大象传媒

What I could not have known then as a seven-year old that, although I lived in a wealthy country, changes were afoot.

At this point I need to explain that my personal memories have been supplemented by knowledge of the facts at an older age. We often had lengthy discussions about this period, at home and at school, long after the war was over, details of which should not be lost with time.

With the Depression years gone and with the wealthy possessions of our colonies in the Far East and the West-Indies you would have thought Holland had little to worry about 鈥� but no.

The world-stage was politically in turmoil. Drastic measures had to be taken to economise. Insecurity and the disaster of unemployment made people tense and nervous. Especially my father, who had experience of it during the Depression years and had to work very hard now for long hours to keep his present job as an accountant.

No wonder I never got a scooter with proper tyres I so dearly wished for!
With no pension or benefits in those days, we had to save as much as possible for that famous 鈥渞ainy day鈥�.

A great concern was the growth of the NSB, the National Socialists. With anxiety the development in Germany was being witnessed.
Adolf Hitler, the leader of the National Socialists, had come to power in 1933 and since then there was a strong military build-up, as well as persecution of Jews.
One could see, even then, which direction Germany meant to go.

During the first world war, Holland had been neutral but many doubted that this time it could be the same. It was desperately trying to avoid annoying the strong, states, Germany, Italy and Japan.
At all costs, Holland wanted to prevent its people from being subjected to the cruel brutalities of war.

When England and France declared war on 3rd September 1939, Holland proclaimed neutrality and Germany seemed to agree.

Germany, with its numerous kingdoms and dukedoms, provided many partners for royal suitors all over Europe. Wilhelmina, our Queen, had married Prince Hendrik in 1901 and in 1937 Juliana, the Crown Princess, also married a German, Prince Bernhard.
Under the circumstances, he had to adjust quickly to the Dutch way of life.

When a state of emergency was declared on November 7th, our Queen paid a visit to King Leopold of Belgium, whose country was also neutral, to discuss the situation.
They sent messages to all countries concerned to offer mediation.

The Dutch have always been a sea-faring nation, so when our ships ran into mines and sank and the borders were violated by aircraft, a complaint was lodged. Goebbels dismissed these incidents as 鈥渦nfortunate errors鈥�.

When Berlin reacted unfavourably to a complaint of yet another border incident, the Prime Minister cancelled all leave to protect the borders and to flood strategic areas of low-lying land, which would hamper the German infantry. However, this proved an old-fashioned idea of defence, when you consider the use of German aircrafts.

The N.S.B. inside Holland now gave greater concern. Everybody knew that our country was full of German spies and of Dutch people who were pro-German. They presented a positive danger.

During April 1940 the Germans insinuated, for the first time, a possible assault by the Allies in Holland and Belgium with the aim of attacking Germany. A radio-news broadcast was never missed. Also the English and German ones were closely followed. I was not even allowed to whisper. Family discussions were held afterwards. The word 鈥渨ar鈥� frightened me and, though I did not know what it entailed, I kept on asking if we were going to have one.

In the meantime trenches were dug across the road from us. How futile that was became clear on that fatal early morning of 10th of May 1940.

It was a most beautiful sunny start of the day. We were roused by a steady drone, occasionally interrupted with a diving noise that would become so familiar during the following years.

We stood, stunned and pale, clinging to each other on the balcony. The sky was black with German fighterplanes, dropping hundreds of parachutists into position. It was like a flock of birds disturbed by a gunshot. Never in my life had I seen anything like this. It was incredible!
It was the distress on my parents鈥� faces that made me control my excitement.

The war had started! Without warning Holland had been invaded! The radio gave out bulletins on the situation. Civilian airports and military bases were being bombed. The bridges over the big rivers were blown up to obstruct the Germans. The Germans, in Dutch uniforms, were unmasked and executed. They had to say the word 鈥淪cheveningen鈥�, and if they couldn鈥檛, you knew they were Germans in disguise.

It had only been a few weeks ago since the Prime-Minister had asked the population to stay calm, like Chamberlain waving his piece of paper in Britain, some months before.

The N.S.B. correspondent, Max Blokzijl, the biggest traitor of all, reassured the Dutch that from 鈥楪erman authoritive source鈥� there was not the slightest reason to suspect a hostile attitude from Germany. The German Consul asked for an audience with the Minister of the Foreign Office three hours after the attack. He confirmed the invasion and advised that resistance was pointless. Providing that no opposition was given, Germany would guarantee our possessions overseas as well as our dynasty, otherwise the risk of total destruction was imminent. Our Minister was so enraged about this unannounced attack that he informed the Consul to consider us at war.

I was very scared when I heard planes flying over and jumped on my mother鈥檚 lap clinging on for comfort.

My parents were doing their best not to panic and made a game out of covering the windows with tape, some quite artistically, to prevent them shattering in the bombardments. The black-out did not help me with my fear of the dark either. Hans, now eight months old, had my full attention while the news was on.
The soldiers fought hard and were brave to try and oppose such an enormous army, but it was useless to even contemplate a dent into this iron force. The few blown-up trains with tanks certainly did not weaken the German strength and 79 planes shot down sounds a great number but, compared with the number in action, it was nothing. In one of those planes shot down near The Hague was the German general Von Sponeck. It also contained a saddled horse on which he had hoped to enter The Hague, heading his victorious army, as well as a complete plan of action.The Queen and her Government had to be arrested immediately and to be sent to Berlin.

Everywhere heavy fighting went on, especially along the Rhine to keep the enemy from crossing the river with their heavy armour. Many lives were lost.

At the Palace, in Soestdijk, Prince Bernhard stood armed among the Dutch soldiers facing his own country-men, for which he gained the deepest respect of the population. He and Princess Juliana with their two daughters were picked up by a British destroyer on May 12th. The Queen boarded a British warship and headed for the, as yet unoccupied, province of Zeeland. When it became known that the enemy knew, the course was changed for Britain. The Government sailed that same evening, destination London.By now most of the country seemed open for the German troops. An un-signed ultimatum was presented to the Dutch commander in charge of the Rotterdam defence on May 14th, saying, that in two hours the Germans expected the resistance to cease, or else鈥�
The Dutch commander sent the letter back, requesting the signature, rank and unit of the sender. Though Rotterdam had already capitulated, the German bombers destroyed its entire centre, even before the two hours were up!

The whole of Holland had to capitulate, otherwise all the big cities would have to share Rotterdam鈥檚 fate. This was it! At six p.m on May 14th the Dutch surrendered. The war had lasted for exactly five days!

When the German troops entered Amsterdam and The Hague on May 16th the true Dutch watched in silence and with sombre faces, the N.S.B. cheered and presented the troops with flowers and sweets. And Rotterdam was still burning鈥e could see it from the upstairs window, where we watched it with tears running down our cheeks. So many innocent people were burnt alive. The destruction of the heart of commerce. The cranes in the harbour collapsed, like our hope!
To see so many adults cry everywhere had a bewildering effect on me. Why? What was happening?

The newly elected State Commissioner, Seys Inquart, declared that the Germans had not arrived as conquerors and would not dream of taking away the freedom of the Dutch, nor impose the German doctrine.He had the audacity to say this in the Ridderzaal, where our Queen opened the new sessions of Parliament every year. Even Hitler commented on the 鈥渉onest fighting of the Dutch soldiers and because no civilians took part, I might consider to free your P.O.W鈥檚.鈥�

Our P.M. in London sent a message to the Dutch nation that 鈥渋t was a duty to work together with the Germans as well as possible.鈥� This was considered as so obviously pro-German that he was immediately replaced by Professor Gerbrandy, Cherry-Brandy, as Churchill liked to call him.

One of the police departments, now all under German control, announced in June that one million kg. of potatoes had to be sent to Germany. This was the immediate beginning of the looting of our enormous amounts of stocked food, shoes and clothing. It was a pity that the population did not have a chance to acquire it before it all went to Germany, but a most accurate inventory was already in their hands. The Germans paid for it all by patiently printing Dutch money in unbelievable quantities.

From the beginning there had always been hope that the British would come to our aid, but no sign of them鈥攁s yet.
Daily, heavy German bombers were flying West, whilst the German soldiers marched through the streets, singing about their next move, England.

To support this financially, collections were held, which they called Winterhelp.
Fluorescent badges like little houses were given in return, which appealed to many, especially us children. To my disappointment I never got one.

The 大象传媒 news was followed intently and we heard about the Battle of Britain.
The Germans were not very pleased with this outcome and it must have cut to the core when they marched and sang, 鈥淯nd wir fahren gegen Engeland鈥�, with passers-by adding 鈥渟plash-splash, glug-glug鈥� under their breath!

After the Battle of Britain the glug-glug bit was also used as an end-piece at dance parties. Consequently all dancing was forbidden.

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Anastasia Travers a volunteer with WM CSV Actiondesk on behalf of Theodora Coleman and has been added to the site with his permission. Theodora Coleman fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

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