Declaration of Flemish Independence by the Council of Flanders
Cataloguing Data
Period / Epoch
22 Dec 1917
Original title
Verklaring over volledige zelfstandigheid van Vlaanderen door de Raad van Vlaanderen
Category
Proclamation
Original language
Flemish
Date
22 Dec 1917
Author(s)
Achiel Brijs, Pieter Tack, Alfons Jonckx, Telesphorus Vernieuwe, Leo de Mullewie Meert, Florimond Heuvelmans, Emiel Ver Hees, Ferdinand Brulez, Karel Heynderickx, Josué De Decker, August Borms
Context
In the context of the First World War, a small section of the Flemish Movement was influenced by the policy of the German Empire – which occupied Belgium during the war – which was aimed at radicalizing the Flemish question in order to destabilize Belgium. This ‘Flamenpolitik'[Flemish Politics] would help to contribute to the establishment of the pro-German (radical) ‘Council of Flanders’ which would ultimately declare independence in December 1917. After the Great War, a part of the members of the Council would flee to the Netherlands, trying to plead with the Entente powers and the American President Roosevelt to keep the Flemish issue in mind during the Versailles Peace Talks (see Pro Flandria Servanda). In addition, radicalized collaborators during the war (also known as ‘activists’) woudl play a crucial in the formation of the Flemish nationalist political parties ‘Vlaamsche Front'[Flemish Front] and “Vlaamsch National Verbond” [Flemish National Union] during the interwar period.
Foto: ADVN, Antwerp