The Netherlands in World War II

The outbreak of the war

At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the Netherlands declared itself neutral once again as it had been in World War I. In order to flank the French defences on the Maginot Line and to pre-empt a possible British invasion, on May 10 1940 Germany invaded the Netherlands and Belgium. Given the historically good relations with its much larger neighbour, the invasion came as big surprise to most Dutch, including the army.

Related Topics:
Second World War - 1939 - World War I - Flank - Maginot Line - May 10 - 1940 - Belgium

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The poorly equipped Dutch army was quickly defeated by the Germans. At the Afsluitdijk, the Grebbeberg and the Moerdijkbrug the Dutch Army offered resistance. A German airborne landing at The Hague, intended to imprison the Dutch royal family and the government, failed. The royal family and government escaped to Britain to continue the fight (although some saw this as an act of cowardice).

Related Topics:
Afsluitdijk - Grebbeberg - Moerdijkbrug - The Hague

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On May 14 the Germans demanded the surrender of the city of Rotterdam. Soon after that the city surrendered. However, bombers that had already been sent were not called back and the city was thus still heavily bombed, resulting in approximately 800 deaths and 78,000 homeless. This was supposedly caused by a communications difficulty. After this bombardment the Dutch army surrendered, but the battle continued in Zeeland for a few days, until the bombardment of Middelburg forced Zeeland to surrender as well.

Related Topics:
May 14 - Rotterdam - Zeeland - Middelburg

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People were hoping to be liberated quickly by the French and British, but after the evacuation from Dunkirk, where the Allies's armies barely escaped being surrounded, France surrendered. The new regime in Vichy began collaborating with the Germans. The government of Prime Minister Dirk Jan de Geer was invited to return as well. He wanted to accept this invitation but Queen Wilhelmina did not approve it.

Related Topics:
Dunkirk - Allies - France - Vichy - Collaborating - Dirk Jan de Geer - Queen Wilhelmina

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The Dutch navy, merchant navy and the oil reserves of Dutch East Indies were of great importance to the British. After Germany forced Vichy France to hand over Indochina to Japan, Queen Wilhelmina was afraid the same thing would happen to the East Indies. She, herself, dismissed her Prime Minister and assigned another (Pieter Gerbrandy), who did want to continue fighting.

Related Topics:
Oil - Dutch East Indies - Indochina - Pieter Gerbrandy

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