Dutch Resistance - Prelude

Prelude

Prior to the German invasion, the Netherlands had adhered to a policy of strict neutrality. The country had narrow bonds with Germany, and less so with the British, especially because of the history of the Boer War and the loss of Dutch territory in South Africa to the English. Few Dutch spoke English. The Dutch had not engaged in war with any European nation since 1830. During World War I, the Dutch were not invaded by Germany and anti-German sentiment was not as strong after that war as it was in other European countries. The German ex-Kaiser had fled to the Netherlands in 1918 and lived there. The German invasion therefore came as a great shock to many Dutch people. Nevertheless, the country had ordered general mobilisation in September 1939. Already in November 1938 during the Kristallnacht, many Dutch received a foretaste of things to come, when even from the Netherlands German synangogues could be seen burning, such as the one in Aachen. An anti-fascist movement started to gain popularity – as did the fascist movement, notably the NSB. Despite strict neutrality, even going so far as shooting down British as well as German warplanes, the country's large merchant fleet was severely attacked by the German after September 1, 1939, the beginning of World War II. The sinking of the passenger liner SS Simon Bolivar in November 1939, with 84 dead, especially shocked the nation. It was not the only vessel.