VNV or Vlaamsch Nationaal Verbond (Flemish National Union) was a flamingant party in the '30s.
It was founded by Staf de Clerq on October 8, 1933, who was called the Leader.
Its major target was to unite the many flamingant parties in Belgium in the '20s and '30s in just one movement. He finally succeeded in 1933, and the main objectives were the installation of a unified Dutch state, called Dietsland.
Along the way, it became more and more authoritarian in its appearance, and it quickly became a fascist movement, despite of its large fraction on democratic elements.
When the Germans invaded Belgium in 1940, de Clerq immediately chose their side, despite of former declarations he would not collaborate when this situation should happen.
Hitler chose not to install a civil governement like in the Netherlands, but Belgium had a military governement in stead, leaded by Alexander von Falkenhausen of the Wehrmacht. This put the VNV on a side track, and in order to gain influence in the Third Reich, they intensified their collaboration. Hitler and Himmler understand this very well, and play the game harder in founding some more severe collaboration groups like the General SS Flanders and the DeVlag, the German-Flemish Workers Community.
Staf de Clerq died suddenly in October 1942, and was succeeded by Hendrik Elias, a member of the more moderate side. Unsuspected, he continued the collaboration, but tried to come in terms with the military governement, in order to prevent the installation of a civil governement, who would be equipped with Nazis. Elias failed, as Hitler installed a civil governement and declared the annexation of Flanders by the Third Reich in 1944. Seven weeks later, Belgium had been liberated by the Allies.
After the war, the VNV was prohibited, and Hendrik Elias was put in prison.
