Title: The German invasion of the Netherlands | Anne Frank House
Headings: The German invasion of the Netherlands
The German invasion of the Netherlands
War in Europe
The Netherlands is neutral
Strategic interest of the Netherlands
Preparing for the German attack
Germany invades the Netherlands
Failed attack on The Hague
Germany successes
Queen Wilhelmina flees to England
Flight and chaos
The bombing of Rotterdam
Capitulation of the Netherlands
Why did the Netherlands lose the battle?
Germany occupies Western Europe
Literature

Content: The German invasion of the Netherlands | Anne Frank House
The German invasion of the Netherlands
War in Europe
On 1 September 1939, the German army invaded Poland. Two days later, England and France, both allies of Poland, declared war on Germany. The Second World War had started, but after the German occupation of Poland, there was no fighting for some time. This period was called the ‘Phoney War', because it was clear to all parties that things would not end there. The Netherlands is neutral
In 1940, the principle of Dutch foreign policy was neutrality, as it had been for a century. The Netherlands had avoided getting involved in international conflicts and would only take sides when attacked. The strategy worked fine during the First World War. The Netherlands remained neutral and the war passed the country by. The Dutch government was therefore careful not to take an official stand on the situation in Nazi Germany. It did not want to give cause for hostilities.