Victor Matthys
Belgian politician (1914–1947)
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Victor Matthys (20 March 1914 – 10 November 1947) was a Belgian politician who served as both deputy and acting leader of the Rexist Party. He was later executed for collaboration with Nazi Germany.
20 March 1914
Victor Matthys | |
|---|---|
| |
| Leader of the Rexist Party | |
| In office July 1941 – August 1944 | |
| Preceded by | Léon Degrelle |
| Succeeded by | Louis Collard |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Victor Matthys 20 March 1914 |
| Died | 10 November 1947 (aged 33) Charleroi, Belgium |
| Cause of death | Execution by firing squad |
| Known for | Politician, propagandist |
An early member of the Rexist movement, Matthys took over the editorship of the party newspaper, Le Pays Réel, in 1936 and in May 1941 was promoted to director of propaganda.[1] He became official leader of Rex that same July after Léon Degrelle left to serve in the Waffen SS.[2] He was nominated for the position as he was a weak character who posed no real threat to Degrelle's position as leader.[3] Matthys was also popular with the Germans as he had a long-standing admiration for Adolf Hitler.[1]
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.[1] His position eventually came under scrutiny after he ordered the massacre of 20 people in Courcelles as a reprisal against resistance activity. The move was roundly condemned as being too heavy-handed and Matthys gave up the leadership of the Rexists in favour of Louis Collard.[1] He was sentenced to death for collaborationism and executed.[4]