Prosper Ego, Dutch activist, founded the Oud-Strijders Legioen (b. 1927)

The Life and Legacy of Prosper Ego: Founder of the Oud-Strijders Legioen

Prosper Joannes Gerardus Antonius Ego (17 July 1927 – 23 January 2015) was a notable and often controversial Dutch figure, best known as the founder and long-time chairman of the Oud-Strijders Legioen (OSL), which translates to the “Former Warriors Legion.” Born into a Roman Catholic family in The Hague, Ego's early life was significantly shaped by the tumultuous events of World War II and its aftermath.

Early Life, Wartime Experience, and Post-War Service

At the tender age of 17, during the harrowing period of Nazi German occupation of the Netherlands, Prosper Ego was arrested and subsequently deported to Germany. He was forced into labor as part of the widespread "Arbeitseinsatz" program, which conscripted civilians from occupied territories to support the German war effort. This personal experience of forced servitude undoubtedly left a lasting impression on him.

Upon his return to the Netherlands after the war, Ego dedicated himself to administrative work for the Red Cross, an organization committed to humanitarian aid. His service continued when, in 1947, he was conscripted into the Dutch army and dispatched to the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). This deployment occurred during a critical period, as the Netherlands sought to re-establish control over its former colony amidst the escalating Indonesian National Revolution. Ego was stationed in the Dutch army garrison at Makassar, Sulawesi, where he served as a hygienist, contributing to the health and well-being of the troops in a challenging tropical environment.

Political Beginnings and the Genesis of Veteran Organizations

Returning to the Netherlands in 1950, Ego briefly resumed his work with the Red Cross before transitioning into a career as an insurance agent. His interest in public affairs and political activism became increasingly apparent. He actively participated in the Katholiek Nationale Partij (Catholic National Party), a political party with a focus on Catholic social teachings and conservative principles. His involvement extended to veteran affairs, where he played a role in the founding of the Veteranen Legioen Nederland (Veteran’s League of the Netherlands), an organization aimed at representing the interests of Dutch veterans.

The Dutch political landscape underwent shifts in the mid-1950s. Towards the end of 1955, partly influenced by pressure from the Catholic Church, the Katholiek Nationale Partij was absorbed by the larger Katholieke Volkspartij (Catholic People’s Party), a prominent centrist and Christian democratic party. This merger was not universally welcomed, particularly by some KNP members in The Hague who opposed the integration. In early 1956, their dissent led to the formation of a new political entity, the Nationale Unie (National Unity) party. Ego stood as a candidate for the Nationale Unie in the parliamentary elections held that same year, though he was not elected to office.

Further internal conflicts arose within the Veteranen Legioen Nederland following the Hungarian Uprising in 1956, an event that deeply resonated across Europe and intensified Cold War ideological divides. These disagreements, combined with a perceived need for a specific organization catering to veterans of the Korean War, prompted Ego to establish the Oud-Strijders Legioen (OSL) in 1958, assuming the role of its chairman. The OSL aimed to represent the interests of those who had served in conflicts beyond the major World Wars, particularly the Korean War (1950-1953), which saw a small but significant Dutch contingent participate. That same year, Ego again sought public office as the Nationale Unie’s candidate for The Hague in municipal elections but was again unsuccessful.

In 1960, a segment of the Nationale Unie membership departed to join the newly formed Liberale Staatspartij (Liberal Party). Ego aligned himself with this new party, becoming its vice-chairman. He stood as a candidate in the parliamentary elections of 1963, but the Liberale Staatspartij failed to secure any seats in parliament.

Controversial Stances and Activism

Throughout his public life, Prosper Ego was known for his staunchly conservative views, which often placed him at odds with mainstream political and social trends. Notably, he openly supported apartheid in South Africa, a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the white minority government. This controversial stance led him to become one of the founders of the Stichting Nederlands Zuid-Afrikaanse Werkgemeenschap (Netherlands-South Africa Friendship Association), an organization dedicated to fostering closer ties with the apartheid regime. He was also involved with the Stichting Nederland-Verenigde Staten van Amerika (Netherlands-USA Association), generally promoting transatlantic relations and cooperation.

Under Ego's leadership, the Oud-Strijders Legioen evolved significantly. During the 1970s, the OSL expanded its membership, opening its ranks beyond just veterans to include non-veterans who shared its conservative and anti-communist ideologies. Ego effectively utilized the OSL’s magazine, Sta Vast (meaning "Stand Firm"), as a platform to disseminate his views. The magazine frequently published articles that were strongly pro-NATO and pro-American, reflecting a firm anti-Soviet stance during the height of the Cold War.

The OSL also engaged in direct forms of political protest and advocacy. During peace demonstrations that proliferated in the Netherlands in the 1970s and 1980s (often protesting nuclear arms and militarism), the OSL conspicuously flew airplanes over these gatherings. These planes towed banners displaying provocative slogans such as “Rather a rocket in the garden than a Russian in the kitchen” and “Stop the SS20 rocket.” The "SS-20 rocket" referred to a Soviet-developed intermediate-range ballistic missile, whose deployment in Eastern Europe was a major point of contention and a key driver of the Western peace movement's concerns about nuclear escalation.

Legal Challenges and Later Years

Prosper Ego's outspoken nature and the content of Sta Vast eventually led to legal repercussions. In 1995, he was found guilty of inciting xenophobia and subsequently fined 5,000 Dutch guilders, an amount equivalent to approximately 2,270 euros. The charges stemmed from articles published in Sta Vast in 1992, which notoriously referred to ethnic minorities as "profiteers" and "criminals." Although Ego did not personally author these specific articles, as the editor-in-chief of the publication, he was held legally responsible for their content and publication. In a 2004 interview, Ego acknowledged the impact of this conviction, stating that all articles intended for publication in Sta Vast were thereafter "carefully scrutinised" before being sent to the printer, indicating a heightened awareness of legal accountability.

In the September 2009 issue of Sta Vast, Prosper Ego publicly announced his intention to step down from his long-held positions as president and chief of the Oud-Strijders Legioen. Simultaneously, it was declared that Sta Vast van de Stichtingen voor Vrijheid en Veiligheid (Sta Vast of the Foundations for Freedom and Security), the broader entity overseeing the magazine, would be wound up. Two primary reasons were cited for this significant decision: Ego's advanced age, at 82 years old, and a substantial decline in readership. The magazine's circulation had plummeted from a peak of 14,000 copies in the 1980s, a period of heightened Cold War tensions that aligned with the OSL's political messaging, to a mere 2,500 copies.

The Oud-Strijders Legioen ultimately closed its doors in 2010, marking the end of an era for the organization that Ego had founded and led for over five decades. Despite the closure, some former OSL board members launched a website called OSL-Actueel (OSL-News), aiming to continue some form of communication and commentary. Prosper Ego continued to contribute articles to this website in his later years. He passed away in Breda on January 23, 2015, at the age of 87.

Frequently Asked Questions about Prosper Ego and the OSL

Who was Prosper Ego?

Prosper Joannes Gerardus Antonius Ego (1927-2015) was a Dutch political activist and veteran, best known as the founder and chairman of the Oud-Strijders Legioen (OSL), an organization primarily for veterans and later, non-veterans who shared his conservative views.

What was the Oud-Strijders Legioen (OSL)?

The Oud-Strijders Legioen, or "Former Warriors Legion," was a Dutch veteran organization founded by Prosper Ego in 1958. Initially for Korean War veterans, it later expanded its membership and became known for its strong anti-communist, pro-NATO, and conservative political stances, primarily expressed through its magazine Sta Vast.

Why was Prosper Ego considered a controversial figure?

Prosper Ego was controversial due to his outspoken support for apartheid in South Africa and the xenophobic content published in the OSL's magazine, Sta Vast. He was found guilty in 1995 of inciting xenophobia due to articles referring to ethnic minorities as "profiteers" and "criminals."

What was Prosper Ego's role during World War II?

During the Nazi German occupation of the Netherlands, Prosper Ego was arrested at the age of 17 and deported to Germany, where he was forced into labor as part of the "Arbeitseinsatz" program.

When did the Oud-Strijders Legioen cease its operations?

The Oud-Strijders Legioen officially closed in 2010, following a decline in membership, readership of its magazine Sta Vast, and the advanced age of its founder, Prosper Ego.