Figure 1.--Condition in even the libeated Netherlands were very diffucult. These Dutch refugee children have just been transported to Britain by the Royal Navy (March 11, 1945). They are being procssed and will be cared for by families and in hostels. The paper parcel is all his personal possessions.Source: Imperial War Museum.

The Netherlands was a haven for anti-NAZIs and Jews before the advent of World War II. The Dutch language is similar to German and Dutch authorities did not turn over refugees who crossed the borderly illegally. As a result, large numbers of German Jews sought refuge in the Netherlands. With the outbreak of the War (September 1939), there was an upsurge of Germans crossing the border--mostly Jews. Some 34,000 refugees sought safety in the neutral Netherlands. Many were still there when the Germans invaded (May 10, 1940). Tragically the people who had not moved on were trapped. It was a major factor in the tragic story of the Holocaust in the Netherlands. As the Germans also invaded Belgium to the south, there was no where to flee, there were few Dutch refugees. A few Dutch citizens were able to get to Britain by boat, including the Queen, but not very many. The Dutch were surounded and hemmed in by the Reich, German occupied Belgium, and the North Sea. The Dutch surrendered after only 3 days of fighting. The only way out was by boat and because of the nature of the North Sea a very substantial boat was needed. This meant that the German authorities could prevent the escape of any substantial number of people. The flat Dutch countryside and absence of any wilderness area meant that there were few places to hide inside the country. Rather than escape, the Dutch had to hide--the 'onderduikers' (under-divers). The people included anti-NAZIs, Jews, resistance fighters, labor conscripts, and eventually downded Allied airmen. The Allies after D-Day finally reached the Dutch (September 1944). The only refugees at first were the Germans and their Dutch collaborators headed toward the Reich. The Germans managed, however, to stop the Allied Operation Market Garden offensive at the Rhine (October 1944). This liberated much of the Netherlands, but the northern Netherlands remained in German hands until the end of the war (May 1945). Hitler punished the Dutch for siding with the allies with the Hunger Winter starvation program. The Dutch in essence becme refugees in their own homes. Tey had housing, but no food. Some of the Dutch may have escaped the Germans, but the Rhine was not easy to cross, especially during the Winter. Conditions were difficult even in the liberated areas of the country. We note the British taking in Dutch refugee childtren (March 1945). We have found a series of photographs at the Imperial War Museum, but no actual description of the program. We though that they my have been orphns, but that was not the case. A British reader writes, "My grandparents looked after a Dutch refugee boy aged somewhere around 11 years old. Not sure of all the details, but I recall a photograph of the boy at my greataunt's home. She said that after the War that my grandparents went to the Netherlands and stayed with the boy's family. Unfortunately that's all I know."

Pre-War Refugees (1930s)

The Netherlands was a haven for anti-NAZIs and Jews before the advent of World War II. Jews began arriving wiyh the NAZI seizur of power (1933). The Dutch language is similar to German and Dutch authorities with a hritage vof toleation, did not turn over refugees who crossed the borderly illegally. As a result, large numbers of German Jews sought refuge in the Netherlands.

Outbreak of World War II (September 1939)

With the German invasion of Poland outbreak of the War (September 1939), the Dutch attempted to remain neutral. One report suggests there was an upsurge of Germans crossing the border--mostly Jews. We are not sure about this. We need to confirm this. Our understaning is that the Germans became increasing strict aboutg Jews trying to leave the country. Some 34,000 refugees sought safety in the neutral Netherlands. And once there attempted to get visas to other countries like Britain and America. Many experinced difficulty gtting visas.

German Invasion (May 1940)

The Dutch were stunned by the German incasion (May 10). Most Duth people assume that the Germans would respect their neutrality as they had dome in World War I. The Dutch surrendered after only 3 days of fighting. Dutch resistance collapsed so quickly (May 14) that the Dutch had no real oppotrtunity to flee. Thus there were few Dutch refugees when the Germans struck. As the Germans also invaded Belgium to the south, there was no where to flee, there were few Dutch refugees. A few Dutch citizens were able to get to Britain by boat, including the Queen, but not very many. A few Dutch people managed to escape by sea, mostly people like fishermen who owned a boat or new someoe who had a boat. The Dutch were surounded and hemmed in by the Reich, German occupied Belgium, and the North Sea. The only way out was by boat and because of the nature of the North Sea a very substantial boat was needed. This meant that the German authorities could prevent the escape of any substantial number of people.

Occupation (1940-44/45)

Many of the Jews who has escaped Germany were still in the Nethetlands when the Germans invaded (May 10, 1940). Tragically the Jews and anti-NAZIs who had not moved on were trapped. It was a major factor in the tragic story of the Holocaust in the Netherlands. The flat Dutch countryside and absence of any wilderness area meant that there were few places to hide inside the country. Rather than escape, the Dutch had to hide--the 'onderduikers' (under-divers). The people included anti-NAZIs, Jews, resistance fighters, labor conscripts, and eventually downded Allied airmen. This became one of the major activities of the Resistance. Some 0.3 million people may have been hidden, but we cannot yet confirm this.

Liberation of the South (September-November 1944)

The Allies after D-Day finally reached the Dutch (September 1944). The only refugees at first were the Germans and their Dutch collaborators headed toward the Reich. The Germans managed, however, to stop the Allied Operation Market Garden offensive at the Rhine (October 1944). Unlike Belgium, the Germans put up a fight for much of the Netherlands. It was a hard fight to get to Arnhem and the Rhine. And even after the Allies punched through to Arnhem, the Germans struck back at the highway leading to Arnhem. The Highway became known as Hell's Hghway. The fighting persisted for some time. Once the Germans were driven out of one area, they struck back in another area. After the failure of Market Garden's attempt to cross the Rhine, the Allies proceeded to clear the Germans out of the area west of the Rhine. Dutch towns and villages took a beating from German artillery. The Germans were kjnown to shell newly liberated Dutch towns at night. Ater a day of celebration, it was to teach the Dutch aesson. Villages like Nijmegen were heavily damaged. The area between Nijmeean and Arnhem saw the worst of the fighting. Civilians were moved out of the combat areas.

Hunger Winter in the North (October 1944-May 1945)

This liberated much of the Netherlands, but the northern Netherlands remained in German hands until the end of the war (May 1945). Hitler punished the Dutch for siding with the allies with the Hunger Winter starvation program. The Dutch in essence becme refugees in their own homes. They had housing, but no food. Some of the Dutch may have escaped the Germans, but the Rhine was not easy to cross, especially during the Winter. Conditions were difficult even in the liberated areas of the country, but in the German-controlled areas beyond the Rhine peopl began starving. The children were the most vulnerable. The Hunger Winter wiuld result in life-long health consequncs.

British Care Program for Dutch Children (March 1945)

We note the British takeing in Dutch refugee childtren (March 1945). This was before the Allies reached the starving Dutch north if th Rhine and the end of the War. Refugees may not be the best word for these children. After 5 years of NAZI occupation and the food shortages resulting from the occupation there were many children whose health was affected. Children and the elderly are the most vulnerable in such circumsrances. In the immediate aftermath of partial liberation, the provisional Dutch Goverment did not hve the capability to offer the care that these children needed. The Dutch south of the Rhine did not suffer the Hunger Winter that those north of the Rhine had to endure, but mny children were in bad shape. So the British brought some of these children to Britain where they could receive the food and medical care they needed. They were brought to Britain by the Royal Navy and were cared for by both families and in hostels. We do not know how many Dutch children were involved and how long the program lasted. We have found a series of photographs at the Imperial War Museum. We though that they may have been orphans, but that does not seem to have been the case. A British reader writes, "My grandparents looked after a Dutch refugee boy aged somewhere around 11 years old. Not sure of all the details, but I recall a photograph of the boy at my greataunt's home. She said that after the War that my grandparents went to the Netherlands and stayed with the boy's family. Unfortunately that's all I know." Unfortunately an intrnet search has turned up nothing. We are sure there must be some information on this effort.

Created: 4:59 AM 11/5/2016
Last updated: 3:57 AM 1/9/2017