5. The occupation of the Netherlands

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

5. The occupation of the Netherlands

Learning goals 

• How did the occupation of the Netherlands progress.
• What changed in everyday life during the occupation.
• What was the attitude of the Dutch towards the German occupiers.

Which anti-Semitic policy was introduced in 1935 and made a normal life impossible for Jews?

1. Kristallnacht
2. Molotov-Ribbentrop pact
3. Balfour Declaration
4. Nuremberg Laws

What was the Wannsee conference?

In which country were most extermination camps?

1. Austria
2. Germany
3. Poland
4. Russia

The occupation of the Netherlands

On 10 may 1940 Germany invaded the Netherlands

The Dutch army stood their ground at The Hague en the Afsluitdijk. 

The Queen and Dutch government fled to England. 

The occupation of the Netherlands (2)

During the occupation the Netherlands got a German administration​

• Democracy was abolished and the parliamant was dissolved​
  
• Because the changes are few for most people, normal life continues

Arthur Seyss-Inquart

The occupation of the Netherlands

The Dutch, however, don't accept National Socialism and as the war continues, the Nazis get stricter

• This lead to more resistance
• In september 1944 the south of the Netherlands were liberated
  
• Operation Market Garden is carried out to cross the river Rhine at Arnhem --> this fails and Nazi-occupied Netherlands (specifically: the cities in the West) have to endure a cold 'Hunger Winter'

Liberation 

5 may 1945 

Resistance and collaboration

A small group of Dutch people assisted the Nazis: collaboration

• Many of them were members of the NSB
• It was founded in 1931 by Anton Mussert
• Weren't antisemitic (at first)
• There weren't very popular (4-8% of votes)

Isolation and deportation of the jews

• 1941 all public areas were off limits for Jews
• A letter J was stamped in their pasport 
• In 1941 the first raids began. 
• 1942 Jews had to wear a yellow star visible 

The systematic deportation of Jews had begun.

In April 1943 the Netherlands was declared ''Judenfrei''. 

February strike

February 1941

• Major resistance campaign against the German occupier in the Netherlands.
  
• After the Nazis had seized hundreds of Jews in a round-up, workers in went on strike for two days. 
• The Germans put an end to the strike ruthlessly (shot strike leaders). 
• Largest public protest against the persecution of the Jews in all of occupied Europe.

Resistance and collaboration

Arbeiteinsatz in 1942

National organisation for the assistance to people in hiding 

Extra