Wouter Lutkie Explained

Wouter Lutkie
Birth Name:Wouterus Leonardus Lutkie
Birth Date:23 February 1887
Birth Place:'s-Hertogenbosch
Death Place:Nuland
Citizenship:Dutch
Other Names:Fascist activist
Notable Works:Aristo
Occupation:Priest
Party:Black Front
Spouse:Celibate

Wouterus Leonardus Lutkie (23 February 1887 in 's-Hertogenbosch – 23 January 1968 in Nuland) was a Dutch Catholic priest and fascist.

Biography

Lutkie came from a wealthy business family and initially was influenced by the idealism of Ernest Hello and Léon Bloy. He was a fervent Catholic.[1] He was ordained in 1919 and subsequently moved to Nuland where he spent the rest of his life.[1]

Lutkie became drawn to Benito Mussolini and travelled several times to Italy, which increased his zeal.[1] He set up his own magazine Aristo in 1930. This lasted until 1943 before reappearing after the war and continuing until 1965.[1] He conducted a series of interviews with the Italian leader.[1] He would also co-operate with Arnold Meijer and the Black Front.[1] In all however Lutkie sought to weld traditional Christianity to fascism's youthful dynamism and he built up a small group of followers with the publication of Aristo.[2]

Lutkie had little time for Anton Mussert and did not support Nazism.[1] As such he faced no charges after the war, despite an examination, and spent the post-war years in semi-retirement (albeit still publishing Aristo until 1965).[1]

Notes and References

  1. [Philip Rees]
  2. R.J.B. Bosworth, The Oxford Handbook of Fascism, Oxford University Press, 2009, pp. 453-4