Reimond Tollenaere
Encyclopedia
Reimond Tollenaere was an SS
-Untersturmführer
(Second Lieutenant) and member of the Vlaams Nationaal Verbond (V.N.V.), a right-wing Flemish nationalist party.
Tollenaere became active in the Flemish nationalist movement during his law studies at the university of Ghent
. He became propaganda leader of the V.N.V. and in 1936 he became a member of parliament. At the beginning of World War II
in May 1940 he was arrested by the Belgian
authorities and spent some time in prison in France
. After his liberation he resumed his political activities. In 1941 after the beginning of operation Barbarossa
, the German invasion in the Soviet Union
, Tollenaere became active in the recruitment of Flemish volunteers for the Eastern front. He was a volunteer himself and as such he died as a result of friendly fire
of the Spanish Blue Division on the Leningrad
front, in the region of Veliky Novgorod
in January 1942.
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
-Untersturmführer
Untersturmführer
Untersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the German Schutzstaffel first created in July 1934. The rank can trace its origins to the older SA rank of Sturmführer which had existed since the founding of the SA in 1921...
(Second Lieutenant) and member of the Vlaams Nationaal Verbond (V.N.V.), a right-wing Flemish nationalist party.
Tollenaere became active in the Flemish nationalist movement during his law studies at the university of Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
. He became propaganda leader of the V.N.V. and in 1936 he became a member of parliament. At the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in May 1940 he was arrested by the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
authorities and spent some time in prison in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. After his liberation he resumed his political activities. In 1941 after the beginning of operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
, the German invasion in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, Tollenaere became active in the recruitment of Flemish volunteers for the Eastern front. He was a volunteer himself and as such he died as a result of friendly fire
Friendly fire
Friendly fire is inadvertent firing towards one's own or otherwise friendly forces while attempting to engage enemy forces, particularly where this results in injury or death. A death resulting from a negligent discharge is not considered friendly fire...
of the Spanish Blue Division on the Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
front, in the region of Veliky Novgorod
Veliky Novgorod
Veliky Novgorod is one of Russia's most historic cities and the administrative center of Novgorod Oblast. It is situated on the M10 federal highway connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg. The city lies along the Volkhov River just below its outflow from Lake Ilmen...
in January 1942.