The German Invasion of the Netherlands - May 1940

How did the Germans conquer the Netherlands in May 1940? On the 10th of May 1940 the German invasion of the Netherlands started. Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands via land and via air. Within one day they crushed through the IJssel Line and then made their way to the main Dutch line of defence: the Grebbe Line (Grebbelinie). The area in front of the Grebbe Line was flooded. The only place that wasn't was the Grebbeberg. Meanwhile German troops landed in the Dutch hinterland. Around The Hague German paratroopers (Fallshirmjäger) and airlanding troops attacked the air fields of Ypenburg, Ockenburg en Valkenburg (a.k.a. de Slag om de Residentie). The Dutch defenders were overwhelmed but got themselves together and fought back. The German attackers took the air fields but were driven off by a counterattack of the Dutch soldiers. The German plan to take The Hague and capture the Dutch queen, army high command and government failed completely. The Battle of the Grebbeberg was in full swing now. There the defenders fought hard but were driven back. On one occasion Dutch officer, major Jacometti, drew his klewang and stormed forward to lead a counterattack. He was killed in action. Another Dutch counterattack failed as well. The Battle of Rotterdam went on for some days now and the resistance needed to be broken in order to resume the German advance in the Netherlands. Rotterdam army commander colonel Scharroo received an unsigned German letter that demanded the city to be surrendered or face demolition by bombing. After some discussion they requested for a signed message. Yet, the planes were on their way and Rotterdam was bombed. One place the Germans did not managed to take was in the north. The Battle of the Afsluitdijk was won by the Dutch troops, yet they had to surrender. Learn more about the start of WW II in the Netherlands. History Hustle presents: the Battle of the Netherlands (1940). Learn about the German invasion of Holland also known as the Battle of the Netherlands.


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Footage and still photos are of the short film “Mei 1940” which I graduated with from the Utrecht School of Arts. Check out the facebook page for more information:
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Other images from commons.wikimedia.org or flickr.com.


"Crusade" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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"Evil March" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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"Five Armies" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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"Exciting Trailer" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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