Victor Strydonck de Burkel
Encyclopedia
Victor Baron Strydonck de Burkel (full name: Victor Jean Clement Baron Van Strydonck de Burkel) (born 16 July 1876 Antwerp; died 4 August 1961 Etterbeek)) was a general of the Belgian Army
and the primary architect of the formation of the Free Belgian Forces
after Belgium's surrender on May 28, 1940.
(1933–1939), and was the commander of the Cavalry Corps (1933–1939) prior to World War II
.
During the 1940 invasion of Belgium by Germany, Van Strydonck de Burkel commanded the 1st Military Zone. After Belgium's surrender in 1940, he became the Commander in Chief of Belgian land forces in Great Britain, and presided over the gradual organization of the 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade
, a unit that later fought in the campaign in northwestern Europe
. In 1941 he became the inspector-general of Belgian land forces in Great Britain.
After the Allies re-entered northwestern Europe in 1944, Van Strydonck de Burkel became the Chief of the Belgian Military Mission to Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
.
Belgian Army
The Land Component is organised using the concept of capacities, whereby units are gathered together according to their function and material. Within this framework, there are five capacities: the command capacity, the combat capacity, the support capacity, the services capacity and the training...
and the primary architect of 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...
after Belgium's surrender on May 28, 1940.
Service in the 1930s and 1940s
A cavalry officer, Van Strydonck de Burkel commanded the Cavalry School (1920–1923) and the 1st Cavalry Division (1928–1933), served as the inspector-general of the Belgian GendarmerieBelgian Gendarmerie
The Gendarmerie was the former paramilitary police force of Belgium. The Gendarmerie became a civilian police organisation in 1992, a status retained until January 1, 2001, when it was, together with the other existing police forces in Belgium, abolished and replaced by the Local Police and...
(1933–1939), and was the commander of the Cavalry Corps (1933–1939) prior to 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...
.
During the 1940 invasion of Belgium by Germany, Van Strydonck de Burkel commanded the 1st Military Zone. After Belgium's surrender in 1940, he became the Commander in Chief of Belgian land forces in Great Britain, and presided over the gradual organization of the 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade
1st Belgian Infantry Brigade
The Belgian 1st Infantry Brigade, also known as the "Brigade Piron", after its commander, Jean-Baptiste Piron, was a Belgian and Luxembourger army unit which fought in World War II...
, a unit that later fought in the campaign in northwestern Europe
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
. In 1941 he became the inspector-general of Belgian land forces in Great Britain.
After the Allies re-entered northwestern Europe in 1944, Van Strydonck de Burkel became the Chief of the Belgian Military Mission to Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force , was the headquarters of the Commander of Allied forces in north west Europe, from late 1943 until the end of World War II. U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was in command of SHAEF throughout its existence...
.