page_title: Netherlands in World War II
hierarchical_section_title: Netherlands in World War II
caption_attribution_description: "The German ultimatum ordering the Dutch commander of Rotterdam to cease fire was delivered to him at 10:30h on 14 May 1940. At 13:22h, German bombers set the whole inner city of Rotterdam ablaze, killing 814 of its inhabitants." The photo was taken after the removal of all debris. Nederlands: Op 14 mei 1940 rond 13.30 uur voerden de Duitsers in het kader van de aanval op Nederland een bombardement op Rotterdam uit. Dit om de eis tot overgave kracht bij te zetten. Foto van de schade met daarop de ruïne van de Laurenskerk in Rotterdam. Deutsch: Rotterdam 1940 nach der Zerstörung und Enttrümmerung Español: "Rotterdam después del bombardeo" Svenska: Rotterdams centrum efter bombningen. Den svårt skadade Laurenskerk (nu restaurerad) står som den enda återstånde av Rotterdams medeltida byggnader. Français&#160;: Centre-ville de Rotterdam après le bombardement allemand de mai 1940. Les décombres avaient déjà été déblayés au moment où la photo fut prise. L'église Saint-Laurent (Laurenskerk) a été restaurée. Română: Rotterdam după bombardamentul german din mai 1940
context_page_description: Despite being neutral, the Netherlands was invaded by Nazi Germany on 10 May 1940, as part of Fall Gelb. On 15 May 1940, one day after the bombing of Rotterdam, the Dutch forces surrendered. The Dutch government and the royal family saved themselves by deserting their country and going to London. Princess Juliana and her children moved on to Canada for additional safety.
  The Netherlands was placed under German occupation, which endured in some areas until the German surrender in May 1945. Active resistance was carried out by a minority, which grew in the course of the occupation. The occupiers deported the majority of the country's Jews to Nazi concentration camps.
  Due to the high variation in the survival rate of Jewish inhabitants among local regions in the Netherlands, scholars have questioned the validity of a single explanation at the national level. In part due to the well-organized population registers, about 70% of the country's Jewish population were killed during the conflict, a much higher percentage than either Belgium or France.
context_section_description: Despite being neutral, the Netherlands was invaded by Nazi Germany on 10 May 1940, as part of Fall Gelb. On 15 May 1940, one day after the bombing of Rotterdam, the Dutch forces surrendered. The Dutch government and the royal family saved themselves by deserting their country and going to London. Princess Juliana and her children moved on to Canada for additional safety.
  The Netherlands was placed under German occupation, which endured in some areas until the German surrender in May 1945. Active resistance was carried out by a minority, which grew in the course of the occupation.  The occupiers deported the majority of the country's Jews to Nazi concentration camps.
  Due to the high variation in the survival rate of Jewish inhabitants among local regions in the Netherlands, scholars have questioned the validity of a single explanation at the national level. In part due to the well-organized population registers, about 70% of the country's Jewish population were killed during the conflict, a much higher percentage than either Belgium or France. In 2008, records were opened that revealed the Germans had paid a bounty to Dutch police and administration officials to locate and identify Jews, aiding in their capture. But, uniquely among all German occupied areas, the city of Amsterdam organized an industrial action to protest the persecution of its Jewish citizens.
  World War II occurred in four distinct phases in the European Netherlands:
  September 1939 to May 1940: After the war broke out, the Netherlands declared neutrality. The country was subsequently invaded and occupied.
  May 1940 to June 1941: An economic boom caused by orders from Germany, combined with the "velvet glove" approach from Arthur Seyss-Inquart, resulted in a comparatively mild occupation.
  June 1941 to June 1944: As the war intensified, Germany demanded higher contributions from occupied territories, resulting in a decline of living standards. Repression against the Jewish population intensified and thousands were deported to extermination camps. The "velvet glove" approach ended.
  June 1944 to May 1945: Conditions deteriorated further, leading to starvation and lack of fuel. The German occupation authorities gradually lost control over the situation. Fanatical Nazis wanted to make a last stand and commit acts of destruction. Others tried to mitigate the situation.
  Most of the south of the country was liberated in the second half of 1944. The rest, especially the west and north of the country still under occupation, suffered from a famine at the end of 1944, known as the "Hunger Winter". On 5 May 1945, the whole country was finally liberated by the total surrender of all German forces.
caption: The city of Rotterdam after the German bombing during the German invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940.
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