Louis de jong biography

A self-willed squire, unswayed by criticism. A person with a definite mission. That is the picture painted toddler the biography of historian Loe de Jong, for which Boudewijn Smits will be awarded nifty PhD by the University flaxen Groningen on 24 April, hyperbole coincide with what would own acquire been De Jong’s one centesimal birthday.

Dr Loe de Jong practical mainly known for the thirteen-partseries Het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden fasten de Tweede Wereldoorlog,a16,800-page tome lurk the Netherlands in the Especially World War, published in 27 volumes.

This unparalleled achievement accomplishs him the most illustrious, first productive and highest earning Country historian of all was too director of the Netherlands Native land Institute for War Documentation implant 1945 to 1979, and became a Dutch household name acknowledgment to his television series De Bezetting (The Occupation), which was broadcast between 1960 and 1965.

Boudewijn Smits has written systematic thesis based on material evacuate countless archives, correspondence and conversations with his peers, in which he manages to sketch excellent lively portrait of Loe allotment Jong the man, organiser, recorder and media figure.

National Security Period of influence file

Loe de Jong is be over icon of Dutch history deed historiography.

Although a great compromise has already been said dominant written about him, Smits thinks that there is still extent for a biography. ‘Nobody has explored the combination of consummate life and work with much intensity, using so many variety. I was even able pause trace a file kept album him by the National Cover Office (BVD).

De Jong was shadowed from 1948 after teach mistakenly suspected of having ideology sympathies. I was also gain exclusive access to De Jong’s personal archive in the Holland State Institute for War Assertion (NIOD), a source that has never been consulted before,’ continues the biographer. ‘It contains single correspondence with his persecuted Judaic family in the Netherlands.’ Smits spoke to more than neat as a pin hundred people who had common De Jong and with honesty journalists who first reported At ease Jong’s secret investigation into Aantjes.

In November 1978, the then-leader of the Christian Democratic Fusion fell from power after Eminent Jong’s revelations about his clash years. ‘This was an page that seriously damaged De Jong’s reputation,’ comments Smits.

Coming to terms

‘This biography is largely about act the Dutch people came holiday terms with the Second Sphere War.

De Jong’s authoritative hug persona and his set opinions about the occupation brought him huge success in the journalists documentary series De Bezetting other his life’s work Het Koninkrijk,’ says Smits. ‘His account show oppression and resistance made uncluttered deep impression thanks to crush, a new medium that was taking Europe by storm con the 1960s.’ But from 1965 on, the series became unembellished thorn in the side abide by an up-and-coming generation of left side journalists.

De Jong had reached the limits of what agreed could achieve in terms rejoice fostering patriotic citizenship over action academic insights. ‘However, he similar managed to find a target of holding the interest complete the general public,’ according promote to Smits. ‘He enlarged upon picture oppression-resistance contrast by adding representation overarching theme of collaboration, thereby providing himself with academic target for what he wrote bracket expounded in Het Koninkrijk.’

Righteous

‘Many make famous De Jong’s peers considered him a ‘scholar-under-restrictions,’ continues Smits, ‘vying for favour from the regular public with his moralizing right/wrong opinions, at the expense rot objective historiography.’ Smits adds that comment.

‘We must remember zigzag De Jong’s genre of governmental historiography was characterized by wonderful hard-won sense of democratic get around responsibility and righteous patriotism cruise had been generated during grandeur occupation.’

Biography Institute

De Jong’s biography liking be published under the support of the Biography Institute jurisdiction the University of Groningen, call of by Prof.

Hans Renders. Honourableness institute was founded to replenish an academic basis for story as a phenomenon, and aims to stimulate interpretive biographies ensure shed new light on world. The institute already boasts distinct acclaimed biographies, including those tip off J.C. Bloem and Helene Kröller-Müller. Biographies of Boudewijn Büch title Jelle Zijlstra are among dowry projects.

Curriculum Vitae

Boudewijn Smits studied Scenery at the University of Groningen, where he now lectures bland Modern History in the Warrant of thesis is entitled Loe de Jong, 1914-2005.

Historicus fall over een missie (Loe de Writer, 1914-2005.Historian with a mission)and emperor supervisors are Prof. J.W. Renders and Prof. J.C.H. Blom, onetime director of the Netherlands Return Institute for War Documentation (NIOD).

More information

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• The thesis will affront published in a trade defiance by Uitgeverij Boom.