Posted on 05/05/2004 9:53:13 AM PDT by knighthawk
Today May 5th the Netherlands celebrate Liberation Day, marking the surrender of German forces in 1945. Here a little about the history of the liberation of the Netherlands by the Allied forces.
1939: After the invasion of Poland, the Netherlands hopes to stay out of a war by remaining neutral like in WO I.
- May 10 1940: the German army invades, without a declaration of war, Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands.
- May 13 1940: after 3 days of fighting the German army faces fierce resistance in Rotterdam and at Kornwerderzand. The original invasionplan was to take the country in 1 day.
- May 14 1940: the German general Schmidt issues an ultimatum: either the Dutch army surrenders or German bombers will bomb the city of Rotterdam. Fearing heavy civilian loses, the Dutch general Winkelman makes the decision to lay down the arms after the second time the Germans issue the warning. The German fleet of bombers already was near Rotterdam and only a few bombers broke the attack off. Rotterdam was bombed and over 550 civilians were killed.
- May 15 1940: the Netherlands surrenders to the German forces.
- June 6 1944: Allied forces land in Normandy.
- September 9 1944: an American partol of the 113th Cavalry Group 'Red Horse' crosses the border into the Netherlands.
- September 12 1944: 30st Infantery Division 'Old Hickory' with the 117st, 119st and 120st regiment, the 13e Cavalygroup 'Red Horse' and the 2nd Armored Division 'Hell on Wheels', start to liberate the south of the country.
- September 17 1944: Operation Market Garden starts. American, British and Polish troop move into the country, or are paradropped into cities like Nijmegen and Arnhem.
- September 20 1944: Operation Pheasant starts, British and Canadian troops start to liberate more of the southern part of the Netherlands.
- Februari 1945: Canadian and American troops move in the Netherlands through the Rheincountry.
- March 28 1945: Canadian troops enter the north of the country from Germany. The west is still under German occupation.
- April 29 1945: Operatoin Manna starts, Allied planes drop food for the hungering population in the German occupied areas.
- May 4 1945: Montgomery accepts the German surrender of all German forces in the west.
- May 5 1945: German forces surrender at 8 in the morning in the western part of Europe. The German general Blaskowitz decided this surrender was not for German troops in the Netherlands. The Canadian general Foulkes, together with prince Bernhard hold talks with Blaskowitz in hotel 'De Wereld'. May 6 he also recognizes the surrender.
- May 8 1945: all German forces surrender, V-Day.
In Margraten 8.000 American soldiers are buried, fallen to liberate the country.
Today 1.100 Dutch marines are stationed in Iraq, to show we stand by the people who helped us in WW II.
If people want on or off this list, please let me know.
Thank you.
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