BIJLAGE 44
Regeringscommuniqué in Engeland uitgegeven op 15 mei 1940
Netherlands Legation Communiqué
(The Times, May 15th, 1940)
The Commander in Chief of the Netherlands Army has issued a proclamation to
the troops concerned that fighting is to cease.
The decision was taken towards the end of the afternoon of May 14.
Enemy troops in great numbers have succeeded in crossing the Moerdijk bridges
and in retaking Rotterdam, which had previously been heavily bombed.
Consequently the heart of the country was laid open to the enemy and the main
forces of the army behind the Dutch Waterline were threatened by immediate
enemy attacks on their rear.
Under these circumstances and in order to avoid complete destruction of the
country the Commander in Chief was of the opinion that further resistance had
become useless and therefore was to be adandoned.
In conformity of the decision taken by the Netherlands Government the state of
war between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Germany continues to exist.
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