Holland 1940

The German invasion of the Netherlands was meant to be a lightning-fast surgical strike, aimed at shoring up the right flank of the assault on France and Belgium. With a bold plan based largely on Luftwaffe air power, air-landing troops, and the biggest airborne assault yet seen, a Dutch surrender was expected within 24 hours. But the Netherlands possessed Europe's first fully integrated anti-aircraft network, as well as modern and competitive aircraft. On 10 May, the German attack was only partly successful, and the Dutch fought on for another four days. On the fifth day, with its original strategy having largely failed, the Luftwaffe resorted to terror-bombing Rotterdam to force a surrender. Explaining the technical capabilities and campaign plans of the two sides, and charting how the battles were fought, this fascinating book reassesses this little-known part of World War II. Author Ryan K. Noppen argues that while the Holland campaign was a tactical victory for Germany, the ability of the well-prepared but outnumbered Dutch to inflict heavy losses was a warning of what would come in the Battle of Britain.

Drawing on new research, this book provides the first comprehensive English-language account of the German assault on the Netherlands in May 1940. It presents fresh and incisive analyses of German and Dutch actions at tactical, operational and strategic levels.

Describes and illustrates the full range of Dutch resistance groups and German and collaborationist counter-resistance groups during the Nazi occupation in 1940-45. The Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in World War II followed a complex course, whose scope is not widely understood. It was a great deal broader and more varied than the much-reported German counter-espionage success against Dutch agents parachuted in by the Special Operations Executive. From spring 1943 onwards, three Dutch Resistance organizations gained momentum: the Order Service (OD), the Resistance Council (RVV), and the National Assault Teams (LKP). In response, the Germans raised collaborationist forces to counter the Resistance, including the much-feared Landwacht. In September 1944 the OD, RVV and LKP amalgamated into the Netherlands Interior Forces (NBS), while Allied troops began to liberate the southern provinces. This allowed NBS forces in the south to form Stoottroepen, uniformed and armed by both the British and US armies. These assisted the Allied advance, while a bloody underground struggle continued in the occupied north until final liberation in April–May 1945. Illustrated with rare photos and new colour plates, this book gives a comprehensive account of one of the lesser-known struggles of World War II.

First Published in 1990. The conference on Anglo-Dutch relations from 1940 to 1945, held at University College London on 3, 4 and 5 April 1989, covered a part - not the least interesting nor the simplest part - of the diplomatic and military history of the world war against Nazi Germany and imperial Japan. The historical context of Anglo-Dutch relations, close since the fall of the Roman Empire, bears setting out at the start. The papers that follow are printed almost as they were delivered, at a conference attended by a mixture of scholars, teachers, diplomats, journalists, students and retired warriors; of ages as diverse as their experiences; many of whom already knew each other.

Most studies of the 1940 Western Campaign have tended to focus on a narrow range of topics, principally those relating the German forces or the epic of Dunkirk. The publication of this title is aimed at redressing the balance by providing a detailed account of the operations of the Dutch army during this campaign. The author begins by presenting a detailed account of the Dutch army prior to the campaign, including its plan of campaign. He also includes a fascinating chapter discussing the geography of the Netherlands from a military point of view. The remainder of the text consists of a daily account of the Dutch army's operations down to regimental or independent battalion-level. In doing so, the author clearly demonstrates the combat capability of the Dutch troops and the brave and tenacious defense with which they met the German invasion. Appendices provide a detailed order-of-battle, and sample orders. This is a significant contribution to the literature available on the 1940 campaign in France and the Low Countries.

"First published in Great Britain by Bantam Press"--T.p. verso.

Record of the Dutch experience under Nazi occupation with emphasis on German and Allied espionage activities.

A poignant, true-survival story of a young boy who hid underground for four years in Holland during World War II. A Boy In Hiding sheds a light on the difficult road that lay ahead for Anne Frank-had she survived. Now, sixty years later, Rubens gives a voice to the young boy, who-despite the hardship and difficulties he encountered, never lost his positive view of life.

My interest in the 'refugee question' of the 1930s stemmed initially from time spent as an undergraduate at Manchester University, an interest which has been expanded, via a doctoral thesis, to the writing of this book. In wri ting about the German and Austrian refugees who fled to the Netherlands before the country was occupied in May 1940, the main aim has been to re turn the 'refugee question' of the 1930s into its pre-war context,a context from which it has often been dragged to provide an introduction to the events of the war period and the policies carried out by the Germans in oc cupied Europe. A study of the Netherlands provides the opportunity to look at refugees as a whole, not just as Jews, social democrats or communists, and also to examine the reaction and response of an European government to what was essentially a unique problem. I take great pleasure in recording my gratitude to the many people who have helped me in the course of my work. To the Dutch Ministerie van On derwijs en Wetenschappen and the Twenty-Seven Foundation for grants which enabled me to spend time in the Netherlands completing the research for this project, and to the British Acadamy for their financial assistance with publication costs. The research for this book took me to many libraries and archives in a number of countries.