HOSTILITIES ON NETHERLANDS TERRITORY
DURING WORLD WAR II
SECTION III, SUBSECTION I
Introduction and General Survey of Combat Period 10 - 19 May 1940"
Summary
This volume comprises Subsection I of this series, in which the Netherlands
defence against the German invasion of 10 - 19 May 1940 is described. It is
subdivided in an Introduction and a General Survey of the operations.
The Introduction contains such details as to afford the reader an insight into the
situation of our land forces as of 10 May 1940. Included are Government In
structions issued to the Supreme Commander of Land and Naval Forces, the
operations-plans before and after the change of the Supreme Command on 6
February 1940 and the resultant modifications in the positions and tasks of the
troops.
Follows an account of measures taken to ensure the preparedness of the troops
in the event of an attack and the orders given that period, particularly those of
the last turbulent days.
Evident is the lack of co-ordination that existed between the Netherlands plans
and the French, Belgian and English plans, resulting from the Netherlands and
Belgian policy of neutrality. Finally the account contains a few comments regar
ding the value of the defence positions and the combat effectiveness of the troops
The General Survey of the operations is subdivided in three parts. Part A deals
with the Netherlands operations in outline including the command conducted by
the Supreme Commander. Incorporated also are the capitulation discussions and
the relevant protocols. Part B gives an account of the operations of the 7th French
Army in North Brabant and Zealand, for which official French data could be used
Finally C gives a description of the German operations, also with the use of
official documents.
Summarizing, this book affords a complete survey of the operations in The
Netherlands from 10 to 19 May 1940, preceded by an introduction covering the
preparations for the defence.
259
