Mussert file photo [2485]

Anton Mussert

SurnameMussert
Given NameAnton
Born11 May 1894
Died7 May 1946
CountryNetherlands
CategoryGovernment
GenderMale

Contributor:

ww2dbaseAnton Adriaan Mussert was born in Werkendam, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. In the 1920s, he became involved in right-wing political movements that advocated a Greater Netherlands by annexing Dutch-speaking neighboring regions. On 14 Dec 1931, he abandoned his profession as a civil engineer and founded the National Socialist Movement political party (Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging), or NSB, along with other like-minded activists such as Cornelis van Geelkerken. A fan of Benito Mussolini, Mussert ruled NSB along a similar model Mussolini had successfully used in Italy. As Italy grew closer to Germany, Mussert grew close to her as well, especially that Adolf Hitler's vision to annex all German-speaking regions under German rule matched exactly his vision for the Netherlands. In Nov 1936, he met Hitler for the first time, and he remained in communications with Berlin from that point on until 1945. His political agenda matched many of Germany's, though Mussert was careful in not allowing the racism to taint Dutch politics.

ww2dbaseDuring the first year of the European War, the Netherlands was occupied by Germany. Mussert used this opportunity to push himself to the pinnacle of Dutch politics, but Germany selected Rost van Tonningen as the collaborationist leader instead, who was much more submissive to Germany than the radical Mussert. On 2 Jun 1940, the NSB formed the regiment SS-Standarte "Westland" in the SS Division "Wiking". Mussert initially opposed the NSB joining the SS, but he was unable to stop the German influence, and as a result many Dutch fought under German leadership during the war. At the end of 1941, he swore personal loyalty to Hitler, followed by the entire Dutch SS in May 1942. By the end of 1942, NSB influence in the Dutch government nearly dissipated, and Mussert's role as the leader of the Dutch people became a meaningless title without any real power.

ww2dbaseAfter the fall of Germany at the end of the European War, Mussert was arrested on 7 May 1945. He was tried in Nov 1945, and was found guilty for treason against his country. He was executed in May 1946 at the Hague.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Dec 2006

Anton Mussert Interactive Map

Photographs

Heinrich Himmler and Anton Mussert at Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 20 Jan 1941, photo 1 of 2Heinrich Himmler and Anton Mussert at Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 20 Jan 1941, photo 2 of 2

Anton Mussert Timeline

11 May 1894 Anton Mussert was born.
7 May 1945 Anton Mussert was arrested.
7 May 1946 Anton Mussert passed away.




Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Share this article with your friends:

 Facebook
 Reddit
 Twitter

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds




Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Arthur Graaff says:
2 Feb 2011 12:54:10 PM

Mussert started hsi movement in 1931, not 1941
2. Commenter identity confirmed C. Peter Chen says:
2 Feb 2011 01:30:42 PM

Thank you Arthur, the typographical error has been corrected!
3. Martin Dejong says:
10 Jun 2012 01:23:21 AM

This article is fairly good but,following the usual convention,portrays the German and Dutch Nazis (National Socialists) as being on the political right. I would argue that this is a wrong view,and that people such as Hitler or Mussert or Mosley should be categorized as being on the LEFT. That is;their respective movements were essentially SOCIALIST. Mussert himself said,"There is no nationalism without socialism". A rift developed between the Dutch NSB--which incidentally was the largest Nazi organization outside Germany--and the original German Nazis. The Germans distrusted the Dutch because they regarded them as too liberal.And when a youth NSB contingent arrived in Germany to participate in one of the big Nuremburg rallies, they refused to give the "Heil Hitler"salute,and instead gave the traditional Dutch "Tot Zien"(or whatever it was). Contrary to this article,Mussert was not motivated by an insane desire to conquer the world,which is the usual Yankee propoganda. He simply awoke to the fact--as some people do--that the world is a battleground between private and public interests,or to put it another way,a battle between capitalism and Socialism. Well,Mussert decided he preferred the latter!

All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.

Posting Your Comments on this Topic

Your Name
Your Email
 Your email will not be published
Comment Type
Your Comments
 

Notes:

1. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. Please refrain from using strong language. HTML tags are not allowed. Your IP address will be tracked even if you remain anonymous. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB.

2. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ.

Search WW2DB
Anton Mussert Photo Gallery
Heinrich Himmler and Anton Mussert at Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 20 Jan 1941, photo 1 of 2
See all 2 photographs of Anton Mussert


Famous WW2 Quote
"Goddam it, you'll never get the Purple Heart hiding in a foxhole! Follow me!"

Captain Henry P. Jim Crowe, Guadalcanal, 13 Jan 1943


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!