Flemish State Post WW1?

Apparently in 1917, Flemish nationalists declared the independence of the Independent State of Flanders. It was shut down promptly by German officials. But what if the Germans had supported the state? Is a Belgian Civil War after WW1 possible?
 

Cook

Banned
Apparently in 1917, Flemish nationalists declared the independence of the Independent State of Flanders. It was shut down promptly by German officials. But what if the Germans had supported the state? Is a Belgian Civil War after WW1 possible?
If the Germans had supported such a puppet state it would simply have been dissolved as illegitimate when the Allies advance through in late 1918 and the Belgian government was able to resume authority. The ringleaders of the puppet state would probably have fled to Germany.
 
If the Germans had supported such a puppet state it would simply have been dissolved as illegitimate when the Allies advance through in late 1918 and the Belgian government was able to resume authority. The ringleaders of the puppet state would probably have fled to Germany.

Yeah I was figuring that, but what I was thinking was could it encourage Flemish separatism in the near future?
 
A related question. I know religions was surely a factor - I think Flemishes are Catholics traditionaly, and Dutches Protestants (Calvinists?), but is it also cultural?

Correct me if I was wrong since long, but there is no real will of union of Flanders and Netheirland, no?
 
A related question. I know religions was surely a factor - I think Flemishes are Catholics traditionaly, and Dutches Protestants (Calvinists?), but is it also cultural?

Correct me if I was wrong since long, but there is no real will of union of Flanders and Netheirland, no?

The Flemish and Netherlands union has some popularity although I forget what the name of the idea is.
 

gaijin

Banned
Culturally speaking the Flemish are pretty close to the southern part of the Netherlands (Limburg and Brabant). These are the catholic parts. The northern Protestant parts are more strict generally speaking.

I don't known if the difference in culture is caused by religion or the other way around I don't know.
 

Cook

Banned
I was thinking about the whole taste of independence thing...
The sweet taste of independence from Brussels, made all the sweeter by a customs union with the German Reich and edicts from Berlin to be complied with and a German military advisor with power of veto over any proposed legislation.
 
The sweet taste of independence from Brussels, made all the sweeter by a customs union with the German Reich and edicts from Berlin to be complied with and a German military advisor with power of veto over any proposed legislation.

But in the long run, being kinda 'used' by germans may be bad, and a minus for this plan in flemish eyes...

They could see there may be a price...
 
A related question. I know religions was surely a factor - I think Flemishes are Catholics traditionaly, and Dutches Protestants (Calvinists?), but is it also cultural?

Correct me if I was wrong since long, but there is no real will of union of Flanders and Netheirland, no?
The Dutch are basicly a mixture of protestants and catholics, certainly around the first world war. At that time the catholics were a major force of power in Dutch politics, unlike 100 years before. Culturaly speaking there is a difference between the Dutch and Flemish, but it is small difference. The difference is often exaggerated out of nationalistic sentiments (certainly today), but the difference between a Flemish person and someone from Amsterdam is not bigger than the difference between a Frisian and someone from Amsterdam.

About the union, yes there were various proponents for a Flemish-Dutch union, both in the Netherlands as in Flanders. In Flanders the support was bigger than in the Netherlands, because of internal Belgian problems. It was certainly bigger than the support for it now (in 2011). According to a opinion poll about 2% of the Flemish support a union with the Netherlands (and around 50% of the Dutch support a union, although they realy don't care. I always say that the difference between the Dutch and Flemish is that the Flemish seriously though about a union and rejected it, while the Dutch never seriously though about it and actually don't care).
 
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