I was recently asked my opinion about the Belgian “SS” member – Leon Degrelle – and the claim that he met Winston Churchill in 1936 (when he was the leader of a far-right Catholic political party). My immediate reaction was to recall the opinion of British Journalist – Alexander Werth – who described Degrelle as being a ‘common criminal’ (as were most ‘Volunteer’ members of the despicable “SS”). The claim regarding Degrelle meeting Churchill in 1936 derives from the back dustcover of his biographical book entitled ‘Campaign in Russia – The Waffen SS on the Eastern Front’ – published in the English language by the so-called ‘Institute for Historical Review’, although in the UK this was issued as a ‘Crecy Publishers’ imprint. This book was originally published in the French language in 1969 – under the title ‘Front de l’est, 1941-1945’ or ‘Eastern Front – 1941-1945’. My research has revealed that Leon Degrelle does NOT make this claim in any version of his autobiography – and that there is no evidence in the Churchill Archive of such a meeting taking place. Therefore, the claim that Degrelle met Churchill in 1936 (on his way to meeting Hitler and Mussolini) is demonstrably ‘FALSE’.
The claim that Leon Degrelle met Winston Churchill in 1936 originates through either:
a) Institute for Historical Review (USA)
b) Crecy Publishers (UK)
c) Both the Institute for Historical Review (USA) and the Crecy Publishers (UK)
Agencies, institutes and archives I have approached to solve this issue:
1) US Holocaust Memorial Museum Request Number: 184263 – Fwd: Contact the Museum Form Submission – August 16, 2023 10:25:23 (Email)
Dear Adrian Chan-Wyles,
Neither of the 2 biographies of Leon Degrelle in our collection mention a meeting with Churchill, although one of them starts in 1940.
I suggest looking at Churchill’s daily diary for 1936 to see if he mentions Degrelle.
Best wishes,
Megan Lewis, reference librarian
2) INTERNATIONAL CHURCHILL SOCIETY – Director of Digital – Thursday, 17 August 2023 23:27 (Email)
Dear M. Adrian Chan-Wyles,
I suggest going to the Churchill Archives Centre at Cambridge for your query. The archivists there are very helpful and may be able to research the particular day in 1936 that would be of help.
They can be reached on archives@chu.cam.ac.uk
John David Olsen
3) Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge, CB3 0DS – Friday, 18 August 2023 09:34 (Email)
Dear Mr Chan-Wyles
I’m afraid there’s no record of a meeting; I have checked the catalogue, Churchill’s engagements for the second half of 1936, and the official biography, but there’s no mention of Degrelle anywhere.
Sorry we couldn’t help,
Best wishes
Katharine Thomson
Archivist
Conclusion:
The evidence suggests that this assertion is a biographical error made in the Crecy Publication imprint – but this assumption requires further testing. To this end I have written to the Institute for Historical Review and Crecy Publications and will update this article should I receive a reply. The general reader should be assured that I in no way support Holocaust Denial or any form of far-right historical revisionism. However, as these entities are responsible for this misunderstanding, what each institute has to say must be heard. The clear and present danger for this (and future) generations is that this type of inverted and deluded thinking is deliberately targeting the youth of the world and is attempting to revitalise and reinvigorate the Hitlerite mania that caused so much death and destruction between 1933-1945! Logic and reason must cut a straight course through all the far-right lies. Winston Churchill was certainly no angel – but when push came to shove – he led the UK in the fight against Hitler and everything he stood for. The idea that he met Degrelle is one deviation that Churchill cannot be accused of carrying out!
NOTE: As a comedic aside – I asked the 84-year old right-wing ‘historian’ (and Holocaust Denier) David Irving what he thought of the idea that Churchill met Degrelle? – working from the assumption that the far-right believe this to be true. His response to me is as follows:
‘I’m sorry, I am not an expert in Benito Mussolini.’
UPDATE: (21.8.2023) – Crecy Pubslishers:
Question: What are Crecy Publisher’s ‘sources’ to support the statement that Degrelle Met Churchill in 1936?
Enquiry: Meeting Between Leon Degrelle and Winston Churchill
Monday, 21 August 2023 11:49 (Email)
Hi Adrian,
Unfortunately, I cannot find any information about that event nor can I find a reference for it. I apologise for not being able to help you and I hope you are able to find the information you are looking for.
Kind regards,
Hannah Winstanley
Publishing Assistant
1a Ringway Trading Estate
Shadowmoss Rd
Manchester
M22 5LH
Tel 0161 499 6121 (direct dial)
Tel 0161 499 0024 (main office)
Update: (23.8.2023) – Institute for Historical Research (US)
Question: What are IHR’s ‘sources’ to support the statement that Degrelle Met Churchill in 1936?
Enquiry: Meeting Between Leon Degrelle and Winston Churchill
Wednesday, 23 August 2023 05:59 (Email)
Dear Adrian Chan-Wyles,
Thank you for your message.
You brought to my attention the claim, apparently from the dust jacket of an unauthorized edition of Leon Degrelle’s memoir, that Degrelle met with Winston Churchill. I am not aware of any evidence to support this claim. Indeed, I’m confident that if such a meeting had actually taken place, either Degrelle or Churchill, or both, would have at least mentioned it somewhere in their prolific writings.
The “About the Author” text that you sent as an attachment, is from an edition of Degrelle’s wartime memoir that was not issued or even authorized by the Institute for Historical Review. It is from a “pirate” edition that was published in England without our authorization.
Sincerely,
Mark Weber
INSTITUTE FOR HISTORICAL REVIEW
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 