2. Preparations for the Second World War

In 1919, the sons of Loyola reaped the bitter fruits of their criminal politics. France had not succumbed to the “thorough bleeding”. The apostolic empire of the Hapsburgs, which they had encouraged to “punish the Serbians”, had disintegrated, liberating the Orthodox Slavs from the yoke of Rome. Russia, instead of coming back to the Roman fold, had become marxist, anti-clerical and officially atheistic. As for invincible Germany, it foundered in the chaos.

But the proud nature of the Company would never consider confessing a sin. When Benedict XV died, in 1922, it was ready to start again on a new basis. Is it not all-powerful in Rome?

Let us listen to M. Pierre Dominique: “The new pope Pius XI who is, according to some, a Jesuit, tries to patch things up. He asks the Jesuit Father d’Herbigny to go to Russia, in an attempt to rally whatever is left of Catholicism, and especially to see what could be done. Vague and big hope: to rally around the pontiff the persecuted Orthodox world.

“In Rome, there are thirty-nine ecclesiastical colleges, whose foundation marks the dates of great counter-offensives; most of these counter- offensives were Jesuitical in their working and direction: Germanic college (1552), English (1578), Irish (1628, re-established in 1826), Scottish (1600), North-American (1859), Canadian (1888), Ethiopian (1919, re-constituted in 1930).

“Pius XI creates the Russian college (Ponteficio collegio russo di S. Teresa del Bambino Gesu) and puts it under the Jesuits’ care. They also look after the Oriental Institute, the Institute of Saint-John Damascene, the Polish college, and later the Lithuanian college. Are these reminders of Father Possevino, Ivan the Terrible and the false Dimitri? The second of the three great objectives during Ignatius’ time takes first place. The Jesuits, once again, are the inspiring agents and performers in that great enterprise”.(19)

In the defeat they just suffered, the sons of Loyola can see a glimmer of some hope. The Russian revolution, by eliminating the Czar, protector of the Orthodox Church, had it not decapitated the great rival and helped the penetration of the Roman Church? We must strike while the iron is hot! The famous “Russicum” is created and its clandestine missionaries will take the Good News to this schismatic country.(19a) One century a f t e r their explusion by Czar Alexander the First, the Jesuits will again undertake the conquest of the Slav world. Since 1915, their general is Nalke von Ledochowski.

From M. Pierre Dominique again: “Some will say that I see Jesuits everywhere! But I am compelled to point out their presence and actions; to say that they were behind the monarchy of Alphonso XIII whose confessor was Father Lopez; that, when the Spanish monarchy was ended and their monasteries and colleges burned down, they were found again behind Gil Robles, then, when civil war broke out, behind Franco. In Portugal, they uphold Salazar. In Austria and Hungary, the Emperor Charles who was dethroned three times; (what part did they play in those attempts to regain the throne of Hungary? Who knows!) They kept the seat warm not knowing much for whom or what. Monsignor Seipel, Dolfuss and Schussnigg are from their ranks. They dream for a while of a great Germany, with a Catholic majority, to which the Austrians would necessarily belong: a modern version of the old 16th century alliance between the Wittelsbach and Hapsburg. In Italy, they support first of all Don Sturzo, founder of the popular party, then Mussolini… The Jesuit Father Tacchi Venturi, general-secretary of the Company, served as the middleman between Pius XI, whose confessors are Fathers Alissiardi and Celebrano (Jesuits), and Mussolini.

“The pope, in February 1929, at the time of the treaty of Lateran, calls Mussolini “the man whom Providence allowed us to meet”. Rome does not condemn what is commonly called the “Ethiopian aggression” and, in 1940, the Vatican is still Mussolini’s sincere friend.

“The Jesuits have their secret abode in it. From there, they survey the Universal Church with the cold and calculating eye of the politician”.(20) This is a perfect summary of the Jesuit activity between the two world wars. The “secret abode” of Loyola’s sons is the political brain of the Vatican. The confessors of Pius XI are Jesuits; those of his successor, Pius XII, will also be Jesuits and Germans for good measure. No matter if, because of it, the plot becomes evident: everything, it seems, is ready for revenge.

(19) and (20) Pierre Dominique, op.cit., pp.253, 254. (19a) See also Frederic Hoffet’s “L’Equivoque catholique et le nouveau clericalisme” (Fischbacher, Paris).

But, under the pontificate of Pius XI, it is the preparatory period. The Germanic “secular arm”, defeated, has dropped the sword. While waiting to put it back into its hands, we will prepare, in Europe, a field worth its future exploits, and first of all stop the threatening rise of democracy. Italy will be the first field of action. There is, there, a noisy socialist chief who gathers ex- servicemen around him. This man proclaims an apparently intrasigent doctrine, but he is ambitious and lucid enough to realise how precarious his position is, in spite of his extravagent boastings. Jesuit diplomacy will soon win him over to its side.

M. Francois Charles-Roux, of the Institute, who was our (i.e. French) ambassador to the Vatican at that time, says: “At the time when the future Duce was only a simple deputy, Cardinal Gasparri, secretary of State, had a secret interview with him… The fascist chief had immediately agreed that the pope should exercise a temporal sovereignty over a part of Rome… “When reporting to me about that interview, Cardinal Gasparri concluded: “With this promise, I was sure that, if this man came to power, we would succeed”. ”

“I will not mention his account of the negotiations between the secret agents of Pius XI and Mussolini…”(21)

These secret agents, the main one being the Jesuit Father Tacchi Venturi, fullfilled their mission extremely well. This is not surprising when we know that Father Tacchi Venturi was secretary of the Company of Jesus and Mussolini’s confessor at the same time. In fact, he was “directed” into this “cajolery” of the Fascist chief by the general of his Order, Halke von Ledochowski, as we are told by M. Gaston Gaillard.(22)

“On the 16th of November 1922, Parliament elected Mussolini by 306 votes against 116, and, in that meeting, one saw the Catholic group of don Sturzo, supposedly Christian-Democrat, voting unanimously for the first fascist government”.(23)

Ten years later, the same manoeuvre brought about a similar result in Germany. The Catholic “Zentrum” of Monsignor Kass assured, by its massive vote, the dictatorship of Nazism.

In fact, Italy had been, in 1922, the trial ground for the new formula of authoritarian conservatism: fascism, dressed up, when local circumstances demanded it, with some pseudo-socialism. From now on, all the efforts of the Vatican’s Jesuits will tend to spread this “doctrine” in Europe, the ambiguity of which is typical of them.

(21) Francois Charles-Roux: “Huit ans an Vatican”, Flammarion, Paris 1947, pp.47 ss (22) Gaston Gaillard, p.353 “La fin d’un temps” (Ed. Albert, Paris, 1933). (23) Pietro Nenni “Six ans de guerre civile en Italie” (Librairie Valois, Paris 1930, p. 146)

Even today, the collapse of Mussolini’s regime, nor the defeat, nor the ruins have been enough to discredit, to the eyes of Italy’s Christian democrats, the megalomaniac Dictator imposed on their country by the Vatican. Disowned only outwardly, his prestige remains intact in the hearts of the clerics. The following could be read in the press:

“We have decided: visitors coming to Rome for the Olympic Games, in 1960, will see the marble obelisk erected by Benito Mussolini to his own glory as it dominates, from the banks of the Tiber, the Olympic stadium. This memorial thirty-three meters high bears the inscription “Mussolini- Dux” and is decorated with mosaics and inscriptions praising fascism. The phrase “Long live the Duce” is repeated more than one hundred times and the slogan “Many enemies means much honour” several times as well. The monument has, on either side, marble blocks commemorating the main events of fascism, from the foundation of the publication “Popolo d’ltalia”, by Mussolini, until the establishment of the short-lived fascist empire, and including the war in Ethiopia. The obelisk was to be crowned with a gigantic statue of Mussolini, as a naked athlete, nearly one hundred metcrs high. But the regime collapsed before this strange project could be realised. “After a year of controversy, the Segni government has just decided that the duce’s obelisk should stay”.(24)

The war, the blood which flowed profusely, the tears and the ruins do not matter. They are mere trifles, small spots on the monument erected to t h e glory of “the man whom Providence allowed us to meet”, as he was described by Pius XI.

No shortcomings, mistakes or crimes can erase his main merit: the fact that he re-established the temporal power of the pope, proclaimed Roman Catholicism as the religion of the State, and gave the clergy, through laws still being enforced, complete power over the life of the nation.

It is to testify to this that Mussolini’s obelisk must stand in the heart of Rome, for the benefit of foreign tourists looking at it admiringly or ironically, and in the hope of better times which would allow the erection of the “naked athlete” one hundred meters high, symbolic champion of the Vatican.

The Lateran Treaty, by which Mussolini showed his gratitude to the papacy, gave the Holy See, apart from the payment of one thousand 750 million liras (i.e. £20,000,000) the temporal sovereignty over the territory of Vatican city. Monseigneur Cristiani, prelate of His Holiness, explains the significance of this event:

“It is certain that the Constitution of the Vatican city was a matter of prime importance in order to establish the papacy as a political power”.(25)

(24) “Press italienne, New York Herald Tribune, Time and Paris-Presse”, 3rd of November 1959. (25) Monseigneur Cristiani: “Le Vatican politique”, Imprimatur 15th of June 1956 (Ed. du Centurion, Paris 1957, p. 136).

We will not waste time trying to conciliate this explicit confession with the phrase so often heard that “the Roman Church is not involved in politics”. We will only point out the unique position in the world of a state which is secular and sacred, of equivocal nature as well, and the consequences of that position.

What are the Jesuitical crafty tricks used by this power which, depending on circumstances, makes use of her temporal or spiritual character, to be exempted from all the rules laid down by international laws? The nations themselves have lent their hand to this trickery and, by doing that, helped its penetration into their midst, the Trojan horse of clericalism. “The Pope seemed to identify himself too much with the dictators”(26), wrote M. Francois Charles-Roux, French ambassador to the Vatican. But could it be otherwise when the Holy See itself had raised these men to power? Mussolini, the prototype, was the inaugurator of that series of “providential” men, these sword-bearers who would prepare the revenge for 1918. From Italy, where it prospered so well under the care of the Jesuit Father Tacchi Venturi and his acolytes, fascism was soon to be exported to Germany. “Hitler receives his impetus from Mussolini; the ideal of the Nazi s is the same as in Italy… Since Mussolini is at the head, all the sympathies are for Berlin… In 1923, his Fascism merges with National- Socialism; he becomes friends with Hitler to whom he supplies arms and money”.(27)

At that time, Monseigneur Pacelli, future Pius XII and, then, the Curia’s best diplomat, is Nuncio in Munich, capital of Catholic Bavaria. There, the star of the future German dictator starts to rise; he is also a Catholic, like his most important associates. Of that country, cradle of Nazism, M. Maurice Laporte tells us: “Its two enemies are called Protestantism and Democracy”. Prussia’s anxiety is therefore understandable.

“It is easy to guess what kind of special care the Vatican gives Bavaria where Hitler’s National-Socialism recruits its strongest contingents”.(28) To take from “heretic” Prussia the control of the German “secular arm” and transfer it to Catholic Bavaria; what a dream! Monseigneur Pacelli puts all in his power to realise it, acting in concert with the chief of the Company of Jesus.

(26) Francois Charles-Roux, op.cit., p.231. (27) Antonio Aniante: “Mussolini” (Grasset, Paris 1932, pp.123 ss.). (28) Maurice Laporte: “Sous le casque d’acier” (A. Redier, Paris 1931, p. 105).

“After the other war (1914-1918), the Jesuits’ general, Halke von Ledochowski, had conceived a vast plan… the creation, with or without emperor Hapsburg, of a federation of the Catholic nations in central and eastern Europe: Austria, Slovakia, Bohemia, Poland, Hungary, Croatia and, of course, Bavaria.

“This new central Empire had to fight on two fronts: on the eastern side against the Soviet Union, on the western side against Prussia, Pro- testant Great-Britain and republican, rebellious France. At that time, Monseigneur Pacelli, future Pius XII, was nuncio in Munich, then in Berlin, and an intimate friend of Cardinal Faulhaber, von Ledochowski’s main collaborator. The Ledochowski plan was the dream of Pius XII’s youth”.(29)

But was it only a dream of youth? The “Mittel-Europa” Hitler tried to organise was very similar to that plan, apart from the presence, in that block, of Lutheran Prussia, a not very dangerous minority, and the recognised zones of influence which—maybe temporarally—belonged to Italy. In fact, it was the Ledochowski plan, adapted to the needs of the time, which the Fuhrer was trying to realise, under the patronage of the Holy See, with the help of Franz von Papen, secret chamberlain of the pope, and the nuncio to Munich, then Berlin, Monseigneur Pacelli. M. Francois Charles-Roux writes: “During the contemporary epoch world politics never felt the Catholic intervention more than during the ministry of Monseigneur Pacelli”.(30)

And from M. Joseph Rovan: “Now, Catholic Bavaria… is going to welcome and protect all those who sow trouble, all those confederates and assassins of de la Saint-Vehme”.(31)

From amongst these agitators, the choice of Germany’s “regenerators” will fall upon Hitler, who is destined to triumph over the “democratic mistakes” under the Holy Father’s standard. Of course, he is a Catholic, like his principal collaborators.

“The Nazi regime is like a return to the government of southern Germany. The names and origins of its chiefs demonstrate it: Hitler is specifically Austrian, Goering is Bavarian, Goebbels is Rhenish, and so on”.(32)

In 1924, the Holy See signs a Concordat with Bavaria. In 1927, we can read in “Cologne’s Gazette”: “Pius XI is certainly the most German pope who ever sat on the throne of Saint-Peter”.

His successor, Pius XII, will rob him of this palm. But, for the time being, he pursues his diplomatic career—rather his political career—in this Germany for which, as he later told Ribbentrop, “he would always have a special affection”.

(29) VLa Tribune des Nations”, 30th of June 1950.
(30) Francois Charles-Roux, op.cit., p.93.
(31) Joseph Rovan, op.cit., p.195.
(32) Gonzague de Reynold: “D’ou vient l’Allemagne” (Plon, Paris 1939, p. 185).

Promoted nuncio in Berlin, he works, with Franz von Papen, at destroying the Weimar Republic. On the 20th of July 1932, a state of siege is proclaimed in Berlin and the ministers expelled “manu militari”. It is the first step towards hitlerian dictatorship. New elections are prepared which wi l l establish the success of the Nazis.

“With Hitler’s approval, Goering and Strasser got in contact with Monseigneur Kaas, party chief of the Catholic Centre”.(33) Cardinal Bertram, archbishop of Breslau and primate of Germany, declared: “We, Christians and Catholics, do not recognise any religion or race…”. With many other bishops, he tried to warn the faithful against “the pagan ideal of the Nazis”. Obviously, this prelate had not understood papal politics, but he was soon going to be taught.

“The “Mercure de France” gave an excellent study in 1934: “In the beginning of 1932, German Catholics did not consider they had lost the cause but, in the spring, their chiefs seemed somewhat irresolute: they had been told that “the Pope was personally in favour of Hitler”. “That Pius XI was sympathetic to Hitler should not surprise us… For him, Europe could settle down again only through Germany’s hegemony… The Vatican had thought of changing the centre of gravity of the Reich, through the Anschluss, for a long time, and the Company of Jesus was openly working towards that aim (Ledochowski’s plan), especially in Austria. We know how Pius XI depended on Austria to make what he called his politics triumph. What had to be prevented was the hegemony of Protestant Prussia and, as the Reich was the one to dominate Europe… a Reich had to be rebuilt where the Catholics would be masters… “In March 1933, the German bishops, meeting at Fulda, took advantage of the speech Hitler gave at Potsdam to declare: We must admit that the highest representative of the government of the Reich, who is at the same lime the head of the national-socialist movement, has made public and solemn declarations, by which the inviolability of the Catholic doctrine, the work and unchangeable rights of the Church are recognised… “Von Papen leaves for Rome. This man, whose past is so wicked, becomes a pious pilgrim with the mission to conclude a Concordat (for the whole of Germany) with the Pope. He too will have to emulate Mussolini’s overtures towards the Vatican.(34)

In fact, the same happens in both countries: in Italy, the Catholic party of don Sturzo ensures Mussolini’s accession to power; in Germany, the “Zentrum” of Monseigneur Kaas does the same for Hitler—and, on both occasions, a Concordat seals the pact.

(33) Walter Gorlitz and Herbert A. Quint: “Adolf Hitler” (Amiot, Dumont, Paris 1953, p.32). (34) “Mercure de France”; “Pius XI and Hitler” (15th of January 1934).

M. Joseph Rovan admits this as follows: “Thanks to von Papen, deputy at the Zentrum since 1920 and owner of the party’s official publication ‘Germania’. Hitler came to power on the 30th of January 1933… “German political Catholicism, instead of becoming Christian Democrat, was eventually made to confer full powers on Hitler, on the 26th of March 1933… To vote in favour of full powers, a two-thirds majority was necessary and the votes of the “Zentrum” were indispensable to obtain it”.(35) The same author adds: “In the correspondance and declarations of ecclesiastical dignitaries, we will always find, under the Nazi regime, the fervent approval of the bishops”.(36)

This fervour is easily explained when we read the following from von Papen: “The general terms of the Concordat were more favourable than all other similar agreements signed by the Vatican”, and, “the Chancellor Hitler asked me to assure the papal secretary of State (Cardinal Pacelli) that he would immediately muzzle the anticlerical clan”.(37)

This was not an empty promise. Already during that year (1933), apart from the massacre of Jews and assassinations perpetrated by the Nazis. there were 45 concentration camps in Germany, with 40,000 prisoners of various political opinions, but mostly liberals. Franz von Papen, the pope’s secret chamberlain, defined perfectly the deep meaning of the pact between the Vatican and Hitler by this phrase worth engraving: “Nazism is a Christian reaction against the spirit of 1789”.

In 1937, Pius XI, under the pressure of world opinion, “condemned” the racial theories as incompatible with Catholic doctrine and principles, in what his apologists amusingly call the “terrible” encyclical letter “Mit brennender Sorge”. Nazi racism is condemned, but not Hitler, its promoter: “Distinguio”. And the Vatican takes care not to denounce the “advantagous” Concordat concluded, four years earlier, with the Nazi Reich.

While the cross of Christ and the Swastika were co-operating in Germany. Benito Mussolini set forth on the easy conquest of Ethiopia, with the Holy Father’s blessing.

“… The Sovereign Pontiff had not condemened Mussolini’s politics and had left the Italian clergy fully free to co-operate with the Fascist government… The ecclesiastics, from the priests of humble parishes to the cardinals, spoke in favour of the war…

(35) and (36) Joseph Rovan, op.cit., pp. 197,209,214.
(37) Franz von Papen, op.cit., p.207.
(38) The enthusiasm of Cardinal Schuster is understandable as the Company of Jesus had suffered the same fate, in Abyssinia, as in the European countries. With the help of usurper Segud, whom they had converted and put on the throne, the sons of Loyola tried to impose Catholicism to the whole country, provoking uprisings and bloody repressions; but they were finally expelled by the Negus Basilides. (Note from the author).

“One of the most striking examples came from the Cardinal-Archbishop of Milan, Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster (Jesuit), who went as far as calling this campaign “a Catholic crusade”.(38) “Italy”, clarified Pius XI, “thinks this war is justified because of a pressing need for expansion…” “Ten days later, when speaking to an audience of ex-servicemen, Pius XI expressed the wish that the legitime claims of a great and noble nation from which, he reminded them he himself descended, would be satisfied”.(39) The Fascist aggression against Albania, on Good Friday in 1939, enjoyed the same “understanding”, as we are told by M. Camille Cianfarra:

“The Italian occupation of Albania was very advantagous for the Church… Out of a population of one million Albanian people, which became Italian subjects, 68% were Moslems, 20% Greek Orthodox and only 12% Roman Catholics… From the political point of view, the annexation of the country by a Catholic power was bound to improve the position of the Church and please the Vatican”.(40)

In Spain, the establishment of the republic had not ceased to be resented by the Roman Curia as a personal offence. “I never dared mention the Spanish question to Pius XI”, wrote M. Francois Charles-Roux. “He probably would have reminded me that the Church’s interests, in that great and historical land of Spain, were a matter for the papacy only”.(41) So, this “protected hunting-ground” was soon provided with a dictator similar to those who had been already successful in Italy and Germany. The adventure of General Franco only started in mid-July 1936 but, on the 21st of March 1934, the “Pact of Rome” had been sealed, between Mussolini and the chiefs of Spain’s reactionary parties, one of whom was M. Goicoechea, chief of the “Renovacion Espanola”. By this pact, the Italian fascist party undertook to supply the rebels with money, war material, arms and ammunition. We know that they even did more than what they had promised, and that Mussolini and Hitler kept on “refuelling” the Spanish rebellion with material, aviation and “volunteers”.

As for the Vatican, oblivious of its own principle that the faithful must respect the established government, it oppressed Spain with its threats. “The Pope excommunicated the heads of the Spanish Republic and declared spiritual war between the Holy See and Madrid. Then he produced the encyclical letter ‘Dilectissimi Nobis’… Archbishop Goma, new primate of Spain, proclaimed the civil war”.(42)

(39) and (40) Camille Cianfarra: “La Guerre et le Vatican” (Le Portulan, Paris 1946, pp.46,47,48).
Note from the author: Cardinal Schuster was also rector of this strange institution: “L’Ecole de mystique fasciste” (school of fascist mysticism)
(41) Francois Charles-Roux, op.cit., p.181.
(42) Andre Ribard: “1960 et le secret du Vatican” (Libr. Robin, Paris 1954, p.45.)

The prelates of His Holiness joyfully accepted the horrors of this fratricidal conflict, and Monsignor Gomara, bishop of Carthagene, interpreted admirably their apostolic sentiments when he said: “Blessed are the cannons if, in the breaches they open, the Gospel springs up!”

The Vatican even recognised Franco’s government, on the 3rd of August 1937, twenty months before the end of the civil war.

Belgium was also looked after by Catholic Action, needless to say, an organisation eminently ultramontane and Jesuitical. The ground had to be prepared for the approaching invasion of the Fuhrer’s armies! So, under the pretence of “spiritual renewal”, the Hitlerite Fascist gospel was diligently preached there by Monseigneur Picard, Jesuit, Father Arendt. Jesuit, Father Foucart, Jesuit, etc. A young Belgium, who was their victim like many others, testifies to this: “At that time, all of us were already obsessed with a kind of fascism… The Catholic Action to which I belonged was very sympathetic to Italian fascism… Monseigneur Picard proclaimed from the rooftops that Mussolini was a genius and wished fervently for a dictator… Pilgrimages were organised to favour contacts with Italy and Fascism. “When, with three hundred students, I went to Italy, everybody, on our return home, saluted in the Roman fashion and sang Giovinezza.(43)

Another witness says: “After 1928, the group of Leon Degrelle regularly collaborated with Monseigneur Picard… Monseigneur Picard enlisted the help of Leon Degrelle for a particularly important mission: to manage a new publishing house at the Catholic Action centre. This publishing house was given a name which soon became famous: it was ‘Rex’…

“The calls for a new regime multiplied… The results of this propaganda in Germany were observed with much interest. In October 1933, an article in ‘Vlan’ reminded us that the Nazis numbered only seven in 1919, and that Hitler brought them, a few years later, no other dowry than his talent for publicity… Founded on similar principles, the ‘rexist’ team started an active propaganda programme in the country. Their meetings soon attracted a few hundreds, then thousands of listeners”.(44)

Of course, Hitler had brought to the new-born national-socialism, as Mussolini did to Fascism, more than the talent for publicity:- the support of the papacy!

Being only a pale shadow of these two, Leon Degrelle, chief of “Christus Rex”, was the beneficiary of the same support—but for a very different purpose, as his job was to open his country to the invader.

M. Raymond de Becker says: “I collaborated with the ‘Avant-Garde’… This publication (issued by Monseigneur Picard) aimed at breaking the ties uniting Belgium, France and England”.(45)

(43) and (45) Raymond de Becker: “Livre des vivants et des morts” (Ed. de la Toison d’Or Brussels 1942, pp.72,73,175).
(44) Jacques Saint-Germain: “La Bataille de Rex” (Les oeuvres francaises, Paris 1937, pp.67,69).

We know how quickly the German armies defeated the Belgian defence betrayed by the clerical fifth column. Maybe we remember also that the apostle of “Christus Rex”, donning the German uniform, went, accompanied by much publicity, to “fight on the Eastern front” at the head of his “Waffen SS”, recruited mainly amongst the youth of Catholic Action; then an opportune retreat enabled him to reach Spain. But, before that , he gave full vent to his “patriotic” feelings for the last time. M. Maurice de Behaut writes: “Ten years ago (in 1944), the port of Anvers, the third most important in the world, fell almost intact into the hands of the British troops… At the time when the population was beginning to see the end of its sufferings and privations, the most diabolic Nazi invention fell on it: the flying bombs, V1 and V2. This bombardment, the longest in History, as it went on for six months, day and night, was kept carefully hidden, on the order of the allied headquarters. This is the reason why, today, the martyrdom of the cities of Anvers and Liege is still generally ignored.

“On the eve of the first bombardment (12th of October), some had heard on Radio Berlin the alarming remarks of the “rexist” traitor Leon Degrelle: “I asked my Fuhrer”, he screeched, “for twenty thousand flying bombs. They will chastise an idiotic people. I promise you that they will make of Anvers a city without a port, or a port without a city”.

“… From that day on, the rhythm of the bombardments was going to accentuate, catastrophes and disasters being the results, while the traitor Leon Degrelle was bawling on Radio Berlin, promising cataclysms even more terrible”.(46)

Such was the last farewell to his homeland of this monstrous product of the Catholic Action. Obedient pupil of Monseigneur Picard, Jesuit, Father Arendt, Jesuit, etc., the chief of “Christus Rex” strictly followed the papal rules.

“The men of the Catholic Action”, wrote Pius XI, “would fail in their duty if, as opportunities allow it, they did not try to direct the politics of their province and of their country”.(47)

Indeed, Leon Degrelle did his duty and the result—as we have seen— was in proportion to his zeal.

We read in M. Raymond de Beckers’s book: “The Catholic Action had found, in Belgium, exceptional men to orchistrate its themes, such as Monsignor Picard (the most important)… Canon Cardijn, founder of the ‘jocist’ movement, a bilious ill-tempered and visionary man…”(48)

(46) Review “Historia”, December 1954.
(47) Pius XI’s Letter “Peculari Quadam”, quoted by R.P. Jesuit de Soras, in the “Action catholique et action temporelle” (Ed. Spes, Paris 1938, p. 105). Imprimatur 1938.
(48) Raymond de Becker, op.cit., p.66.

This particular one swears today that he has never “seen or heard” his fellow-member Leon Degrelle. So, these two leaders of the Belgian Catholic Action, both working under the crook of Cardinal Van Roey, had apparently never met! By what miracle? Of course, the former Canon doesn’t tell us that; since then, he has been made “Monseigneur” by Pius XII and director of the ‘jocist’ movements for the whole world.

Another miracle: nor has Monseigneur Cardijn ever met the disreputable chief of ‘Rex’ during the great congress described by Degrelle: “I remember the great congress of the Catholic Youth at Brussels, in 1930. I was behind Monseigneur Picard, who himself was at the side of Cardinal Van Roey. One hundred thousand youths had marched past us for two hours, cheering the religious authorities assembled on the platform…”(49)

Where, then, was the head of the J.O.C. hiding, whose troops were taking part in that gigantic march past? Was it, through a special decree of Providence, that these two men were condemned to rub shoulders without seeing each other, on official platforms as well as at the Catholic Action centre which they attended constantly?

Monseigneur Cardijn, a Jesuit, goes further. He pretends to have also “verbally” fought ‘rexism’.

Really, this Catholic Action was a peculiar organisation! Not only were the chiefs of its two principal “movements” ‘J.O.C. and Rex’ playing hide and seek in the corridors, but also one could as he says, “fight” what the other did with the full approval of the “hierarchy”!

This fact cannot be disputed: Degrelle was put at the head of ‘Rex’ by Monseigneur Picard himself, under the authority of Cardinal Van Roey and the apostolic nuncio Monseigneur Micara. So, according to Monseigneur Cardijn, he keenly disapproved of the actions of his colleague in Catholic Action, under the patronage, like himself, of Belgium’s Primate,—and without any consideration for the Nuncio, his “protector and revered friend”, according to Pius XII”.(50)

The assertion is rather severe. We are even more aware of it when we examine what was the attitude, after Hitler’s invasion of Belgium, of those such as Monseigneur Cardijn and his associates who, today, repudiate Degrelle and ‘rexism’. In a book which was “put under the bushel” when it was published, the chief of ‘Rex’ himself refreshed memories, as we shall see, and, to our knowledge, what he said was never refuted.

(49) Leon Degrelle: “La cohue de 1940” (Robert Crausaz, Lausanne 1949, pp.214-215). (50) “La Croix”, 24th of May 1946.

Being a fervent Christian, and acquainted with the interpenetrations of spiritual and temporal, I would not have considered collaborating (with Hitler) without first consulting the religious authorities of my country… I had asked for an interview with His Eminence, Cardinal Van Roey… The cardinal received me in a friendly manner, one morning, at the episcopal palace of Malines… He is animated by a total and cyclonic fanaticism… If he had lived a few centuries earlier, he would have, while singing the ‘Magnificat’, put the infidels to the sword, or burned or let fall into the convent dungeons the not so obedient sheep of his flock. As it is the 20th century, he only has the crosier, but makes it accomplish a great work. For him, everything was important as long as it served the Church’s interests: if it was something good, we would support it, but anything bad was crushed; and the Church has so many avenues of ‘service’: her works, parties, newspapers, agricultural co-operatives (Boerenbond), banking institutions which assured the temporal power of the divine institution…

“And now, I can sincerely and honestly say that this was the meaning of the cardinal’s remarks: “collaboration was the proper thing to do, in fact the only thing a sensible person would do. During the whole interview, he didn’t even consider that another attitude could be possible. For the cardinal, in the Autumn of 1940, the war was finished. He didn’t even mention the name ‘English’ or utter the supposition that an allied recovery was conceivable… The cardinal did not think that, politically, anything else but collaboration was possible… He did not object to any of my conceptions and projects… He could have—or should have—warned me if he thought my ideas concerning politics were going astray, as I had come for his advice… Before I left, the cardinal gave me his paternal blessing… “Other Catholics as well, in the Autumn of 1940, looked towards the great tower of Saint-Rombaut… Many entered the episcopal palace to ask the advice of Monseigneur Van Roey or his entourage, concerning the morality, usefulness or necessity of collaboration…

“More than one thousand Catholic Burgomasters, all the general secretaries, even though carefully chosen, adapted themselves immediately to the new Order… All those good people imprisoned or insulted in 1944 must have wondered, in 1940: What does Malines think? But who would believe that neither Malines, their bishops, nor their priests had been able to put their minds at rest!

“Eight out of ten Belgian collaborationists were Catholics… “During those decisive weeks, because of the choice which had to be made, Malines and the various bishoprics ever issued written or verbal negative advice, to myself or to all those other collaborationists.

“Even though not very pleasant, this, is the plain or naked truth. The attitude of the high Catholic clergy abroad could only strengthen the conviction of the faithful that collaboration was perfectly compatible with the faith… In Vichy, the highest French prelates had their photo taken as they stood with Marshal Petain and Pierre Laval, after the interview between Hitler and Petain. In Paris, Cardinal Baudrillart publicly declared that he was a collaborationist.

“In Belgium itself, Cardinal Van Roey allowed one of the most farmous priests of Flanders—his greatest Catholic intellectual—Abbe Ver-schaeve, declare, on the 7th of November 1940, during a solemn session of the Senate and in the presence of a German general, president Raeder:

“It is the duty of the Cultural Council to build the bridge which will unite Flanders and Germany…”

“On the 29th of May 1940, the day after the surrender, Cardinal Van Roey described the invasion as a kind of present from heaven: “Be sure”, he wrote to the faithful, “that we are witnessing at the moment an exceptional intervention of Divine Providence which is displaying its power through great events”.

“So, after all that, Hitler seemed to be nothing less than a purifying instrument, providentially chastising the Belgian people”.(51) Something very similar was happening in our own country, (France), where we were constantly reminded that “defeat is more fruitful than victory”, as, before 1914, when a purifying “thorough bleeding” was wished upon France.

Also in these memoirs which fell—or rather were thrown into the oubliette—we find some very interesting details concerning the “Boerenbond, the great Catholic and political and financial machine of Cardinal Van Roey which largely financed the Flemish section of Louvain’s University…”(52)

“The printing-house “Standaard” was making sure its presses were kept working by printing the most collaborationist appeals of the V.N.V. (Vlaamsch Nationalist Verbond). Very soon, the business was rolling in money… Being two hundred per cent Catholic and pillars of the Church in Flanders, the leaders of “Standaard” would not have considered collaborating unless the cardinal had first given his blessing to it clearly and distinctly.

“The same was said about the whole of the Catholic press…”(53)

All these efforts were aiming at nothing less than Belgium’s break-up, as we are reminded by another Catholic writer, M. Gaston Gaillard:

(51) (52) and (53) Leon Degrelle, op.cit., pp.213,216ss, 219ss.

“The Flemish-speaking Catholics and the autonomist Catholics of Alsace justified their attitude by their tacit support always given to the Germanic propaganda by the Holy See. When they referred to the memorable letter sent by Pius XI to his secretary of State, Cardinal Gaspari, on the 26th of June 1923, they were easily convinced that their politics had the approval of Rome, and, of course, Rome did nothing to persuade them otherwise. Had not the nuncio Pacelli (future Pius XII) ably supported German nationalists and encouraged the so-called “oppressed” population of High-Silesia? Had not the autonomist plots of Alsace, Eupen-Malmedy and Silesia received ecclesiastical approval which had not always been given discreetly? It was then easy for the Flemish to hide their deeds against Belgium’s unity behind the Roman directives…”(54)

Also, in 1942, Pope Pius XII asked his nunciature in Berlin to convey his condolences to Paris on the death of Cardinal Baudrillart, so signifying that he considered the annexation of Northern France by Germany as a fact. It also confirmed once again the “tacit support” always given to the Germanic expansion by the Holy See, and himself in particular.

Today, we can but scornfully smile when we see the Jesuits of His Holiness quibble over something so obvious and repudiate all complicity with the fifth column they themselves had organised, and especially with Degrelle. As for him— safely kept in his refuge as he knows too much—he can recollect at leisure the famous verses of Ovid: “Donee eris felix, multos munerabis amicos. Tempora si fuerint nubila, solus eris”.(55)

We smile when we read the following from R.P. Fessard (Jesuit): “In 1916 and 1917, we waited for the American reinforcements with so much impatience! In 1939, we sadly realised that, even after war had been declared, Hitler was looked upon favourably by a large part of American opinion; even, and especially by Catholics! In 1941 and 1942, we wondered again if the United States would or would not intervene”.(56)

So, it seems the Good Father viewed the results obtained in America by his own Jesuitical brothers “With sadness”! For, and this is an historical fact, the “Christian Front”, a Catholic movement opposed to the United State’s intervention, was directed by the Jesuit Father Coughlin, a notorious pro- Hitlerite.

“This pious organisation lacked nothing and received, from Berlin, a plentiful supply of propaganda material prepared by Goebbel’s office. “Through is publication ‘Social Justice’ and radio broadcasts, the Jesuit Father Coughlin, apostle of the swastika, reached a vast public. He also looked after secret “commando cells” in the main urban centres, led according to the sons of Loyola’s methods and trained by Nazi agents”.(57)

A secret document of the Wilhelmstrasse clarifies the following point:

“Studying the evolution of anti-semitism in the United States, we note t h a t t he number of listeners to the radio broadcasts of Father Coughlin, well – known for his anti-semitism, exceeds 20 millions”.(58)

(54) Gas ton Gaillard: ” La find ‘un t emps” (Ed. Albert , Paris 1933 , II, p . 141 ).
(55) As long as you will be happy, you will have many friends; when the clouds appear, you will be alone.
(56) R.P. Fess ard S.J .: ” Libre me ditation sur un me ss age de Pie XII” , (Plon , Paris 1957, p.202).
(57) Edmond Paris: “The Vatican against Europe” (P.T.S ., London 1959 , p .141)
(58) Secret archives of the Wilhelmstrasse, document 83-26 19/1, (Berlin, 25th of January 1939).

Must we recall the actions of the Jesuit Father Walsh, an agent of the pope, Dean of the School of political sciences at the University of Georgetown, Jesuitic nursery of American diplomacy—and a zealous propagandist of German politics?

At that time, the General of the Society of Jesus was, as by chance, Halke von Ledochowski, a former general in the Austrian army; he succeeded Wernz, a Prussian, in 1915.

Has the R.P. Fessard also forgotten what ‘La Croix’ wrote all through the war, and especially this: “There is nothing to be gained from an intervention of troops from the other side of the Channel and Atlantic”.(59)

Does he not remember either this telegram of His Holiness Pius XII: The pope sends his blessing to ‘La Croix’, the voice of pontifical thought”.(60)

Considering so much forgetfulness, must we come to the conclusion that members of the Society of Jesus have very short memories? They did not incur this reproach even from their enemies, though! Let us rather point out that R.P. Fessard expressed his patriotic fears of 1941-1942 in 1957 only. His “free meditations” over fifteen years brought some results and he had time to re-read a certain passage of the “Spiritual Exercises” which says that “the Jesuit must be ready, if the Church declares that what he sees as black is white, to agree with her, even though his senses tell him the opposite”.(61)

As far as that is concerned, R.P. Fessard seems to be an excellent Jesuit! On the 7th of March 1936, Hitler brought the Wehrmacht into the de- militarised Rhine region, so tearing up the pact of Locarno. On the 11th of March 1938, it was the Anschluss (union of Austria and Germany), and on the 29th of September of the same year, in Munich, France and England had imposed on them by the Reich the annexation of Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia.

The Fuhrer had come to power, thanks to the votes of the Catholic Zentrum, only five years before, but most of the objectives cynically revealed in ‘Mein Kampf were already realised; this book, an insolent challenge to the western democracies, was written by the Jesuit Father Staempfle and signed by Hitler. For—as so many ignore the fact—it was the Society of Jesus which perfected the famous Pan-German programme as laid out in this book, and the Fuhrer endorsed it.

(59) “La Croix”, 10th of August 1943.
(60) “La Croix”, 28th of January 1942).
(61) “… siquid quod oculis nostris apparet album, nigrum illaesse definierit debemus itidem quod nigrum sit pronuntiare”. “Institutum Societatis Jesus” (Roman edition of 1869, II p.417).