Léon Degrelle



Léon Joseph Marie Ignace Degrelle (15 June 1906 – 31 March 1994) was a Walloon Belgian politician, who founded Rexism and later joined the Waffen SS (becoming a leader of its Walloon contingent) which were front-line troops in the fight against the Soviet Union. After World War II, he was a prominent figure in fascist movements and moved to Franco's Spain, where he died.

He received the Ritterkreuz (Knights Cross) from Hitler. Degrelle later claimed Hitler told him "If I had a son, I would want him to be like you." Degrelle was later awarded the oakleaves along with two other non-Germans, the Estonian Alfons Rebane and Gen. Agustín Muñoz Grandes, the Spanish commander of the Blue Division.   When once asked if he had any regrets about the war, his reply was "Only that we lost!"