Victor Strydonck de Burkel

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Victor Strydonck de Burkel (full name: Victor Jean Clement Van Strydonck de Burkel) (1879-1961) was a general of the Belgian Army and the primary architect of the formation of the Free Belgian Forces after Belgium's surrender on May 28, 1940.

[edit] Service in the 1930s and 1940s

A cavalry officer, Van Strydonck de Burkel commanded the 1st Cavalry Division, served as the inspector-general of the Belgian Gendarmerie, and was the commander of the Cavalry Corps prior to World War II.

During the 1940 invasion of Belgium by Germany, Van Strydonck de Burkel commanded the 1st Military Zone. After Belgium's surrender in 1940, he became the Commander in Chief of Belgian land forces in Great Britain, and presided over the gradual organization of the 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade, a unit that later fought in the campaign in northwestern Europe. In 1941 he became the inspector-general of Belgian land forces in Great Britain.

After the Allies re-entered northwestern Europe in 1944, Van Strydonck de Burkel became the Chief of the Belgian Military Mission to Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force.