Willem Aantjes
Encyclopedia
Willem Aantjes (born January 16, 1923 in Bleskensgraaf
) is a Dutch
politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal
(CDA) party. A prominent member the Christian Democratic Appeal
party.
of South Holland
. His father, Klaas Aantjes, was alderman
in Bleskensgraaf and from 1 October 1950 to 14 January 1951 mayor
of Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht
. His brother Jan Aantjes was also mayor of several municipalities. Aantjes attended the Marnix Gymnasium
in Rotterdam
.
On 8 February 1940, Aantjes started to work for the postal mail company PTT. On 19 July 1943, he was selected for Arbeitseinsatz
and sent to Güstrow
to deliver mail. Aantjes would later say he had not refuse selection, because the board of PTT would otherwise have sent a married employee in his place. In September 1944, Aantjes wanted to return to the Netherlands. Other Dutch forced laborers told him that if one joined the Germaanse-SS
, one could ask for an assignment in the Netherlands and be trained as a police officer
on the Avegoor estate near Ellecom. Aantjes decided he would follow this route, and enlisted in the SS. To his dismay, he was assigned to Landstorm Nederland
, a division of the Waffen-SS
and he received a uniform. After being transferred to Hoogeveen
, Aantjes refused to wear the uniform and to enlist in Landstorm Nederland. He was arrested and imprisoned in Port Natal near Assen
, an abandoned psychiatric hospital that had been turned into a work camp by the Nazis.
After the war ended in May 1945, Aantjes enrolled at the University of Utrecht
to study law
. He never mentioned his enlisting in the Germaanse-SS to anyone.
(ARP) in 1959. He was offered the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in 1967. He turned it down, because several party members knew enough about his war past to object to his candidacy in public. On 6 July 1971, Aantjes became leader of the ARP group.
Aantjes played an important part in the fusion of the Anti Revolutionary Party (ARP), the Christian Historical Union
(CHU) and the Catholic People's Party
(KVP) into the Christian Democratic Appeal
(CDA). His address to the first joint congress of the three parties, which was held in 1975, has become known as the "Sermon on the Mount
". After the Dutch general election of 1977
, Aantjes was offered the Ministry of Justice
in the first cabinet
of Prime Minister Dries van Agt
. Again, Aantjes refused, and used his continuing involvement in the development of the CDA party as reason for his refusal. He then became the first leader of the CDA party in the House of Representatives on 20 December 1977.
of the Dutch Institute for War Documentation announced in a press conference that Aantjes had signed up for the Waffen-SS
in World War II
, and that he had been a camp guard in Port Natal. Aantjes, at that time leader of the CDA party in the House of Representatives, resigned his position as parliamentary party leader and member of the House of Representatives the next day. Later it turned out that De Jong had confused the Waffen SS with the Germaansche SS
. Furthermore he had misinterpreted the motivations of Aantjes' behaviour. Aantjes had joined the Germaansche SS because he believed that this was the only legal way to escape from forced labor
in Güstrow
. De Jong mistakenly assumed that Aantjes had joined the Germaansche SS out of mere opportunism, sympathy for the Nazi ideology or the Dutch collaborating fascist NSB party.
Bleskensgraaf
Bleskensgraaf is a town in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Graafstroom, and lies about 10 km northeast of Dordrecht. It has an area of 1272 hectares. On the 1st of January 2009 Bleskensgraaf and Hofwegen had 2797 inhabitants in 936 residencesUntil 1855,...
) is a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
(CDA) party. A prominent member the Christian Democratic Appeal
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
party.
Early life
Willem Aantjes was born in the Dutch ProvinceProvinces of the Netherlands
A Dutch province represents the administrative layer in between the national government and the local municipalities, having the responsibility for matters of subnational or regional importance. The government of each province consists of three major parts: the Provinciale Staten which is the...
of South Holland
South Holland
South Holland is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is The Hague and its largest city is Rotterdam.South Holland is one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in the world...
. His father, Klaas Aantjes, was alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in Bleskensgraaf and from 1 October 1950 to 14 January 1951 mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands. It is located in the Dutch province of South Holland, on the island of IJsselmonde, and borders with Zwijndrecht, Ridderkerk, and the Noord River. The jurisdiction of the municipality covers an area of 11.99 km² of...
. His brother Jan Aantjes was also mayor of several municipalities. Aantjes attended the Marnix Gymnasium
Marnix Gymnasium
The Marnix Gymnasium is a secondary school located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The school is named after Philips of Marnix, lord of Saint-Aldegonde. It teaches only the highest variant of secondary education in the Netherlands and prepares students for a tertiary education at Dutch...
in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
.
On 8 February 1940, Aantjes started to work for the postal mail company PTT. On 19 July 1943, he was selected for Arbeitseinsatz
Arbeitseinsatz
Arbeitseinsatz was forced labour during World War II when German men were called up for military service and German authorities rounded up labourers, some from Germany but more from the occupied territories, to fill in the vacancies...
and sent to Güstrow
Güstrow
Güstrow is a town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany the capital of the district of Güstrow. It has a population of 30,500 and is the seventh largest town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Since 2006 Güstrow has the official suffix Barlachstadt.-Geography:The town of Güstrow is located...
to deliver mail. Aantjes would later say he had not refuse selection, because the board of PTT would otherwise have sent a married employee in his place. In September 1944, Aantjes wanted to return to the Netherlands. Other Dutch forced laborers told him that if one joined the Germaanse-SS
Nederlandsche SS
The Nederlandsche SS was formed on September 11, 1940. On November 1, 1942 the name was changed to Germaansche SS in Nederland . The Nederlandsche SS in total counted circa 7,000 members and was primarily a political formation. In addition it served as a reservoir for the Waffen-SS...
, one could ask for an assignment in the Netherlands and be trained as a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
on the Avegoor estate near Ellecom. Aantjes decided he would follow this route, and enlisted in the SS. To his dismay, he was assigned to Landstorm Nederland
SS Volunteer Grenadier Brigade Landstorm Nederland
The 34th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Landstorm Nederland. was a Waffen SS Division during World War II. It was formed by the converting the SS Volunteer Grenadier-Brigade Landstorm Nederland into a division...
, a division of the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
and he received a uniform. After being transferred to Hoogeveen
Hoogeveen
Hoogeveen is a municipality and a town in the northeastern Netherlands.- Population centres :Elim, Fluitenberg, Hoogeveen and Noordscheschut, which still have the canals which used to be throughout the town...
, Aantjes refused to wear the uniform and to enlist in Landstorm Nederland. He was arrested and imprisoned in Port Natal near Assen
Assen
Assen is a municipality and a city in the north eastern Netherlands, capital of the province of Drenthe. It received city rights in 1809. Assen's main claim to fame is the TT Circuit Assen the motorcycle racing circuit, where on the last Saturday in June the Dutch TT is run...
, an abandoned psychiatric hospital that had been turned into a work camp by the Nazis.
After the war ended in May 1945, Aantjes enrolled at the University of Utrecht
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
to study law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. He never mentioned his enlisting in the Germaanse-SS to anyone.
Politics
Aantjes became a member of the House of Representatives for the Anti Revolutionary PartyAnti Revolutionary Party
The Anti Revolutionary Party was a Dutch Protestant Christian democratic political party. The ARP is one of the predecessors of the Christian Democratic Appeal. After 1917 the party never received more than twenty percent of the vote.-History before 1879:The anti-revolutionary parliamentary caucus...
(ARP) in 1959. He was offered the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in 1967. He turned it down, because several party members knew enough about his war past to object to his candidacy in public. On 6 July 1971, Aantjes became leader of the ARP group.
Aantjes played an important part in the fusion of the Anti Revolutionary Party (ARP), the Christian Historical Union
Christian Historical Union
The Christian Historical Union was a Dutch conservative Protestant political party. The CHU is one of the predecessors of the Christian Democratic Appeal.-History before 1908:...
(CHU) and the Catholic People's Party
Catholic People's Party
The Catholic People's Party was a Catholic Christian democratic Dutch political party. During its entire existence, the party was in government. The party is one of the precursors of the Christian Democratic Appeal.- 1945-1965 :The KVP was founded on 22 December, 1945...
(KVP) into the Christian Democratic Appeal
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
(CDA). His address to the first joint congress of the three parties, which was held in 1975, has become known as the "Sermon on the Mount
Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus, which emphasizes his moral teaching found in the Gospel of Matthew...
". After the Dutch general election of 1977
Dutch general election, 1977
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 25, 1977....
, Aantjes was offered the Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice (Netherlands)
The Ministry of Security and Justice is the Dutch ministry of justice. Until 14 October 2010, the ministry was just called Ministry of Justice , but at the start of the Rutte cabinet, the name changed because it had taken over some public safety duties from the Ministry of the Interior...
in the first cabinet
Netherlands cabinet Van Agt-1
The first Van Agt cabinet was a right-wing coalition of the CDA and the VVD. The Labour Party was the largest party after the elections, but the demands of Labour leader Joop den Uyl were too great for Christian-Democrat Dries van Agt, who formed a coalition with right-wing liberal Hans Wiegel...
of Prime Minister Dries van Agt
Dries van Agt
Andreas Antonius Maria "Dries" van Agt is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from December 19, 1977, until November 4, 1982....
. Again, Aantjes refused, and used his continuing involvement in the development of the CDA party as reason for his refusal. He then became the first leader of the CDA party in the House of Representatives on 20 December 1977.
World War II controversy
On 6 November 1978, dr. Loe de JongLoe de Jong
Louis de Jong was a Dutch journalist and historian specialising in the history of the Netherlands in World War II and the Dutch resistance....
of the Dutch Institute for War Documentation announced in a press conference that Aantjes had signed up for the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
in 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...
, and that he had been a camp guard in Port Natal. Aantjes, at that time leader of the CDA party in the House of Representatives, resigned his position as parliamentary party leader and member of the House of Representatives the next day. Later it turned out that De Jong had confused the Waffen SS with the Germaansche SS
Nederlandsche SS
The Nederlandsche SS was formed on September 11, 1940. On November 1, 1942 the name was changed to Germaansche SS in Nederland . The Nederlandsche SS in total counted circa 7,000 members and was primarily a political formation. In addition it served as a reservoir for the Waffen-SS...
. Furthermore he had misinterpreted the motivations of Aantjes' behaviour. Aantjes had joined the Germaansche SS because he believed that this was the only legal way to escape from forced labor
Arbeitseinsatz
Arbeitseinsatz was forced labour during World War II when German men were called up for military service and German authorities rounded up labourers, some from Germany but more from the occupied territories, to fill in the vacancies...
in Güstrow
Güstrow
Güstrow is a town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany the capital of the district of Güstrow. It has a population of 30,500 and is the seventh largest town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Since 2006 Güstrow has the official suffix Barlachstadt.-Geography:The town of Güstrow is located...
. De Jong mistakenly assumed that Aantjes had joined the Germaansche SS out of mere opportunism, sympathy for the Nazi ideology or the Dutch collaborating fascist NSB party.