Leon Degrelle - The 2,500 Kilometer Flight To Freedom

Léon Degrelle was a Belgian Walloon politician. He rose to prominence in Belgium in the 1930s as the leader of the Rexist Party.
He formed the SS Division Walloon which fought on the Eastern Front.
At the conclusion of the war Degrelle was wanted by the Belgian authorities so began his escape attempt.

[@davidcoleman757]

That is some story. It would make a great movie, particularly given how conflicted he was.

[@War_And_Truth]

Skorzeny's memoirs would have also made for a very good movie. I guess it would offend too many people.

[@dlmyrs]

Great story telling. Interesting unknown tale from WW2

[@davidcunningham2074]

what a great writer he was too.

[@clazy8]

There's a channel called In Respect of Maurice de Wilde that has many, many videos about Degrelle and the Belgians during the war.

[@HandyMan657]

Excellent story, shame it's about a traitor. Thanks for the history, take care.

[@Theredsunrising]

He, as many Rexists did, thought of himself as a Walloon - not a Belgian.

[@dillonhunt1720]

Every American founding father was a "traitor" yet we don't call them as such. Traitor is too often a word that gets thrown around depending on the outcomes of wars. One man's traitor is another's champion. Had Degrelle actually fought against Belgium in any meaningful way there may have been an exception to be made but that exception doesn't exist.

[@HandyMan657]

@@dillonhunt1720 Yeah, while that's true, the fact remains the man was a traitor to his nation as the results turned out. There is no justification for the actions taken by the Nazis or the people involved with those actions. Waffen-SS was a direct contributor to the death wrought upon this world, he was a part of it. Step back with your attempt. Makes one think you can justify the actions of treason committed in the USA today by the fatman. No cool, pal.

[@lancomedic]

Bad man but great story.

[@philiproseel3506]

As a Belgian, I view him as traitor. But I also see him as a daring warrior. Unfortunately, he picked the wrong side, even if he saw himself as an opponent of communism.

[@454FatJack]

🔥🚩🧌

[@4wchitstands]

You are wrong

[@miss.gamer.2402]

Ik denk dat de overwinnaars de geschiedenis hebben herschreven.

[@crusader2112]

Leon Degrelle’s was a genuine Hero. The Best of the Axis. Him and Blessed Karl were the Last Knights of Europe. I’ve read Degrelle’s book Burning Souls, very interesting. What happened to his family and the splitting up of his children was criminal.

[@tlhamp0]

to betray your own country is not a definition of a hero it is quite the opposite

[@crusader2112]

@@tlhamp0 I think another comment said it best. He didn’t see himself as Belgian, but rather as a Walloon. And he still fought bravely and heroically, just like how the average confederate fought bravely even though I would’ve fought for the north. We can recognize the courage the enemy has while still fighting them.

[@War_And_Truth]

Belgium is a strange (beautfiful) country, very divided. But every European country during WW2 had an element which hated communism.

[@tlhamp0]

@@War_And_Truth communism and fascism are basically the same in many ways if you have a fascist government you have many similarities to a communist government

[@crusader2112]

@@tlhamp0 Doesn't take away the fact that hated each other. No one fights like siblings. I saw this one video that said Fascism, Communism, and Liberalism were the three children of modernity. Liberalism and Communism beat Fascism and discredited him and Communism collapsed decades later. The channel was called Pilgrims Pass. Good channel.

[@marcuscelt7014]

This man was a Hero and one of Europe's greatest sons.

[@natejones902]

I first learned about him during Christmas 1997. I was in 8th grade and got the graphic novel "Witches Cauldron" about the units actions in Ukraine. I still have it in mint condition and its very well written and drawn. It is very raw showing how bad it was. I highly recomend it.

[@War_And_Truth]

I have his book 'The Eastern Front' it is full of the atrocities committed by the Russians.

[@454FatJack]

🚩🧌📛🫡

[@cavemanbum]

I first learned about Léon Degrelle from an episode of "Nazi Collaborators" (S1.E4) on the History Channel back in 2011. Fascinating episode. I highly recommend it. I'm a WWII miniature war gamer, and the episode inspired me to write a scenario based on Degrelle and his unit's heroic actions during the Battle of the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket in 1944.

[@War_And_Truth]

That was a great documentary. I cant find it on youtube.