Max Blokzijl

Vocation

Notable

Dutch journalist and singer, who was sentenced to death for his collaboration with Nazi Germany. Blokzijl was the son of Lieutenant Eduard Karel Blokzijl and Anna Elizabeth Hoeffelman. He spent his youth in Den Haag where followed the Hogere Burgerschool. In 1903 he became a journalist of the Algemeen Handelsblad at Amsterdam. From 1907 to 1913 he formed a successful musical duo with journalist and singer Jean-Louis Pisuisse, which allowed them to travel through Europe and Asia, combining singing with journalism. They invented the word "levenslied", the Dutch version of the French chanson. In 1913 Blokzijl went as a journal correspondent to Berlin. In Aug 1914 he was called to arms in the Netherlands. After three years military service he became an officer like his father. From Oct 1917 till end 1918 he was a war correspondent in France, Poland and Russia. End 1918 he returned to Berlin to be the correspondent of the Algemeen Handelsblad, a post he would held till the Germans occupied Holland in May 1940. Around 1933 Blokzijl became fascinated by National Socialist Movement. In 1935 he became a secret member of NSB movement of Anton Mussert. He wrote anonymously in the right wing periodical De Waag, as the Algemeen Handelsblad was very critical toward Nazi Germany. During the German occupation he made a fast career and became an instrument in the Nazification of the Dutch Press. He became propaganda chef for the NSB puppet regime. He became famous and hated for his 800 propaganda talks about the New Order for the Dutch radio, that attracted friend and enemy in an uncertain country. The talks started 12 May 1941 and ended on Dutch Liberation Day 5 May 1945. Only on "Dolle Dinsdag" (Mad Tuesday, pseudo Liberation Day, 5 September 1944), the day after the Allies had conquered Antwerp he and many Dutch National Socialists (NSB) party members fled as the rumour spread that the Liberation of Holland was at hand. After the defeat of the Germans in Stalingrad (1943), Blokland even more defended the Nazi's, as the alternative would be a Communist and anti-Christian Europe. Blokzijl was the first Dutch collaborator to be brought to the Special Court for War Crimes (Bijzonder Gerechtshof) in Den Haag (11 Sept 1945). Holland was still in a liberation mood and the Dutch people wanted to see quick justice done. The Court was crowded by journalists. Blokzijl, once a popular singer and speaker, was now portrayed as the voice of the devil and enemy. He was sentenced to death because of high treason on the basis of the content of his propagandistic radio talks (25 September 1945). On 5 December 1945 the Court of Appeal rejected his protest that he only had pleaded for National Socialism as a political movement (having freedom of speech) and not for the crimes of Nazi Germany. On 16 March 1946 he was executed at the Waalsdorpervlakte, Den Haag. Personal Blokzijl married thrice, but got no children. On 8 Oct 1909 he married Elisabeth Maria Gerardina Horst, a pharmacist. After a divorce he married on 1 Aug 1912 Anna Elizabeth Henriette Jurgens (1889-1973), actress and writer. After a divorce (12 May 1914) he married on 29 June 1921 Hermine Eleonore Behle (1897-?). Link to Wikipedia