Cornelis Jacobus Snijders

Cornelis Jacobus Snijders (29 September 1852 - 26 May 1939) was a Dutch military leader. He was Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces of the Netherlands during World War I.

Career
In 1869 Snijders joined the Royal Military Academy in Breda, becoming an engineer. In 1873 he went to the Dutch East Indies, and fought in the Aceh War.

In October 1875 Snijders was back in the Netherlands. He was again placed with the Engineers. Here, he had an important role in the design and construction of the armored fortresses of IJmuiden, Hoek van Holland, and Fort Harssens. From 1882 to 1886 he was in Magdeburg to oversee construction of the armored cupolas. Snijders also attended related trials in Italy and Romania.

On 1 July 1910, Snijders was made chief of the general staff. He was a proponent of military aviation. In 1913, Snijders created the Aviation Department. Later the navy received an airforce as well. Snijders was also First Chairman of the Dutch Association for Aviation.

When tensions grew in anticipation of World War I, Snijders was made Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Shortly afterward, he was promoted to full general.

In April 1918, one month after the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which freed Germany on its Eastern Front, he opposed war with Germany, making clear that if war was to be fought, he preferred to fight alongside Germany.

Personal life
Snijders was born in Nieuwe-Tonge on 29 September 1852. In 1865, he went to the Hogere Burgerschool in Middelburg but did not finish it. In 1883, Snijders married Johanna Adriana Everdina. Snijders died in Hilversum on 26 May 1939.

Military decorations

 * NLD Military Order of William - Knight BAR.png Knight fourth class of the Military Order of William (1875)
 * NLD Order of the Dutch Lion - Grand Cross BAR.png Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (Knight 1894, Knight Grand Cross 1919)
 * Order of Orange-Nassau ribbon - Grand Officer.svg Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau (1914)
 * Baton, Ereteken voor Belangrijke Krijgsbedrijven.jpg Expedition Cross (1877)
 * Officierskruis baton.jpg Officers' Cross (XLV) (1887)
 * NoBaton.png Cross of Merit of the Netherlands Red Cross
 * NLD baton Vaardigheidsmedaille NSF.png Atjeh Medal
 * Mobilisatiekruis 1914-1918.jpg Mobilisation Cross 1914-1918 (1925)
 * Kruis van Verdienste van de Nationale Bond Het Mobilisatiekruis 1914-1918.jpg Cross of Merit for the national committee "Mobilisation Cross 1914-1918"
 * BEL Kroonorde Grootkruis BAR.svg Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
 * Ordre du Lion d'Or de la Maison de Nassau ribbon.svg Knight first class of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau (1919)
 * St Olavs Orden kommandør stripe.svg Commander of the Order of St. Olav
 * PRU Roter Adlerorden BAR.svg Knight first class of the Order of the Red Eagle
 * SWE Royal Order of the Sword - Commander BAR.png Commander of the Order of the Sword
 * ROM Order of the Crown of Romania 1881 Officer BAR.svg Officer of the Order of the Crown