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Fled Germany
Things felt different for the Jewish population. They had the most to fear from the Nazis. Some of them had fled Germany in the 1930s, and now, they were being overtaken by the Nazis. In the months after the invasion, hundreds of Jews committed suicide. -
German Army invaded Poland
Two days later England and France, both allies of Poland, declared war on Germany. -
The Netherlands is neutral
The principle of dutch foreign policy was neutrality, as it had been for a century. The Netherlands had avoided getting involved in international conflicts that would only take sides when attacked. -
The Belgian Army
The Belgian army got hold of the German attack plans when a German aircraft made an emergency landing in Belgium. -
The Queen
The Germans advanced ever further. Although the Dutch army still gained small victories, it could not hold its positions. The Cabinet felt that Queen Wilhelmina should flee. Her safety was at stake. Initially, she did not want to go, but she was forced to leave when the situation worsened. A warship took her to England, where the British King received her. -
Western Europe
By the summer of 1940, almost all of Western Europe was under German control. The surrounding countries either stayed out of the war or were German allies. Only England was still free, but it seemed inconceivable that the British would be able to liberate Europe in the short term. -
The government proclaimed martial law
This allowed the government to censor sensitive military information and to arrest persons who were considered a risk to national security. It was feared that Dutch NSB members, for instance, would help the Germans in the event of an invasion. -
The Germans invaded the Netherlands
Fighting resulted in the occupation of the Netherlands. -
Germany and the Netherlands
Dutch observers saw bombers from the German Luftwaffe flying in the direction of the North Sea. They assumed that they were on their way to England. Once over the sea, the planes made 180-degree turns and flew back to attack the Netherlands. The Netherlands was at war. -
Paratroopers
On 10 May 1940, German paratroopers land in the Netherlands. -
The Grebbe Line
On the Grebbeberg, the Dutch army held out against the German army for three days. This line of defense consisted partly of flooded land. It temporarily slowed down the invaders. Even so, the Grebbe Line fell on 13 May. -
The bombing of Rotterdam
Rotterdam had been the scene of bitter fighting since the beginning of the attack, but the Germans had not succeeded in taking the city. And so, on 14 May 1940, German general Schmidt presented the Dutch command with an ultimatum. Unless Rotterdam surrendered that same afternoon, the city would be bombed. -
Capitulation of the Netherlands
The Germans went on to threaten to bomb Utrecht as well. Aware of the hopelessness of the situation, the Netherlands surrendered. In a school building in Rijsoord, General Winkelman signed the capitulation agreement on 15 May. The defeat was hard on the Dutch military and civilians. At the same time, many Dutch people were also relieved that the tension had subsided. -
German admin
As the Netherlands had surrendered, the Germans installed a new administration on 29 May, headed by Reich Commissioner Arthur Seuss-Inquart, an Austrian Nazi. For the next five years, the Germans called the shots in the Netherlands. -
Hitler in Paris
Adolf Hitler visits Paris on 23 June 1940, after the city has fallen into German hands. Here, Hitler and his entourage walk past the Eiffel Tower. -
Drawing of Invasion
Many Dutch people considered the German invasion a cowardly act. Drawing of the invasion by L.J. Jordaan, 1945.
