Emiel Francken (Anti-Joods Front) and Lode Welter archives

Collection description

Collection

Country:: Belgium

Holding institution:: Centre for Historical Research and Documentation on War and Contemporary Society

Holding institution (official language):: Centre d’Études et de Documentation Guerre et Sociétés Contemporaines

Postal address:: Luchtvaartsquare 29 / Square de l’Aviation 29, 1070 Bruxelles (Anderlecht)

Phone number:: +32 (0)2 556 92 11

Web address:: http://www.cegesoma.be/

Email:: cegesoma@cegesoma.be

Reference number:: CHRDWConS-Brussels-AA 1314/92, AA 1314/173-178

Title:: Emiel Francken (Anti-Joods Front) and Lode Welter archives

Title (official language):: Archief Emiel Francken (antijoods front) en Lode Welter

Creator/accumulator:: Auditoraat-Generaal [bij het Militair Gerechtshof]; Auditorat-Général [près la Cour Militaire]

Date(s):: 1913/1944

Language:: German; Dutch; Flemish; French; Yiddish

Extent:: 7 boxes

Scope and content:: These files – the boxes nos. 92 and 173-178 from the fonds “Overtuigingsstukken gevoegd bij de procesbundels betreffende gevallen van collaboratie met de bezettende overheden” – relate to the Anti-Joods Front and its driving forces Emiel Francken and Lode Welter. We note personal documents from both individuals, correspondence with extreme right organisations and individuals, a large amount of antisemitic propaganda (leaflets, typescripts of books and articles, drafts as well as published versions) and documentation (press clippings, articles, leaflets, periodicals) on various subjects including (anti)communism and Judaism (individuals, refugees, organisations etc). In addition we also find archival material (correspondence, statutes, minutes of meetings) of various fascist organisations including the Nationaal Corporatief Arbeidersverbond, the Anti-Joods Front, Verbond “Ras en Vaderland” and others.

Administrative/biographical history:: Already in the Dutch period, the Krijgsauditoraat (Military Prosecutor’s Office)(1814-2003) operated as the military counterpart of the Openbaar Ministerie (Public Prosecutor’s Office). After the independence of Belgium, the auditeur-generaal continued to represent the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Militair Gerechtshof (‘Military Court’)(as well as at the krijgsraden or court-martials, for a long time). The competences of the Auditoraat-Generaal were therefore similar to those of the civilian prosecutor’s offices, but adapted to military justice: among others, supervision of the general criminal and prosecution policy, supervision of the military prosecutor’s offices and court clerks, … The Auditoraat-Generaal was assisted by a First Advocate-General as well as several Advocates-General and substitutes. The services of the Auditoraat-Generaal comprised, besides a secretariat, library, logistics and personnel services also different sections competent in criminal matters, as well as an efficient documentation service. By virtue of the law of 10 April 2003, the Auditoraat-Generaal was abolished in peacetime. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has taken over its duties. After the Second World War, the Auditoraat-Generaal played an important role notably in identifying and prosecuting collaborators, and in documenting war crimes committed on Belgian territory. (R. Depoortere, La juridiction militaire en Belgique 1796-1998. Compétences et organisation, production et conservation des archives, Miscellanea Archivistica Studia no. 115, Brussel, ARA-AGR, 1999; K. Velle & P. Drossens, “De rechterlijke macht”, in P. van den Eeckhout & G. Vanthemsche (ed.), Bronnen voor de studie van het hedendaagse België 19e – 21e eeuw. Tweede herziene en uitgebreide uitgave, Brussel, Koninklijke Commissie voor Geschiedenis / Commission Royale d’Histoire, 2009, pp. 619-650.)

Access points: locations:: Belgium

Access points: persons/families:: Francken, Emiel; Welter, Lode

Subject terms:: Antisemitism; Antisemitism--Antisemitic propaganda; Antisemitism--Antisemitic publications; Fascism; Fascism--Fascist parties and organisations; Newspaper clippings; Personal records

Finding aids:: A. Vrints, Auditoraat-Generaal – Overtuigingsstukken. Dossier Anti-Joods Front., Brussel, CEGESOMA, 2002 (list AA 1314/92) and L. Saerens, Inventaris Archief Emiel Francken (antijoodsch front) en Lode Welter, Brussel, CEGESOMA, 2011 (list AA 1314/92, 173-178).

Yerusha Network member:: State Archives of Belgium

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