Goal 6: The Netherlands occupied

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

All homing pigeons had to be killed. 

Pigeons fly freely and can 

carry messages to the allies.

Pigeon legs with a ring must 

be handed in as evidence.

Goal 6 :The Netherlands occupied

After this lesson you can:

• Explain how the Netherlands became occupied by Germany.
  
• Explain the three ways in which the Dutch population reacted to the occupation.
  
• Explain how the Jewish population was discriminated and deported during the war.
  

The Netherlands mobilizes

November 1939

• The Dutch government hoped that the Netherlands would remain neutral. Just like they did during WWI.
• In the end, they decided too late to mobilize. 

Germany attacks

10th of May 1940

• On Friday morning, at 3.55 am, the German army attacks the Netherlands who are poorly armed
• There is considerable resistance in places like the Afsluitdijk and the Grebbe linie. However, they could not whitstand the Germany army. 
  

Government in exile

13th of May 1940

• A large part of the Dutch government flees to Great Brittain to stay out of German hands. 
• From London, Queen Wilhelmina will motivate the Dutch not to give up and to fight against the occupiers.

Bombing Rotterdam

14th of May 1940

• The Netherlands were able to resist for four days, but the Germans were in a hurry. They bombed Rotterdam and threatend to bomb other cities as well.
• The  bombing only took 15 minutes, but the city centre was completely destroyed. It would be rebuilt after the war

The Netherlands surrenders

15th of May 1940

• The Netherlands has no choice but to surrender. 
• In total, about 2200 people died in May 1940.

Part of Germany

29th of May 1940

• The Netherlands becomes a part of Germany: Reichskommissariat Niederlande
• The Austrian Arthur Seyss-Inquart becomes Reichskommisar. 

Netherlands during the occupation

• Most of the Dutch adapted and did nothing.
  --> accommodation
• A small proportion (4%) were pro-German, mostly NSB and SS.
  --> collaboration
• Resistance: helping people in hiding, distributing illegal newspapers and carrying out attacks.

Persecution of Jews in the Netherlands

from May 1940

Quickly anti-Jewish measures are taken

--> Dismissal of Jewish officials or registration requirements.

Vanaf april 1941 verschijnen de bordjes "Voor Joden verboden"

in de Nederlandse steden.

Vanaf mei 1942 zijn Joden verplicht om een Jodenster te dragen.

In dat jaar gaan ook de eerste Joden via Westerbork naar Auschwitz...

https://schooltv.nl/video-item/het-verhaal-van-nederland-in-de-klas-bevrijders-en-bezetters