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Joseph Pholien
Pholien
Historical Figure
Nationality: Belgium
Year of Birth: 1884
Year of Death: 1968
Religion: Catholicism
Occupation: Politician
Military Branch: Belgian Army
(World War I)
Political Party: Christian Social Party
Political Office(s): Justice Minister of Belgium,
Prime Minister of Belgium
Fictional Appearances:
The Hot War
POD: November, 1950
Appearance(s): Fallout
Type of Appearance: Contemporary reference (unnamed)

Joseph Clovis Louis Marie Emmanuel Pholien (28 December 1884 – 4 January 1968) was a Belgian Catholic politician and member of the Christian Social Party. He was born in Liège, and volunteered to serve with the Belgian Army during World War I, being commissioned as a first lieutenant. He was Minister of Justice under Paul-Henri Spaak from May 1938 to February 1939 and was the 37th Prime Minister of Belgium from 16 August 1950 to 15 January 1952. In 1966, he became a Minister of State.

His term as prime minister is notable for seeing the departure of the Belgian United Nations Command (BUNC) to fight in the Korean War (1950–1953).

Joseph Pholien in The Hot War[]

Belgian Prime Minister Joseph Pholien and his Dutch counterpart Willem Drees were metaphorically screeching into President Truman's ears from either side, after America failed to prevent the Russians from destroying Antwerp, Belgium, with an atomic bomb in September 1951.[1]

Literary comment[]

While neither Prime Minister is named, they were in office at the Point of Divergence. World War III has progressed swiftly in a compact time frame, so it is likely they were still in office.

References[]

  1. Fallout, p. 188, HC.
Political offices
(OTL)
Preceded by
Jean Duvieusart
Prime Minister of Belgium
1950-1952
Succeeded by
Jean Van Houtte
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