Leon Degrelle: The Belgian War Hero Who Betrayed His Country To The Nazis

A profile of the prominent Belgian fascist Leon Degrelle who betrayed his own country, countrymen and even his own faith to be accepted by the occupying Nazis. He fought against the allies as they attempted to liberate Belgium and would even join the SS in 1943 to prove his loyalty to Adolf Hitler.
War Stories is your one-stop shop for all things military history. From Waterloo to Verdun, we'll be bringing you only the best documentaries and stories from history's most engaging and dramatic conflicts.
Discover the past on History Hit, with ad-free exclusive podcasts and documentaries released weekly and presented by world-renowned historians Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Matt Lewis and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code 'WARSTORIES': historyhit.com...
You can find more from us on:
/ warstoriesdocs
This channel is part of the History Hit Network. For any queries, please contact [e-mail].
#warstories #documentary #military

[@anthonycoleman8399]

I hate the blurred images. This is history and should be shown

[@warwarneverchanges4937]

Someone wants us to completley forget, I think 99% of people dont know anything about ww2, exept for Historians and military history lovers

[@grahvis]

You can blame KZbin for that, they will jump on anything to remove a video.

[@ulfricsombrage]

No, because we live in democracy XD And democracy doesn't want you to see some things

[@Spitsz01]

@@warwarneverchanges4937 It's not 99 percent yet, but with this new clueless generation, and the blind politicians, we might be getting close. Man learns nothing from history, It just repeats itself over and over again...

[@seanohare5488]

Agree we are adults we can handle it or should

[@marco-58]

The only Politician to actually lead men into battle, with great distinction, and against the Soviets, who were as tough as nails.

[@pyry1948]

Really interesting why his Close Quarter Combat Clasp in Gold was not mentioned here...

[@Axteffekt]

thank you for this comment. I just wanted to watch the video to get more insight on his allegedly 75 cc encounters.

[@Manuel1976]

If you see Belgium today you undestood who betrayed who.

[@cadsquade]

En effet, Degrelle a fricoté avec l'allemand et ensuite il a pris peur et s'est barré en Espagne. Et on s'en souvient encore aujourd'hui de lui, de par nos parents qui nous racontent les histoires de nos grands-parents et que nous continuerons à raconter à nos petits-enfants encore. REX A MORU, VIVE L'BELDJIKE !

[@AzamatoTheGreat]

yes but this wasn't Belgium of today was it?

[@doctordetroit4339]

@@AzamatoTheGreat It was on its way......hence why they fought. Those same marxists won.

[@Bigsky1991]

I actually got to meet Standartenführer Degrelle in Spain in the 80s due to my being a HIAG member and Historian member of the Knights Cross Holders Assn. His autographed KC photos are some of the most valuable in my collection. He was lively, friendly, and had tons of stories. The fact that he joined the German Army as a simple Gefreiter, and survived the horrific battles of Cherkassy are proof that he wasn't a " show pony"...he proved himself in Russia.

[@recalcitrant_recidivist9278]

In his book Degrelle asserts the French were intending to execute him, rather than release him, but there was no mention of this in the video.

[@joelonzello4189]

His Escape to Spain was an incredible feat !

[@generalfailure9730]

Everything that Degrelle wrote is between small exaggeration and blunt lie

[@capoislamort100]

@@generalfailure9730 have you even read any of his books?

[@Melvorgazh]

What books of him did you read? I haven't read any. Any recommendations?

[@joelonzello4189]

@@Melvorgazh Google Name. Lots of info out there

[@scarletmacaw]

He died in one of the most beautiful cities on earth, Malaga Spain. I visited there in 1972. It is an amazing beach area called Costa Del Sol. So the man definitely made the most of his golden years and lived to the ripe old age of 89. He basically cheated death at every turn.

[@stephenchallen1385]

Belgium surrendered on May 28, 1940, before Leon Degrelle did anything. This caption is false.

[@2Hard2Core]

Indeed! When I first clicked the video, I thought maybe He fought in WW1, but he was far too young for that! So I also got some clikckbait taste of this.

[@simonjohnston9488]

So in your mind, a country ceases to exist if they surrender? What a bizarre interpretation of both history and reality. People who get all their info from headlines are a funny lot. No surprise, these Dunning-Kruger kiddies also think you know better than everyone else, despite your overt laziness.

[@MickKent]

The government went into exile working with the allies didn't it? He betrayed his government. This evil man elected to fight for one of the worst criminals in history.

[@stephenchallen1385]

@@simonjohnston9488 You do not need to be personal in your response.

[@Chesirecat111]

@@simonjohnston9488​​⁠​​⁠ No, dear, Belgium didn’t cease to exist as a nation (though as a state it did until it was restored by the Allies). The point is that he wasn’t a war hero, he didn’t fight for his country. He BETRAYED his country, and fought for its oppressor, fool.

[@jorenbosmans8065]

The part which still amazes me about Nazi's in Belgiu, is that they made both the Flemish and the Walloon extremists believe they were on their sides.

[@agrosyntrop]

unite and conquer.

[@dirkusmaximus9268]

I am Belgian, these Walloon extremists were not Walloon extremists, rather Belgian en even bigger, he dreamed about a big Belgium-Burgundy, so with very old counties as Flanders, Hainaut, up to and including some other counties in France, including Champagne, Burgundy an French Flanders in (Picardië)France. He dreamt of a bigger fascist Belgium ! A Bigger Belgium in the old empire of Charlemagne

[@j.a.emmanueltemplemann5627]

He was indeed Hitlers Child. I don't like Nazis, but I have to agree, "he was the only politician to go to the frontlines and fight like a patriot".

[@TheRuben_music]

Patriot. lol

[@willemvanlent6955]

​@@TheRuben_musicYES PATRIOT AND HONEST MAN!!!

[@TheRuben_music]

@@willemvanlent6955 No

[@veers2883]

@@TheRuben_music OK commie :P

[@Lecruque]

You should hear the testimonies of his fellow belgians… always in hiding in the rear, always on a horse - never walking. Opportunist, nothing more.

[@roelantverhoeven371]

The Flemish movement was never about joining hollland, some wanted to split Belgium. the struggle was about recognition of the dutch language in Belgium, a just cause!

[@bvdb9258]

And still is today flanders for the flemish people

[@wmelliott3802]

Leon lead at the front of his troops. 75 close quarter combat too. He was a trooper regardless of what his politics were!

[@philipsmeeton]

And now look at the state of Europe, the socialists have given it all away and we will all soon be forced to convert to a foreign religion.

[@matttravers6690]

thats your takeaway?

[@arnaudgeline6263]

An opportunist doubled as a treat.

[@roelantverhoeven371]

he ensured himself a nice seat on a He111 bound for spain tho XD doubt he took his soldiers with him :p

[@Smudgeroon74]

He led divisions of soldiers to the Ukraine and the Caucuses during World War 2...

[@peterhanssens7260]

My Grandfather William Hanssens was a Belgian Judge who was a war crimes Judge in Belgium after the war. Ask him what he thought of Leon Degrelle. Shameful opportunist working for the people who invaded his country, unreal and shameful.

[@djordjekostic6944]

Colorful personality for sure. He lived his life beyond the limits.

[@joelonzello4189]

What an Incredible Story !

[@glosfishgb6267]

True son of Europe Leon Degrelle

[@boomjacky]

A true uberkunt

[@hajoos.8360]

Degrelle defended Europe....

[@Laikabarkbark]

shame on you

[@Smudgeroon74]

@Laikabarkbark why shame on him for?

[@hajoos.8360]

@@Smudgeroon74 You answered the wrong person.

[@jeanmenard3060]

Excellent documentaire ! 🙂👍

[@newjones1754]

Are you a war hero if you fought for the evil side? I doubt that we call this a traitor in our country.

[@isaacm1332]

In mine to btw i am Belgian.

[@markstein-b6f]

evil side? if only you knew who really controlled the allies

[@jokodihaynes419]

"History is not written by the victors it's written by those who write stuff down"-Max Miller Tasting History

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

The losing side are far more reluctant to write it down. The losing side’s beliefs are rejected by the victor, so no air time there either. Truth is Nazism had a lot of good ideas and unfashionable truths- but it is not fashionable to objectively evaluate them because of the Holocaust.

[@albertstadler2639]

😅

[@tobiasgriffin]

I said to myself all the people who said we fought the wrong enemie would come here 😂😂

[@brucegibbins3792]

And they are usually the Victor's

[@loveforbeats2112]

There are enough German written sources.

[@fri7z_]

Amazing material, thank you very much. Can you make something like this about Marshal Ion Antonescu from Romania? Thanks again

[@philippecasteleyn9327]

The Flemish VRT has better documentaries about the Collaboration.

[@duguaypierre6608]

what a story !!!

[@Schlageter88]

That hero betrayed nothing! Look at the streets of Belgian cities - the one that has failed the Belgians is their government. There is no more Belgian Belgium!

[@Coolerman565]

Stop being a apologist for NAZIS and their collaborators, it's not a good look

[@LPrulezhard]

Mee eens, ons land is om zeep

[@toocoolforu]

The traitors won, we see the result of the so called victory decades later

[@karelvandinter49]

My sister was married to the son of Leon's sister Suzanne.

[@ronnyking4615]

The good old times..

[@JB-rt4mx]

Very well done and factual. As a fan of your series this episode is the best yet. WW2 is a complex conflict as we are still fighting a fanatical despot and protoge of Stalin in the form of Putin and his attack on Ukraine & Western Europe. 🇺🇦🇺🇳🇺🇦

[@Thisfutureman]

Lol factual, from the beginning where the stupid narrator says he betrayed his belief and showed a picture of jesus is already laughable , you go believe your propaganda for the jews but i dont

[@seanjames6879]

You are talking nonsense. Ukraine is fascist and Russia is fighting that the same way it did the Nazis of Germany.

[@willemvanlent6955]

This channel is just another mainstream media fake news propaganda machine of our Western evil elites!!! Wake up, we have been lied to, and still are being lied to even worse!!! UKRAIN and its Ukrainian people were severely abused to lure Russia into invading eastern Ukrain!!! The same modus operandi that was used severely abusing Poland and the Polish people complete with genocide against the German people still living in the German territories taken away from Germany in the 1919 VERSAILLES TREATY!!! Do your homework!!!

[@juhopuhakka2351]

Whit out aid from the good guys Stalins war machine would have not been that great that it allmost sucked Finland into a soviet republic.

[@raphivanmorrissey3510]

Sure. And Ukraine is not full of nazis.

[@Smudgeroon74]

Operation Barbarossa was a 6 nation attack, along with Germany was Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Italy[60,000], Finland and 47,000 Spanish volunteers that left their homeland to join the effort against the Bolsheviks.. 2 divisions of Belgian soldiers also joined in Barbarossa.. the fact of the matter was that by April 1941 there was 170 divisions of Reds assembling at Germany's eastern front. They were preparing to invade Europe.. this was admitted to by Soviet Marshall Brezhnev in the 1960's. Barbarossa was a pre-emptive strike designed to destroy the threat of Bolshevism forever...

[@dnffuscaamigos7745]

Wrong thinking, germans lacked troops , Materiel and Logistics. So It would be better for Germany to wait for the Red´s attack (URSS invasion). Logistics for Germany would be better - to fight in Poland and Romanian lands in this case. And Soldiers Morale is always in favor of the invaded country. The way barbarosa was done, the soldiers morale turned quickly in favour the Russian troops, after all they were invaded, and the occupation police did atrocities in Belarus. This inflamed the Russians by making them fanatical. To make things worst, Russian Materiel and Industry outproduced the Axis forces . Look , in the end Bolshevism occupied half of Europe until 1990 !

[@markstein-b6f]

@@dnffuscaamigos7745 operation barbarossa was the right course of acction had they not launched the operation during 1941 they would never had another chance the germans took the ussr unprepared for an attack because instead they were planning for an invasion of europe the germans were close to crushing the soviet union if it wasn't because the OKH decided to place more troops in the center and instead sending them to the south to take ukraine and the caucasus then germany would have won the war

[@SnackBar762]

You want to kill Soviet Jews but you are subscribed to Bald and Bankrupt. The hypocrisy of these traitors.

[@gorofujita5767]

He didn't "betray" anything or anyone; he *STOOD FOR his nation* until the very end.

[@loonowolf2160]

By joining the bad side?

[@JayTide]

​@@loonowolf2160which side was the good side? The commies?

[@mirquellasantos2716]

Germans destroyed Belgium and German soldiers raped and mutilated Belgian women. He was a coward.

[@peterhanssens7260]

He was a complete traitor and his values were tied to divide and conquer. By the way my Great Grandfather was Henri Jaspar the Prime Minister of Belgium from 1926 to 1931 who stood for Belgian Unity. Leon was a massive traitor. Regrettably, Belgium was never able to bring him to the firing squad for cause. 🇨🇦🇧🇪

[@HHHKingofKings58]

​@@peterhanssens7260Your grandfather was a subhuman

[@capoislamort100]

The Führer’s favorite son.

[@loveforbeats2112]

In Degrelle’s words 😂

[@capoislamort100]

@@loveforbeats2112 his words are good enough for me.

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@capoislamort100 that’s a pretty dumb way to live your life.

[@capoislamort100]

@@loveforbeats2112 Sure, just don’t reply to me no more.

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@capoislamort100 haha pathetic 👍

[@SeamHead33]

One of the last Knights of Europe

[@solowali10]

moroccans are taking over europe homie. suck it

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@SeamHead33 damn, you are dumb 🤣

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@SeamHead33 a proud dumbass who cost many men their lives.

[@Laikabarkbark]

you should be ashamed

[@SeamHead33]

@@Laikabarkbark I'm not

[@Spitsz01]

youtube is becoming more irritating by the day.

[@lottenetzel8751]

Leon DeGrelle would definitely looked good in a prison uniform. He may claim himself to be a hero but he never stood with his men and fled with his tail.

[@glaubercirilo9840]

Hero. Literally me.

[@joshualifetree5398]

His education says it all.

[@thestrum71]

I'm from Belgium. My grandfather who served in the army un WW2 told me about Legrelle when I was young and callex him 'een stuk stront' Translated: a 'POS'....

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@thestrum71 in welk leger diende hij?

[@xhansxxx]

Je grootvader had gelijk

[@thestrum71]

@@loveforbeats2112 Belgische leger hee, verbindingsofficier...

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@thestrum71 ah ok, dank. 18 moeilijke dagen gehad en daarna nog 4,5 jaar waarschijnlijk…

[@thestrum71]

@@loveforbeats2112 Na de overgave bevond hij zich bijna aan de kust. Het duitse apparaat om al die soldaten te controleren bestand nog niet en te voet/trein/auto en wat nog allemaal is hij teruggeslipt naar Herentals waar mijn grootmoeder hun eerste zoon verwachtte. Net op tijd voor de geboorte. Voor al die gasten was de oorlog over.... Tijdens de terugtrekking richting kust heeft hij wel geschoten op duitsers. Hij claimde er 30. Maar of dat klopt kan ik niet bevestigen. Hij heeft me leren schieten met een jachtgeweer toen ik 9 of 10 was. En hij was er verdomd goed in... dat wel....

[@solveigcronstrom7787]

This seems so interesting that I very much would like to hear the speakers voice. But the music is far too intruding, and disappointed I have to quit after a short while. And I wonder: What is the idea behind such a presentation?

[@reinerdykeman]

I enjoy watching this documentary, in my opinion it seems that Lēon Degrelle had lost his way, Thanks for sharing

[@vonMohl]

Degrelle was definitely not Hitler's best soldier. There were plenty of other highly decorated men and officers.

[@blitzy3244]

He didn't "betray his country". If you want an actual good biography of Leon Degrelle go watch Zoomer Historian's video.

[@peterhanssens7260]

The Belgians who with all due respect that are commenting would be regarded as " simple" and their logic ill directed.

[@paulmalore]

I'm a Belgian, and I can but share your opinion.

[@IAmBeanz1]

A great Warrior

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@IAmBeanz1 nope, Lazy and unskilled. Just a giant suck-up who knew who to ask for medals.

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@IAmBeanz1 haha no, lazy and unskilled.

[@Laikabarkbark]

shame on you

[@markstein-b6f]

@@loveforbeats2112 he fought in the eastern front and survived he has more skills than you'll ever have

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@markstein-b6f you just sound like a dumb fanboy and you don’t even know me. You are childish.

[@sikanderali-v7g]

What a courageous man he was indeed

[@alvinjohnson9531]

What us Americans need in this political year is a man like Degrelle! That is a man from the ALT-RIGHT who has the guts to stand up for what he believes in and not be intimidated by the left and there WOKE supporters!😊

[@AzamatoTheGreat]

cringe

[@grahvis]

You mean someone who only thinks of themselves and wants to be a dictator.

[@flitsertheo]

If you want your own little dictator, an Ersatz-Führer, go ahead.

[@sikanderali-v7g]

You will never see politicians on the frontline but rather will see them in funerals of soldiers barely standing for political interests and seeing their wrist watch

[@SeamHead33]

WW2 was Man vs Evil and Man lost

[@AluhutAndi]

Bro what?

[@SeamHead33]

@@AluhutAndi yes

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@SeamHead33not the brightest..?

[@SeamHead33]

@@loveforbeats2112 you've been told LIES

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@SeamHead33 haha no. Grow a brain.

[@didierstrivay7200]

Ce que vous dites sur Leon Degrelle est de la pure foutaise. Léon Degrelle a tjrs gardé sa foi chrétienne, à tjrs défendu la Belgique au moment où tous les autres députés avaient foutu le camp sauf sa Majesté le Roi des Belges Leopold 3. Il a combattu certes avec les allemands mais contre le communisme et non pour le 3ème Reich. Léon Degrelle à été un très grand homme d'état, un grand officier et combattant. 🙏🙏🙏

[@KP-kg2ky]

Don't blur the images please.

[@scavenger9579]

Calling degrelle a traitor is ignoring the ideology of the nazis. Unity for the aryan race.

[@datboi1546]

So sigma…🐺🐺🐺

[@loveforbeats2112]

The Walloons were only declared Aryan late in 1943…

[@JelMain]

Treachery to the Human Race.

[@jfurl5900]

So no Italians or Spaniards or Greeks ? Of course he was a traitor , one of the worst kind because he betrayed his own and only because he changed his mind in the pursuance of power , it really didn't matter what the idealogy was .

[@Laikabarkbark]

be ashamed of yourself

[@terryjacob8169]

In reality Degrelle was a Belgian patriot, who wished Belgium to be saved from Soviet Communism. He was one of the few politician anywhere prepared to put his life on the line for his beliefs. I believe he was a proper soldier's soldier, who led his men by example.

[@SuperDirk1965]

He was a traitor like all those who collaborated with the Nazis. The world can count itself lucky for the bravery of the Soviets who fought nazism heroïcally.

[@YianBoi]

Such a patriot he was ready to sell out his country so it could be annexed and assimilated by the Germans instead. He might have been a nationalist and a patriot, but all his actions would have lead to Belgium's destruction. Not only as as a sovereign state but also as a national identity.

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@terryjacob8169 you are incorrect.

[@Smudgeroon74]

@loveforbeats2112 he's not incorrect..

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@Smudgeroon74 yes, he clearly is. Feel free to try again.

[@Coolerman565]

Dagrelle was the ultimate collaborator to the point he was willing to see the end of his own Country.

[@joelonzello4189]

@@Coolerman565 Sorta like Obama ? Clinton's ? Biden's ?

[@raphivanmorrissey3510]

History is not black and white my dear... Who are you to judge what the eldest did? I don't agree, but I try to understand. Life is not only villains against the good guys... And Belgium is fake country with two nations...

[@istoppedcaring6209]

he founded rex, he wanted an absolutist Belgian state under the royal house and most importantly to quell the flemings ergo ensure that it all remains francophone strangely enough the Germans convinced Flemish collaborators to join by promising independence

[@roelantverhoeven371]

@@istoppedcaring6209 the germans played both sides... smart people did not fall for it!

[@Veslefrikken]

The end of his country you say. well look at europe now. ethnic europeans are being replaced.

[@drmarkintexas-400]

🎖️⭐🏆🙏❤️‍🩹 Thank you for sharing

[@DR.GuntherVonHagen]

Leon Degrelle, We salute you! 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@Laikabarkbark]

you should be ashamed of yourself

[@DR.GuntherVonHagen]

@@Laikabarkbark No! I’m not a hypocrite. I believe in the nation state with common history, language and folk! To me it’s not just a slogan, whether in Africa, Asia and/or Europa! I believe in a multi polar world not some multicultural monolith hegemony dominated by some regime 1000’s of miles away! I believe in national sovereignty and I respect true human diversity from, hunter gatherers, to Religious fanatics [within the boundaries of their territory], to all the cultures of the world. You on the other hand want to form coalitions in order to smash kultur that doesn’t adhere to neoliberal doctrines. \o

[@DonJohn1776]

He was a friend of Pétain, Schuman and Monnet.

[@jokodihaynes419]

"History could say whatever it wants but rarely does it remember anything correctly"-Lawkeeper Equity Mlp Ace Attorney EOJ

[@themanformerlycalled]

De keerkant van ambitie en machtswellust.

[@JelMain]

The flipside of ambition is megalomania.

[@tylershannon6593]

I dont blame europeans joining german armies to fight the communists, just like absolutely no one blames finland for fighting alongside germany to push back the soviets.

[@matttravers6690]

no you should blame them for joining the side that was putting people in ovens by the millions

[@yitzchakfriedman821]

The Soveit Union wasn't invading Belgium. Belgians who volunteered were fighting for a foriegn fascist army that was occupying their own country

[@tylershannon6593]

@@yitzchakfriedman821 and those people decided on their own that communism was a far more existential threat. If the Soviet Union has the might to take Belgium after the war, let's not pretend they wouldn't have tried.

[@matthewnikitas8905]

@@tylershannon6593Geographically the countries are not very close so the likelihood of that happening is basically slim to none.

[@Manuel1976]

​​​@@matthewnikitas8905when asked if he îs happy he conqured Berlin, Stalin replied: the tzar Alexander conquered Paris. Communism was an universal ideology. The ultimate goal was a comunist world. Including Belgium.

[@jfurl5900]

How did he survive in Spain ? What did he live on and who supported him . I have always wondered how so many fugitives thrived while in hiding from the law and in this case evading extradition .

[@nathanlaiko2933]

Spain was still under the dictator Franco wich was also a facist.

[@Smudgeroon74]

@nathanlaiko2933 you called General Franco a dictator. Did you know he saved Spain from the perils of communism? The Spanish civil war was between the polar opposite forces of the left-wing republican faction[backed by the Soviet union] and Franco's nationalists...

[@Coolerman565]

Don't forget it was the Spain of Franco the Fascist.

[@Smudgeroon74]

@@Coolerman565 in your view could the Spanish civil war have been prevented?

[@Coolerman565]

@@Smudgeroon74 Probably if many Western Countries had not supported Franco, that civil war led to WW2.

[@yipo.0262]

Here is a challenge,... debunk 'the greatest story never told' and 'europa the last battle' with facts and evidence and I will change my mind.

[@jeffrussell7753]

They didn/t give the iron cross 1st class away lightly . Whatever his politics he must have had balls !

[@lucvanackeren5445]

He won the Knights cross to the Iron cross ...

[@Interlocutor67]

Degrelle was a hero of Europe.

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@Interlocutor67 nope.

[@Interlocutor67]

@@loveforbeats2112 , yep, he was .

[@matthewnikitas8905]

How about biggest traitor to his nation

[@Interlocutor67]

@@matthewnikitas8905, Belgium isn’t a nation .

[@matthewnikitas8905]

@@Interlocutor67 How is it not

[@seanohare5488]

Very interesting of interesting man

[@rascassesaintouen8576]

A great man, Leon Degrelle.

[@Earl-z3t]

No!

[@Pabloguerreromunoz]

A truly remarkable good Christian man!

[@loonowolf2160]

By joining the n*z*s?

[@SeamHead33]

​@@loonowolf2160 yes

[@peterhanssens7260]

Quoi ? 😮 🇧🇪🇨🇦

[@Laikabarkbark]

I didn't know good Christian values meant holocaust denial, you're not a Christian.

[@roseandsword.]

He was excommunicated at one point and his party was condemned by the Church.

[@labilabi678]

So, the monster survived to live as he wanted ! He should have been kidnapped and put before the courts !

[@toocoolforu]

How dare you tarnish the memory of this great man, a terrible regret we all have of what a better world would be if victory had come

[@lyndenmanning]

Nonsense documentary...There were Arab SS divisions, Balkan Muslim divisions. Do your homework

[@georgemichaws3673]

The last knight of Europe!!!

[@janboen3630]

Nonsense! In the 1930's there was NO decent size of Flemish who wanted to join Netherland. Thise striving for Flemish identity wanted to stop the discrimination either inside belgium or as independent Flanders

[@pierredecine1936]

The Brownshirts were the SA !!! not SS !

[@ikkelimburg3552]

The narrator does make it sound as if Roman-catholics voted en masse for Rex and Degrelle. It was only 7% of the votes, mainly by French speaking middle class from the ‘right wing’ living in Flemish area’s. The majority of Walloons didn’t vote for him and only a few Flemish voted for him. The Catholic Church wasn’t in favor of the Rexism, just as in the neighboring country the Netherlands, were the southern provinces are Catholic (and the NSB was considered ‘not cristian’).

[@miguelderijckke5907]

Van Zeeland became first minister after An excommunication ban profused by Cardinal Mercier on catholics who would vote for Rex in 1939

[@JelMain]

You should note that the political structure of Belgium was defined in the 1830 Revolution as Freemasons (Liberals who staged the Revolution) and Catholics (Conservatives who held the power). The latter were the real reason for the Revolution - neither the French (whose atheist revolutionary fervor would inspire Communism) nor Dutch (ultra-Protestant Calvinists) could tolerate hem, and ran for the borders immediately: the Belgian provisional government was faced with an immediate financial crisis, played straight into the hands of the country's only financier, who took over the Treasury and forced a monarchy on them (William IV's son-in-law, who was a far more realistic proposition as monarch than the 6 year old Victoria). My great-aunt, the daughter of a WW1 war hero, was in the Royal Household, a fervent Catholic, and took on the only surviving newspaper, La Libre Belgique, until the Germans finally shut it down. That then led them into politics as the leaders of the French faction when the language wars of the 1960s led to the Regional demarcation today.

[@johnhanselman6371]

If most French and Belgian's had the same political beliefs as Degrelle then Germany would have failed attempting to invade Belgian and France would have not quit. * Men who believe in nationalism will wage war to defend their nation and will fight until their end.

[@tibsky1396]

It's quite true that one reason for the outcome of the 1940 campaign was that France was run by liberals or leftists. Many of the leaders of Vichy France came from socialist or communist backgrounds, and the leaders of Free France were mostly from old French noble and conservative families. Some went back to the Middle Ages.

[@SuperDirk1965]

Nationalism ought to be condemned as a crime against humanity. It is the source of all evil we experience today.

[@JelMain]

@@tibsky1396 As did Mme La Baronne d'Ursel, the SOE commander in Belgium. By grace, I found myself living in the community which sheltered the escaping aircrew while they recovered from their injuries, the start of the Comet Line running through St Jean de Luz to Gibraltar, my mother being recognised - she never told us. This is how I was trained in their specialist skills as a child, the SAS bidding for me unsuccessfully. Mme La Baronne's daughter had worked under my great-aunt in the Institut Bordet, and became our office nurse.

[@capusvacans]

No, if his beliefs had been generally accepted within belgium, belgium would just have joined the nazi's.

[@capusvacans]

@@tibsky1396 Ah yes, the french aristocracy, well know for being socialist, i mean it's not like france had something occur in it's past where the nobles lost their heads after they refused to grant rights to the ppl.... The french nobility (any nobility or aristocracy for that matter) is generaly diametricaly opposed to socialism, as it's a direct threat to their personal wealth and power. And are you now claiming that "through the power of nationalism" Belgium would have been able to prevent or defend against a german invasion? Damn, belgians must be some kind of supermen as it took a coalition of large countries about 4 years to beat the germans. And it's not like the Belgian army didn't put up a fight, it absolutely did, it was just constantly outflanked and outnumbered. You can hump your flag as much as you want, but when there are a bunch of tanks circling around your position and all you have is a few old rifles and if lucky a grenade, you can be as patriotic as you want, it doesn't matter, you either die or surrender. Nationalism isn't a superweapon, quite to the contrary, pretty much any regime that was wallowing in nationalism that invaded their neighbours got beaten. It gives a false sense of superiority that just gets ppl killed in times of war. You sound like Danton. "de l'audace, de l'audace, toujours de l'audace". It was stupid then, and it's even dumber now, because we've seen what happens when silly slogans form the basis of a war plan.

[@quickestlaughs]

Betrayed? More like became a Belgian and European hero. If only he saw what Europe became today with the "Allied" victory...

[@primaitalia753]

Léon Degrelle is a war hero. And was loyal to the end. Big respect to him.

[@ΓιώργοςΑρμ-θ9θ]

He was a big soldier

[@flitsertheo]

And an opportunist. Betraying anyone and anything if it suited his ambitions.

[@epinoke4168]

Comme d'autres politiciens de l'entre deux guerres il a cru son heure arrivée, ce qu'il lui est reproché n'est pas son comportement sur le front de l'est mais ce qu'il s'est passé en Belgique notamment le comportement et les actes des rexistes , ses partisans

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

What happened if Axis powers won 🏆 the war 🤔? Belgium 🇧🇪 was a French popped in Europe and had colonials in Africa and elsewhere. The man rods politicians currency as unification patriotism leader..while Belgium 🇧🇪 authority sent him to French prison ?!. Belgium as small country between two enemies ( France and Germany) imposing it to biased one of them..neutrality is impossible..he proved himself in battlefield as soldier and military leader. At the end he selected a wrong side ( losers side ) for that he was a condemned person.

[@peterhanssens7260]

Your comments are very general. Degrelle was a massive traitor, and most Belgians were disgusted by him and his divide and conquer mentality, including my Belgian parents. 🇨🇦🇧🇪

[@gunterhick1865]

So many mistakes in that… Belgium’ existence as a country was guaranteed by Great Britain, not France. Belgium only had one colony, the Congo. French troops were allowed into the country only once German intentions became totally clear, not before, because of Belgium’s neutrality. Degrelle fled Belgium when the Germans invaded, as he feared he would be imprisoned in Belgium because of his extremist, pro-German policies. He then was arrested in France, because he was a known extremist. Although he showed personal courage, he was not a military leader. The Walloon SS were militarily directed by former officers of the Belgian Army, not by Degrelle, who was their political leader. Degrelle, as show so many comments here, was quite good at polishing his own imago. Despite the many efforts by Historians (see a.o. de Wilde, Cheyns) and the testimony of his own soldiers (The Crusade of a Walloon Volunteer, We Will Not Go To Tuapse), this self-constructed image of a valorous military leader persists

[@pompom8315]

@@gunterhick1865 France also guaranteed Belgium's sovereignty. In fact, we are only independent because of them, they sent troops into Belgium when the Netherlands invaded in 1831 during the Ten Days' Campaign. The UK on their part agreed to the Treaty of London that heavily favored the Netherlands. Belgium also had the colonies of Rwanda and Burundi after WW1. That being said, Belgium wasn't a French puppet, it was an imperialist power like many other. Its economy was quite independent, directed by the Société Générale. If anything, Belgium is more of a French puppet now than it ever was before WW2.

[@gunterhick1865]

He was considered a war-hero by the German propaganda machine only and obviously his followers, but certainly not by the Belgians in general. He was a fundamentalist catholic politician who turned to collaboration to advance his own game, once his national political career had been stopped by the Catholic Church itself. He outdid some other fascist groupings active at the time in Belgium which would not go as far as wearing German uniforms. All to further his self-aggrandisement. Managed to flee the Eastern front, leaving his men in the lurch, and spent the rest of his life in Franco’s Spain, giving interviews and having some books published, all to preserve his self-created imago, deluded to the end.

[@Smudgeroon74]

@Gunterhick1865 like you have achieved a lot of stuff..

[@Lecruque]

@@gunterhick1865 thank you! The sheep in these comments are just astounding.

[@roseandsword.]

Degrelle himself was even excommunicated by the Catholic Church at one point.

[@HeavyDragoon]

Well..one has to say...at 36 mins..one has to say..the crowds certainly came out... Not bad for a nation that hated Nazism... This is not a click bait but purely an observation

[@nicholassyrmis3789]

You're lucky you're not Greek. People who supported the Germans did not survive the war. When I when to Greece in 1990 as a 22-year-old my grandfather said to me see that old lady she slept with the Italians if she had slept with the Germans I don't think she would have survived the war.

[@daveanderson3805]

And in the end he was right. Look at Europe today. It's a clown show

[@mickgrant4262]

How to destroy a good video with Ad breaks

[@mercomania]

A very brave soldier.

[@bartvandenberg4901]

Degrelle betrayed no one, this is all hearsay and slander!

[@arnaudgeline6263]

a treat of the worst kind. An opportunist who got innocent people killed. Let us remember that Wallonia has never forgiven Degrelle and his collaborators. Conversely, Flanders very quickly forgave its traitors and they even entered into politics after the war.

[@stevenmoens5427]

That’s right, the Walloon region has never forgiven it’s collaborators; they denied they had them.

[@lottenetzel8751]

Good to know.

[@geoffreytruye]

debiel

[@overlord5068]

Because the walloons love their napoleon too much

[@PeculiarCrafts]

Let’s also not generalise about the Flemish forgiving the collaborators. Those in high positions might have but there were a lot of repercussions in villages and cities executed by the people themselves to anyone who was accused of collaborating and their families.

[@polyglot8]

I wonder if Degrelle ever met Skorzeny while in Spain?

[@Coolerman565]

At least Skorzeny was German.

[@David-uk6db]

He did, there is even a photo of them side to side. You can search it up.

[@BlessedCitizen101]

Outstanding! A lion amongst men, a true European patriot. 💯⚔️✝️

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@BlessedCitizen101 you don’t know what “patriot” means, do you?

[@BlessedCitizen101]

@@loveforbeats2112 Nice try. Hence why I said European and not Belgian. 👍

[@loveforbeats2112]

@@BlessedCitizen101 thank you for proving my point, you indeed don’t understand that word. 👍

[@BlessedCitizen101]

@@loveforbeats2112 No, you just proved how narrow minded you are. You sound ignorant, I suggest spending some time enlightening yourself. Any "debate" until then would be futile. 👍

[@BlessedCitizen101]

@@loveforbeats2112 You obviously need to broaden both your scope of history and more importantly vocabulary. You don't have to be a "Patriot" loyal solely to the nation you were born in. Until you brush up on much needed education, this conversation will remain futile.

[@MickKent]

One politician who fought on the frontline was Churchill, who served as a battalion commander in WW1 for a while.

[@imperialhonorguard1483]

then he was broke and in debt to czech bankers, no wonder why he was such a warmonger

[@HeavyDragoon]

@@imperialhonorguard1483 perhaps..but a man of principle who incidentally hated communism more than fascism...and most importantly...declined the treaty to surrender in 1940 when even Roosevelt thought that Britain would sue for peace

[@markstein-b6f]

@@HeavyDragoon he didnt reject the peace treaty offered by the germans because he was a man of principle but because he was indebted to the bankers

[@mephistopheles9233]

He was an alcoholic drunk with crippling debts whom sold his country out to the warmongering internationaI cIique. An individual who bankrupted the Empire and is a direct cause of the state of Britain today. A detestable specimen.

[@maddmike8516]

Did he betray his country or did the others betray theirs?

[@gordonadamson5854]

No matter what you say you can’t take away his bravery and as one of his soldiers said what other politician did you ever say fighting in from line non-

[@jorgebarriosmur]

You can be brave, and evil, at the same time......

[@rafaelsanz3441]

I met him twice, he didn t impress me, he was a kind of a hysterical clown.

[@loonowolf2160]

He was a holocaust denial which is unacceptable

[@JayTide]

Unacceptable to you.

[@Thisfutureman]

Lol there is a guy who disguised himself as a jew not to long ago and went to auswich and went for proof if they loed or not , and geuss what 😂😂😂, i can give you the link to the video if you want

[@loonowolf2160]

​@JayTide so ur a holocaust denial too?

[@SeamHead33]

Typhus

[@johnsmith-mq4eq]

which holocaust do you mean?

[@peterhanssens7260]

I remember my parents telling me about this guy given my father was in the Belgian underground. What a massive traitor. 🇨🇦🇧🇪

[@lukedupree962]

Absolute hero and one of the finest soldiers Europe ever produced.

[@HispaniaGothorum]

🤔Will you say the same to Marlene Dietrich or to Albert Einstein?

[@chaplaingrunt5126]

Leon Degrelle: A Hero

[@godzillavkk]

A traitor.

[@chaplaingrunt5126]

@godzillavkk lol maybe to the filthy reds and liberals he is, not to Europe.

[@glosfishgb6267]

It seems like the doc is only interested in dividing Europeans once again over lines on a map that give us many cultures across Europe but do not divide as the 1 people we are regardless of location why they try and twist facts of another great European hero that fought against the communist and capitalist pot stirrers Leon Degrelle see you in Valhalla

[@darrelneidiffer6777]

The Belgiums did some gruesome things . Google the Belgium Congo.

[@idontevenknowmyself7170]

Flander never advocated to join the netherlands they sure seeked indepedance but not joining the netherlands