NSB – fascism in the Netherlands

The “Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging in Nederland’ (NSB- National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands) was initiated in 1931 by career politicians, Anton Mussert and Cornelis van Geelkerken, who copied many of the ideas and rhetoric for their group from Italian fascists and German Nazis. The NSB advocated the interests of the state above those of the individual, the end to individual voting rights, prohibition of strikes, mandatory military service and limits to freedom of the press. It called for the union of Flanders with the Netherlands, which included the Belgium Congo and the Dutch East Indies, all to form one automatous nation. The NSB demanded an end to the parliamentary democracy that was the basis of the Dutch political system. This proposed upheaval was vastly unpopular with the prewar population who viewed the group as too anti-governmental, unorthodox, and unstable.  

The newly formed NSB started as a miniscule political body with only 600 members attending a national rally two years after its creation. However, the increasing hardships caused by the great depression, coupled with Mussert’s organizational abilities (promising to win over the government by legal, democratic means rather than outright violent revolution) grew its membership to over 25,000 by 1935. While Mussert became the overall leader of the NSB, van Geelkerken was given the position as leader of the “Nationale Jeugdstorm” (the NSB youth group). The NSB reached a high of 101,000 members in 1943, mostly middle-class workers and farmers, many prone to being non-religious and idealistic more so than those of the traditional social and politically minded groups. The organization as a whole was loosely knit compared to the strict structuring of the Nazi regime, having scant meetings and one annual rally, with little of the constant propaganda and fanfare seen at events in Hitler’s dictatorship.

In 1936, Meinoud Marinus Rost van Tonningen, a lawyer, diplomat and rabid antisemite, who had been heavily influenced by his time in Austria, joined the growing NSB party. As a parliament delegate and publisher of the party newspaper, “Het Nationale Dagblad”, Rost van Tonningen spread his intense hatred for the Jews and love for the Third Reich throughout the paper’s articles. As part of his militaristic ambitions to copy the Germans and Italians, he established the Mussert Guards paramilitary unit.    

Germany’s entry into war brought praises from the NSB membership as the Wehrmacht overran Europe. Following that, many of the top NSB officials were arrested by the Dutch government  — which wished to remain neutral. They were held until the German invasion of Belgium and the low countries, which brought the NSB under the direct control of the German authorities. When all other Dutch political groups were later outlawed by the Nazis, the NSB became the only recognized party left in the Netherlands. Though Mussert, van Geelkerken and Rost van Tonnigen all envisioned principal positions in the German controlled country, this was not to be as Hitler appointed an Austrian Nazi, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, as the leader of the new occupational government. Seyss- Inquart put the NSB members to limited use, once he recognized that they were not very popular with the general public and, as such, could not hold any positions of real power in his administration. 

Under the brutality of the Nazi regime, the Dutch people were oppressed and terrorized as German Reichsfuhrer Heinrich Himmler’s “Schutzstaffel” (SS) took control of the Dutch police force and began to hunt down Jews, Communists and anyone else deemed to be enemies of the National Socialists.  

Under the Nazi rule, Mussert was demoted to a non-descript position as “Dutch people’s leader”. Having no real authority, he was forced to sit on the sidelines as the German machine toppled his dream of leading a fascist Netherlands. When the war ended, he was arrested, tried as a traitor, and shot by firing squad in 1946; van Geelkerken was appointed an official of the Nazi sponsored paramilitary force that was directed by the Germans to stop partisan activities. After the war, he spent 14 years in prison, then lived in obscurity until his death in 1976. 

Rost van Tonnigen was first appointed by Seyss-Inquart to either dissolve all parties not affiliated with the Nazis, or Nazify any remaining essential groups. After attempting to do this, with most of his “Mussert Guards” then absorbed into the Waffen SS, Rost van Tonnigen joined the SS in the final year of the war. He was later captured by the British and, while being held in prison awaiting trial, committed suicide by leaping to his death.

Members of the “Weerbaarheidsafdeling” (WA - the violent paramilitary NSB “Defense Section”) wore uniforms consisting of black shirts or tunics (with rank collar tabs), trousers, and high black boots topped with a black double-claw belt buckle and cross strap. On both the shirts and tunics were sewn triangular NSB insignias on the sleeves with a gold “wolfsangle” (an ancient Germanic rune symbolizing a wolf trap) over a red and black background. The same rune triangle was attached to the front of a black visor cap with red piping that was worn with the full uniform. Ordinary members not in uniform could wear an NSB membership pin made of an enameled rampant lion on an orange, white and blue shield, overlaying a red and black background. Around the edges were an “N”, “S” and “B” in gold script letters. Another enamel pin featured a wolfsangel design copying that of the uniform sleeve patches. NSB comrades saluted each other with a hearty “Houzee” (a Dutch nationalist battle cry similar to “Hurrah”) and gave the fascist salute of a stiff outstretched right arm.  

Women interested in the NSB could join the “Nationaal-Socialistische Vrouwenorganisatie” (NSVO - National Socialist Women Organization-SS), a strictly volunteer organization that had a slow start at its beginning in 1938 as a purely social club. This changed with the German invasion, when the NSVO began to reshape itself following the programs of the Nazi “Frauenschaft” women’s group. Emphasis was placed on home keeping, child rearing, fashion, education, husband selection and other practical subjects that women of the period found interesting and useful. In addition to these activities, the group promoted fundraising and craft making to help war veterans, refugees, Christmas packages for the poor, and other programs of aid for those needing assistance. Because of these popular programs that gave the members a chance to serve their country and communities, the membership grew to more than 20,000 by 1943. 

Though a standard uniform was not worn, women members could wear several styles of black, gold and red enamel pins. One depicted a flaming bowl on top of a three-legged stand. Around the rim was printed “Het Hartvuur Heilig, Het Hartvuur Veilig” (The Sacred Hearth Fire, the Safe Hearth Fire). The other contained a rampant lion over Dutch colors in a triangle with “N”, “S”, “B”, a golden wolfsangel, and “Deinen en Volharden” (Serve and Preserve) around the round edge.   

May 1945 saw the surrender of Nazi Germany and the rapid dissolution of the NSB in the Netherlands. Since the group had assisted the Germans, it had become hated by the mainline Dutch public, with many authorities and victims of the Nazi occupation seeking revenge. During the ensuing period 120,000 NSB members and collaborators were arrested and tried for various crimes against the nation. NSB women, along with girls who had collaborated with German soldiers, had their heads shaved and were paraded through the city streets to be pommeled and spat on by jeering crowds. 

Long after the war, to be an “NSB’r” meant that one was a traitor to their country, and spurned by those people who had suffered under the boot heels of their Nazi occupiers. 

We know you love military history and vehicles, but do you collect anything else? Ever wonder about the baseball cards in a box in the basement or Grandma’s old coins in a jar?  Do you love old cars or spin vinyl? Head on over to Collect.com and see what you are missing. Collect.com is the who, what, when and where of the collecting world! https://www.collect.com/