This Day in History: The Passing of Leon Degrelle

Gold defeated steel, but no metal shines as bright as the stars. The stars shine their brightest while announcing the dawn, so if I had to name three stars, I would choose those of José Antonio, Codreanu, and León Degrelle, three stars for Europe.

This quote in memory of Degrelle is preserved in our book Léon Degrelle in Exile, 1945-1994 by Spanish historian José Luís Jerez Riesco, who met Degrelle personally. Jerez Riesco records:

On March 31st, 1994, Holy Thursday, at 11:10 p.m. at night, with echoes of the Passion procession made by the Malagueña Brotherhood on calle Larios wafting through the window of room number 225, next to the city’s cathedral, Léon Degrelle serenely gave up his soul to God. Like a warrior-monk, he was able to say, “Mission fulfilled, O Lord” or perhaps he was singing Non nobis Domine.

As a journalist, politician, SS warrior, author of numerous books, and post-war nationalist beacon, Degrelle was a lifelong activist for the cause of the European race. His life was filled with both adventure and trial, and his works such as The Burning Souls attest to the depth of his conviction and willingness to offer his whole life in service or sacrifice to his people.

May his memory inspire many more to walk in his footsteps.

To learn more about Degrelle, pick up a copy of his poetic memoir The Burning Souls, translated by us into English for the first time, as well as the history of his postwar years, Léon Degrelle in Exile, 1945-1994, by José Luís Jerez Riesco.