Timeline of the Netherlands during World War II

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Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
See also: Chronology of the liberation of Dutch cities and towns during World War II

This timeline is about events during

Timeline of World War II
.

1939

  • 28 August: Mobilization of the Dutch army[1]

1940

1941

  • 3-4 October: an RAF raid on Rotterdam results in 106-130 deaths.[2]

1942

  • The year saw RAF air raids on Rotterdam, Schiedam, Geleen, and Einhoven.[2]

1943

  • The year saw allied air raids on Rotterdam, Tussendijken, Haarlem, Amsterdam-Noord, and Enschede.[2]

1944

The

Dutch famine of 1944–45
began late in the year.

June

  • 10 June: Anton Mussert reveals that he has become a volunteer for the Wehrmacht.[3]

July

August

  • 2 Aug: Gerbrandy and Van Heuven Goedhart sign the documents for the establishment of the College of Trusted Men [nl] (Dutch: College van Vertrouwensmannen)[3]
    • 24 Aug: First meeting of the College of Trusted Men[3]
  • 25 Aug: J.A. van Bijnen becomes the National Sabotage Commander of the Knokploegen [nl][3] (Knokploegen were Dutch resistance fighting squads)
  • 28 Aug: First new airdrop of weapons and sabotage materials for Dutch underground groups[3]
  • 30 Aug: Hitler orders the improvement and extension of the Siegfried Line[3]

September

  • 2 Sep: The mass exodus of NSB members from South Limburg begins[3]
  • 3 Sep:
    • Brussels liberated[3]
    • Prince Bernhard appointed Commander of the Dutch Armed Forces.[3]
    • Queen Wilhelmina, via Radio Oranje, informs the population in occupied territory that 'liberation is imminent'[3]
    • Commencement of the organized departure of German citizens from the Netherlands[3]
  • 3 to 4 Sep: Start of systematic railway sabotage by the Landelijke Knokploegen [nl][3]
  • 4 Sep:
    • Antwerp liberated[3]
    • Hitler orders the stubborn defense of West Zealand-Flanders and Walcheren[3]
    • Seyss-Inquart declares the state of exception, Rauter orders everyone to be indoors by 8 pm[3]
    • The queen agrees to Colonel Kruis being appointed Chief of Staff of Military Authority[3]
    • Mussert decides to evacuate NSB members from the western and central regions to the east[3]
    • The Government Information Service disseminates the incorrect information that Breda has been liberated[3]
  • 5 Sep:
    • The mass exodus of NSB members begins[3]
    • The Dutch Labor Service [nl] empties[3]
    • The population behaves as if the occupier has already been expelled[3]
    • First major transport of prisoners from the concentration camp Vught to Germany[3]
  • 6 Sep:
    • Prince Bernhard establishes himself on the continent[3]
    • Second major transport of prisoners from Vught[3]
  • 7 Sep: Formation of an illegal Top Triangle in Amsterdam[3]
  • 8 Sep:
  • 10 Sep: The British Second Army crosses the Bocholt–Herentals Canal at Beeringen[3]
  • 11 Sep: Schöngarth, Commander of the Security Police and SD, issues the so-called Niedermachungsbefehl[3] (orders to shoot resistance members on sight )
  • 12 Sep: Major General Kruis issues a First General Directive with guidelines for the arrest of 'wrongful' elements[3]
  • 14 Sep:
  • 15 or 16 Sep: Hitler orders the utmost fanaticism in the defense of German territory[3]
  • 16 Sep: The illegal 'Delta Center' begins operating in Amsterdam[3]
  • 17 to 20 September – Battle of Nijmegen
  • 17 to 26 September – Battle of Arnhem
  • 17 Sep:
    • The British Second Army launches the offensive from Beeringen[3]
    • Large Allied airborne landings in North Brabant, in the Reich of Nijmegen, and near Arnhem [3]
    • The Dutch government orders a general railway strike[3]
    • The Reichskommissariat is relocated to Delden[3]
  • 18 Sep: Liberation of Eindhoven[3]
  • 20 Sep:
    • Entire East Zeelandic Flanders liberated[3]
    • Conquest of the Waal bridges near Nijmegen[3]
    • The British Airborne forces have to abandon the Rhine bridge at Arnhem[3]
  • 21 Sep: Beginning of the German destruction of the port facilities of Rotterdam and Amsterdam[3]
  • 22 Sep: Major van Houten grants arrest authority to the Interior Armed Forces Shock Troops[3]
  • 24 Sep: The queen, bypassing the ministers, sends a telegram requesting the Great Advisory Commission of Illegality to be prepared to send a delegation to her[3]
  • 25 Sep:
    • The Airborne forces leave the 'perimeter' at Oosterbeek in the night to the 26th
    • Commencement of the evacuation of Arnhem[3]

October

  • 3 Oct: The RAF breaches the Westkappelse Zeedijk [nl]. In Eindhoven, the radio station 'Herrijzend Nederland' begins its broadcasts.[3]
  • 3 October to 8 November – Battle of the Scheldt
  • 4 Oct: Important note from the queen: the second Gerbrandy cabinet must disappear.[3]
  • 6 Oct: The Canadian First Army launches a major offensive against the Germans in West Zeelandic Flanders.[3]
  • 10 Oct: The first company of the Shock Troops departs for the front.[3]
  • 16 Oct: Montgomery grants absolute priority to operations for clearing the Wester-Schelde. In Eindhoven, the 'Bond Nederland' is founded (soon renamed 'Gemeenschap Oud-Illegale Werkers Nederland').[3]
  • 18 Oct: Second General Directive from General Kruis.[3]
  • 24 Oct: Start of the Canadian attack on the Kreekrak Dam.[3]
  • 25 Oct: Commencement of the liberation of Den Bosch.[3]
  • 27 Oct: Liberation of Tilburg.[3]
  • 29 Oct: Liberation of Breda.[3]

November

  • 1 Nov: Allied landings at Vlissingen and at Westkapelle.[3]
  • 2 Nov: German resistance in and around West Zeeland-Flanders is broken.[3]
  • 6 Nov: Liberation of Middelburg.[3]
  • 8 Nov: An American division, part of the Canadian First Army, reaches Moerdijk.[3]
  • 12 Nov: Assertive letter from General Kruis to prevent the arrival of ministerial 'quartermasters.'[3]
  • 15 Nov: Kruis officially establishes a Temporary Committee of General Commissioners for agriculture, trade, and industry.[3]
  • 21 Nov: 'Hunger demonstration' in Eindhoven.[3]
  • 25 Nov: The ministerial 'quartermasters' establish themselves in Oisterwijk. Disturbances in the center of Brussels.[3]
  • 27 to 30 November – Battle of Broekhuizen
  • 28 Nov: The first Allied convoy reaches the port of Antwerp.[3]

December

  • 2 Dec: The Wehrmacht floods a large part of the Betuwe.[3]
  • 3 Dec: In Middle Limburg, the Wehrmacht is pushed east of the Meuse.[3]
  • 6 Dec: Meeting of Kruis in Eindhoven with top figures of the resistance in the liberated South to establish guidelines for the arrest of 'wrongful' elements.[3]
  • 14 Dec: Kruis issues new arrest guidelines.[3]
  • 21 Dec: The bishops of Den Bosch and Breda call on Catholics to remain loyal to their own organizations.[3]
  • c. 31 Dec: Incorrectly believing itself to have great influence in the liberated southern Netherlands,[5] the Communist Party of the Netherlands rebrands as the "Communistische Partij Bevrijd Gebied" (Communist Party Liberated Area).[3]

1945

January

  • 2 Jan: Special meeting of the Council of Ministers to discuss the position of the Militair Gezag[3]
  • 11 Jan: The cabinet accepts that the queen does not sign the arrangement for the emergency parliament.[3]
  • 14 Jan: Commencement of the evacuation of Venlo.[3]
  • 20 Jan: Commencement of the evacuation of Roermond.[3]
  • 22 Jan: The ministers approve a letter from Gerbrandy warning the queen against the formation of a royal cabinet.[3]
  • 23 Jan: Gerbrandy dismisses Burger from the cabinet due to a radio speech and tenders the resignation of the cabinet.[3]
  • 31 Jan: A delegation invited by the queen from the liberated South arrives in London.[3]

February

  • 5 Feb: Minister van Kleffens refuses to form a cabinet.[3]
  • 8 Feb: The queen instructs Gerbrandy to form a new cabinet.[3]
  • 10 Feb: The arrestation regulations for the area to be liberated are established.[3]
  • 15 Feb: Minister van Heuven Goedhart inaugurates the first Tribunal.[3]
  • 23 Feb: Announcement of the composition, to the extent completed, of the third Gerbrandy cabinet.[3]
  • 24 Feb: Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy urges Eisenhower's Chief of Staff Bedell Smith for a separate offensive for the liberation of the Netherlands north of the major rivers. [6]

March

  • 1 Mar: Liberation of Roermond and Venlo.[6]
  • 3 Mar: Bombing of the Bezuidenhout quarter in The Hague.[6]
  • 7 Mar: Rauter is seriously wounded in an ambush at Woeste Hoeve; two hundred and sixty-three death-row candidates are executed.[6]
  • 14 Mar: The Combined Chiefs of Staff instruct Eisenhower to launch a separate offensive for the liberation of West Netherlands.[6]
  • 18 Mar: J.J.F. Borghouts ('Peter-Zuid') arrives in occupied territory as the Commander of the Fighting Section of the BS (Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten/Interior Forces).[6]
  • 30 Mar: Commencement of the liberation of East and North Netherlands.[6]

April

  • 2 Apr: In a conversation with Hirschfeld, Seyss-Inquart suggests the idea of a ceasefire that would allow large-scale assistance to the famine-stricken provinces.[6]
  • 4 Apr: Mussert flees over the Afsluitdijk to The Hague.[6]
  • 6 Apr: Start of the Georgian uprising on Texel.[6]
  • 7 to 8 April – Operation Amherst
  • 9 Apr: Consultation between the Trusted Men and members of Koot's staff regarding Seyss-Inquart's offer.[6]
  • 11 Apr:
    • Buchenwald is liberated as the first concentration camp not completely evacuated by Allied forces.[6]
    • Canadians cross the IJssel near Brummen.[6]
  • 12 Apr:
    • Montgomery cancels the separate offensive for the liberation of the famine-stricken provinces.[6]
    • Seyss-Inquart meets with Van der Vlugt and Six as representatives of the College of Trusted Men and Colonel Koot.[6]
  • 12 to 16 April – Liberation of Arnhem
  • 14 Apr:
    • Himmler issues the order: 'No prisoner may fall into enemy hands alive.'[6]
    • Arrival of Trusted Men, Van der Gaag and Neher, in the liberated South.[6]
  • 15 Apr: Gerbrandy meets with Churchill to discuss Seyss-Inquart's offer.[6]
  • 17 Apr: Inundation of the Wieringermeer.[6]
  • 18 Apr: The entire East and North of the country is liberated except for the area near Delfzijl and the Wadden Islands.[6]
  • 21 Apr: The resistance sends its first telegram to London, protesting against the negotiations with Seyss-Inquart.[6]
  • 23 Apr: The Combined Chiefs of Staff authorize Eisenhower to conclude a ceasefire with Seyss-Inquart. [6]
  • 28 Apr: In Achterveld, the German Schwebel and Montgomery's Chief of Staff de Guingand reach an agreement for a conference with Seyss-Inquart.[6]
  • 29 Apr:
    • Hitler appoints Admiral Dönitz as his successor.[6]
    • First food drops in the famine-stricken provinces.[6]
  • 30 Apr:
    • Suicide of Adolf Hitler
    • In Achterveld, Seyss-Inquart approves arrangements for rapid assistance to the famine-stricken provinces.[6]

May

  • 2 May: First food transports to the famine-stricken provinces by road, via Rhenen.[6]
  • 2–3 May: Seyss-Inquart departs for Flensburg for discussions with Dönitz.[6]
  • 4 May:
    • Montgomery accepts the capitulation of the 'Wehrmacht' in Northwest Europe, including the Netherlands.[6]
    • 'Mobilization' of the BS (Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten/Interior Forces) in the famine-stricken provinces.[6]
  • 5 May:
    • General Johannes Blaskowitz receives the capitulation order presented by General Foulkes at Hotel 'De Wereld' in Wageningen.[6]
    • Radio speech by Queen Wilhelmina.[6]
    • The first food ships arrive in Rotterdam.[6]
    • An Allied vanguard arrives in Copenhagen.[6]
  • 6 May: General Blaskowitz signs the capitulation order presented to him the previous day in the auditorium of the Agricultural College in Wageningen.[6]
  • 7 May:
    • First 'general' German capitulation at Reims.[6]
    • Shooting incident on Dam Square in Amsterdam.[6]
    • Arrest of Mussert.[6]
  • 8 May:
    • Entry of the two divisions of the 1st Canadian Army Corps in Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam.[6]
    • General Kruis, Chief of Staff Military Authority, arrives in The Hague.[6]
    • An Allied vanguard arrives in Oslo. Second 'general' German capitulation in Berlin.[6]
  • 13 May: German deserter execution
  • 16 May: Dissolution of the College of Trusted Men.[6]
  • 20 May: A Canadian force arrives on Texel and the local German forces surrender, ending the Georgian uprising on Texel. The Georgians are allowed to retain their arms.[7]

June

  • 3 Jun: German forces on the island of Ameland surrender.[8]
  • 11 Jun: The last 600 active German troops in the Netherlands, on the island of Schiermonnikoog, surrender to the Canadians and are evacuated from the island, completing the liberation of the Netherlands.[9]
  • 16 Jun: The Georgian Legion is evacuated from Texel.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Mobilisatie". Tweedewereldoorlog.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  2. ^ a b c d "Cijfers bombardementen". www.niod.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  3. ^
    CC BY 3.0 NL Akte license.){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link
    )
  4. ^ W. B. Heins, CAS Winschoten (teamleider T. P. Reuderink-Kort) en G. J. Röhner. "Militair gezag (Het Utrechts Archief ) - Het Utrechts Archief". hetutrechtsarchief.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  5. ^ Koningkrijk p731-733
  6. ^
    CC BY 3.0 NL Akte license.){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link
    )
  7. ^
    ISBN 978-1-4422-4146-6
    .
  8. ^ "Bevrijding – Ameland tijdens WO II". 2016-09-16. Archived from the original on 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  9. ^ "De bevrijding van Schier kwam pas weken later". www.omropfryslan.nl (in Dutch). 2020-06-09. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
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