Jef van de Wiele

Fredegardus Jacobus Josephus (Jef) van de Wiele (Deurne, Belgium, 20 July 1903 – Bruges, 4 September 1979) was a Belgian Flemish Nazi politician. During the Nazi occupation of Belgium he became notorious as the leader of the most virulently pro-Nazi wing of Flemish politics.

Early years Van de Wiele was the son of an important local cattle dealer who between 1919 and 1933 acted as mayor of Deurne.

Nazism Van de Wiele became a staunch admirer of Adolf Hitler and before long Devlag had moved radically to the far right and began to campaign for the incorporation of Flanders into the Third Reich. As editor of the group's magazine, Nieuw Vlaanderen, he ensured that Nazism featured centrally in its content.

Influence under the occupation Under the occupation he did enjoy some influence, although the complicated nature of Belgian politics meant that he did not gain the full influence he sought. He enjoyed a good relationship with Walloon leader Léon Degrelle and accompanied him on various public engagements. At home however he had struggled to gain influence from the far-right but pro-independence Flemish National Union and clashed repeatedly with its leaders Staf De Clercq and Hendrik Elias, who maintained ambiguous attitudes towards the Nazis.

After the liberation of Belgium by the Allied forces he fled to Germany in September 1944, settling in Waldeck-Pyrmont with other Flemish exiles. Joachim von Ribbentrop also recognised van de Wiele as leader of the Vlaamsch Bevrijdingscomité (Flemish Liberation Committee) around the same time. Returning to Belgium some time in the 1970s, he died at Bruges in 1979.