Figure 1.--Here is Princess Juliana and her husband Prince Bernard returning to the Netherlands on an American C-47 (August 1945). Queen Wilhelmina spent most of the War in Britain working with the Dutch Government in Exhile and making broadcasts on Radio Orange to the Dutch people. Princess Juliana and the childrem spent the war in Canada. Prince Bernard was a German prince and married Juliana just before the War. He became popular with the Dutch people for his performance as a combat pilot and his activities as a liaison officer and personal aide to the Queen during the War.

The Germans launhced their great Western Offensive (May 10). Inlike World War I, this time it included the invsion of the neutral Netherlnds. Part of German World War I goals wa to move toward incorporating the Netherlands in the German Reich. This time it would begin more forcubly. The Dutch had begun to make milirary improivements as Europe drifted toward war, but they were limited and the country;s main hope was in its neutralityb whichb had keptb them out of World War I. It soon became apparent that the small, poorly armed Dutch Army could not stop the Germans, ueen Wilhelmina fled to London. Details on tyhis are conused. She was evacuated by HMS Hereward, a British destroyer which took her and the royal family to safety (May 13). The Dutch Army surrendered (May 15). Dutch Navy ships also escaped to Britain. Important Dutch officials like Prime Minister de Geer also reached London. They at first hoped that France would conter attack and quickly liberate their country, but soon the enormity of the NAZI victory became all too apparent. The British and French moved north to come to their assistnce, but were soon cut off and forced to evacuate at Dunkirk. The French surrender and Marshall Petain's decession to collaborate with the NAZIs through the Vichy regime raised the issue of what the Dutch should do. At the time the NAZI victory seem overwealming. Britain itself looked like it might be the next country to fall. De Geer in fact wanted to return to the Netherlands and colaborate with the NAZIs. The Queen was adament that there would be no Dutch collaboration. She took charge of the Dutch government in exile and set up a chain of command. She immediately soke to her people by radio. She dimissed de Geer and appointed another prime-minister Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy who would serve through the War. De Geer would return to the Netherlands and colaborate with the Germans. After the stunning German victory, many Dutch people assumed that they would have to accept the Germans. But as the British held (1940) and the Soviets and Americans entered the War (1941), attitudes began to change and the Queen's defiant tone turned her into a national heroine. The Queen was primarily centered in Britain, but the family lived in Canada. The Queen spoke to the American Congress to a standing ovation--the first queen to do so (1942). While the Netherlands was occupied, there were colonial possessions, especially the Dutch East Indies (DEI). The DEI was one of the most important oil producers at the time. And oil was a major concern of the Axis--especially Japan. The Queen threw her support behind the British and hoped for eventual American entry into the War. Her decisive action impressed Churchill who called her 'the only man in the Dutch government'. Queen Wilhelmina broadcast messages to the Dutch people throughout the War on Radio Oranje. She called Adolf Hitler 'the arch-enemy of mankind'. She broadcast late at night so the Dutch people could listen in the safety of their homes. Listening was illegal and severly punished by the NAZIs. She retuned to the liberated areas of the southern Netherlands (March 1945). She visiting the region of Walcheren and Eindhoven where she received a jubilent welcome. The whole family retuned (August 1945).

German Invasion (May 10)

The Germans launched their great Western Offensive (May 10). Unlike World War I, this time it included the invsion of the neutral Netherlands. Part of German World War I goals was to move toward incorporating the Netherlands in the German Reich. This time it would begin more forceful. The Dutch had begun to make military improivements as Europe drifted toward war, but they were limited and the country;s main hope was in its neutralityb whichb had keptb them out of World War I. Queen Wilhelmina issued a proclamation protesting the German invasion of her neutral nation. It soon became apparent that the small, poorly armed Dutch Army could not stop the German onslaught.

Harpoon Force (May 11-14)

Some 200 Royal Marines were dispatched from Chatham to land at Hook of Holland (May 11). They were to establish a bridgehead for a the 2nd Battalion of the Irish Guards (Commanded by Major Joseph C. Haydon). They landed (May 13). The German invasion had been a total suprrise. Many of thec Rioyal Marines orered to the Netherlands were were on leave and couldn’t be recalled. The 2nd Battalion of the Irish Guards were Commanded by Major Joseph C. Haydon). His orderes were to dock at was region and former island in the Dutch province of Zeeland and importbnt because it was at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary prividing access to the important port of ntwerp. Haydon was to 1) secure it for the Royal Navy, 2) rescue the Dutch Royal family, 3) evacuate British embassy staff and other British citizens, and 4) cover the escape route from The Hague (the Dutch capital) to Walcheren. Other forces in the Nethrlsnds were to: 1) secure the Dutch gold reserves, 2) get as many diamonds out as possible (the Netherlbnds was very important in the dumond industry), and 4r) destroy the docks and other facilities the Germns might find useful. Haydon already found Walcheren in flames when he arrived. Stukas began bombing and strafing. The Marines covered the evacuation of the Queen and her escort and then withdrew the next day (Masy 14).

Royal Family Evacuated (May 12-13)

On leaning of the German invasion, Queen Wilhelmina instructed OPrincess Juliana and herv family to move to Noordeinde Palace in the centre of The Hague (the Dutxgh capital). Their residence was the more rural Huis ten Bosch palace. They would spent the nights in a shelter in the gardens of Noordeinde Palace. Wilhelmina ordered Princess Juliana and her daughters to evcuate. The plan was for her and her daughters to go to Paris. In World War I, France had been a bastion asginst the Germans. But quickly as thev Germans storned intothe Netherlands this was impossible. So they decided to evcuate to Engklnd. Princess Juliana and the princesses said goodbye to the Queen in the Hague (May 12). King Geirge VI ordered the Royal Navy to rescue the Dutch royal familhy as well as members of her Government.They then barded a Royal Navy ship. Her German husband accompanied them. This was a difficuklt decisionn on his part. He wanted to be with them, n=buit he was also an officer in the Dutch army and felt he had ann obligation o stay and fight. Queen Wilhemina wanted to stay and fight. But it was soon all tto clear in the deteriorating military suituation, that the Dutch Army could not hold back the Germans. And there would no real fight. The Dutch Cabinet convinced herv that should leave as well. Gen Wilhelmina called atb the palace early in the morningb (May 13) and briefed her on the worsening military situation. The Queen spoke on the phone with King George. She burst into tears after the conversation. Clearly she would have to leave. So the Queen and key governmnt figures were evacuated from the Hague by the Dutch Army. Details on this are confused. She was evacuated by HMS Hereward, a British destroyer which took her and Dutch officials to safety (May 13). The Queen at first hoped to reach the province of Zeeland where the Dutch Army might make a stand. This proved to be impossible, and Hereward set sail for Britain. Queen Wilhelmina describes the events in her menoirs, "Of course I was fully aware of the shattering impression that my departure would make at home, but I considered myself obliged, for the sake of the country, to accept the risk of appearing to have resorted to ignominious flight. If the guerilla against the parachute troops had not cut off all connections with the army fighting on the Grebbe, I could have joined it to share the fate of the soldier and, as William III put it, to be the last man to fall in the last ditch. I knew that this was not granted to me either." I don't think this was mere rhertoric. It think it shows her true mettle. SDomething Hitler was unwilling tom do. You can see why Churchill admired her. Queen Wilhelmina arrived at Harwich, where the British authorities had a train to London waiting for her. The Queen wrote, "At the station, I was met by King George and by my children, who were very upset and did not understand that I should have had to follow them so soon. The King asked me to be the guest of himself and the Queen, and escorted me to Buckingham Palace." The next day (Msy 14), she issued another proclamation telling her people that the government had to be moved abroad. "Do not despair. Do everything that is possible for you to do in the country’s best interest. We shall do our best. Long live the fatherland!" Many Dutch people at the time thought the Queen's action was cowardly and she had deserting them.

Dutch Army Surrenders (May 15)

Dutch Navy ships also escaped to Britain. Important Dutch officials like Prime Minister de Geer also reached London. They at first hoped that France would conter attack and quickly liberate their country, but soon the enormity of the NAZI victory became all too apparent. The iniital public reaction was not postive. The Dutch Army after the terror bombing of Rotterdam surrendered (May 15).

Allied Efforts (May 1940)

The British Exoeditionasry Force (DEF) and French moved north to come to come to the assistance of the Dutch. But there had been no pre-war planning because of Dutch neutrality. Even worse there had been no planning with the Belgians. King KLeopold had decided that neurality was a better choice than continuing the alliabce wuith Brutain and France. Thus the Maginot Line stopped at vthe Belguian biorder. Rushing north to assist the Dutch and Belgians prived tion be a huge military blunder. The main German force struck in the Ardennes withch the French had deenmed inpassavke. Within a few days a German force led by Erwin Rommel had reaghed the Channel, curing off the the British and French forces trying to save the Dutch and Belgians. This cut the Brutish nd Frebnch firces from the main French Army. Thrir supply lines cut and surrounded, it looked like they would be destroyed by the adb=vncing Germans especially after King Leopold surrendred the Belgian Army. The evacvution at Dunkirrl is ine of the miracles of the War. Over 3000,000 British and French soldiers made it safely to Brritain.

French Collaboration (June 1940)

The French srrender and Marshall Petain's decession to collaborate with the NAZIs through the Vichy regime raised the issue of what the Dutch should do. At the time the NAZI victory seem overwealming. Britain itself looked like it might be the next country to fall. br>

Dutch Resistance

Occupation

After the stunning German victory, many Dutch people assumed that they would have to accept the Germans. But as the British held (1940) and the Soviets and Americans entered the War (1941), attitudes toward Queen Wilhelmina and the Riyal Family began to change. Especially as German rule became increasingly severe.

Dutch Attitudes

The Queen's defiant tone turned her into a national heroine. The initial negative reaction chsnged as most Dutch opeiple came to realize that there was no real choice. King Leopold's experirience shiowed how useless was it was to remain under German control. Queen Wilhekmina spoke to the Dutch people from London for the first time (May 24). The Queen primarily remzained in Britain, but the Princess Juliana and her family moved to Canada. The Queen spoke to the American Congress and receivd a standing ovation -- the first queen to do so (1942). Queen Wilhelmina broadcast messages to the Dutch people throughout the War Beginning (July), the BBC broadcasted Radio Oranje (Orange). The Queen spoke 34 times during the War dufruing hr best to encourage the Dutch people. She called Adolf Hitler 'the arch-enemy of mankind,' what we know now to be an apt descriotion. She timed her broadcasts late at night so the Dutch people could listen in the safety of their homes. Listening was illegal and severly punished by the NAZIs if reported. She retuned to the liberated areas of the southern Netherlands (March 1945). She visiting the region of Walcheren and Eindhoven where she received a jubilent welcome. The whole family was united in a liberated zbnc free Netherlabnds (August 1945).



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Created: 5:27 AM 7/16/2023
Last updated: 5:27 AM 7/16/2023