Herman Baltia

Baron Herman Baltia ( born September 1, 1863 in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode/Sint-Joost-ten-Node in Brussels, † September 16, 1938 in Saint-Gilles ) was a Belgian lieutenant-general, and High Commissioner and Governor-General for the East Cantons, which were called in his day Neubelgien.

Biography

Herman Baltia was son of a general of Luxembourg origin and a German mother. He was assigned in 1899 the catenary of the General Staff. In 1907 he was an officer in the cartographic institute of the army to prepare for a mission to the border demarcation in the south of the Belgian Congo, but which he did not compete. In 1908 he was promoted to Major.

During the First World War, he received high military awards and was promoted in December 1916, Major-General. His military successes he achieved mainly in the north of France and in the Flanders battles. In March 1919, he was appointed to the lieutenant-general.

On October 22, 1919 him King Albert and the Belgian government familiar to the Office of the High Commissioner and Governor of the ceded to Belgium as part of the Treaty of Versailles cantons of Eupen, Malmedy, St. Vith and the former Neutral Moresnet. By March 1925 he was in office.

For the integration of the East Cantons in the Belgian state structure Baltia was equipped with colonial powers. The former Belgian Prime Minister Léon Delacroix wrote to him in 1920 shortly before he took office: " Make it with care to ensure that everything runs without problems and the cost of moving in an acceptable framework, you'll like the governor of a colony, which will report directly to the fatherland. can will act. "

One of the first symbolic acts Baltias was the dismantling of a reminder of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/1871 monument at his residence town of Malmedy. After the high expectations of the government to Baltia filled quickly, he was awarded by Royal Decree of 28 August 1920, title of baron.

Between 26 January and 23 July 1920 prompted Baltia provided for by the Versailles Treaty referendum, enter in the electorate, which ( in the eyes of many an annexation ) did not agree with the inclusion of their names and addresses in instructions booklet lists could. There was inevitably connected that were known by name with the annexation of not consenting residents and had feared some retaliation, merely 271 of the 33 726 eligible voters wore a. Of this part was rich German officials whose roots lay not in the region.

Despite some miscalculations during his tenure Baltia also sought long after his term as governor in touch with the people he "ruled" had.