was also popular with the Germans
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as he had a long standing admiration for 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...
.
As Rexist leader Matthys proved as weak and ineffective as Degrelle had hoped, although he also demonstrated a propensity towards violence to mask his failings. His position eventually came under scrutiny after he ordered the massacre of 27 people in Courcelles
Courcelles, Belgium
Courcelles is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. As of January 1, 2006 Courcelles had a total population of 29,626. The total area is 44.24 km² which gives a population density of 670 inhabitants per km²....
as a reprisal against resistance activity. The move was roundly condemned as being too heavy-handed and Matthys gave of the leadership of the Rexists in favour of Louis Collard. He was sentenced to death for collaborationism
Collaborationism
Collaborationism is cooperation with enemy forces against one's country. Legally, it may be considered as a form of treason. Collaborationism may be associated with criminal deeds in the service of the occupying power, which may include complicity with the occupying power in murder, persecutions,...
and executed.