John Amery

John Amery (14 March 1912 – 19 December 1945) was a British fascist who proposed to the Wehrmacht the formation of a British volunteer force (that subsequently became the British Free Corps) and made recruitment efforts and propaganda broadcasts for Nazi Germany. He was executed for treason after the war.

Early life

Born in Chelsea, London, John Amery was one of two children of Leo Amery (1873 – 1955), a half Jewish Member of Parliament and later Conservative government minister. John's younger brother, Julian Amery (1919–1996) also became an MP and served in a Conservative government.

Amery was a problem child who ran through a succession of private tutors. Like his father, he was sent to Harrow, but left after only a year, being described by his housemaster as "without doubt, the most difficult boy I have ever tried to manage". Living in his father's shadow, he strove to make his own way by embarking on a career in film production. Over a period, he set up a number of independent companies, all of which failed; these endeavours rapidly led to bankruptcy.