Description
Book SynopsisDescribes and illustrates the full range of Dutch resistance groups and German and collaborationist counter-resistance groups during the Nazi occupation in 1940-45.
The Nazi occupation of the Netherlands was a complex, varied and bloody affair. Well- documented is the initial capture by the Gestapo of a secret Dutch Special Operations Executive radio-operator who thereafter lured several parachuted agents to their deaths, but, the actual scope and complexity of the occupation was much greater than this. Large-scale civil resistance against the occupation began as early as February 1941, and 1943 saw assassinations, reprisals, and the development of various resistance groups the LKP National Assault Teams and some ''wild'' armed groups: the left wing RzV and the conservative OD. In addition, several overlapping Dutch organizations amalgamated in September 1944 into the NBS: ''Netherlands Interior Forces''. In return, the Germans created the collaborationist Landwacht s
Trade Review
The story of the country's occupation is not a subject widely covered and this book redresses that in a highly informative way that goes beyond what the reader may think they already know. -- John Norris * Gun Mart & Militaria Mart magazine *
I found this taught me a lot that I had not known before, so a good value addition to your references, and with artwork which is likely to attract many modellers with the inspiration/reference of some less familiar uniforms to try. -- Robin Buckland * Military Model Scene *
'An abundance of books has been written about resistance and collaboration in the Netherlands during the Second World War, but not too many of them in English. Klaas Castelein from Duiven and Michel Wenting from Doesburg did write about it in English.' 'We realized that most books about resistance and collaboration had been written in Dutch. As a result, foreigners cannot disclose any information about this, yet its history is incredibly fascinating.' Wenting and Castelein sketch a balanced view: 'In some parts of the country the Resistance seriously contributed to the liberation, but in other parts they got passionately engaged in exacting vengeance on Germans and collaborators'. -- Piet Venhuizen * De Gelderlander *
Table of Contents
FASCISM IN THE PRE-WAR NETHERLANDS Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging (NSB, National Socialist Movement) Nationale Jeugdstorm (NJS, National Youth Force) Nationaal-Socialistische Nederlandse Arbeiderspartij (NSNAP, National Socialist Netherlands Workers’ Party) Zwart Front (ZF, Black Front) and Nationaal Front (NF, National Front) Grauwe Vendels (GV, Grey Banners) THE MILITARY OCCUPATION, 1940–45 THE SECURITY APPARATUS General Commission for Security Local security forces: Nazification of the Dutch police Wachtmannen (Watchmen) Kontroll-Kommando (KK, Control Guard) Nederlandse Landwacht (LW, Home Guard) Landstorm Nederland (LSN, Territorial Defence Force) GROWTH OF THE RESISTANCE, 1940–44 Continuing the fight from Great Britain The ‘England Game’ Emergence of the first resistance movements: Communistische Partij Nederland (CPN, Netherlands Communist Party) Geuzen (‘Beggars’) Ordedienst (OD, Order Service) CS-6 Raad van Verzet (RVV, Resistance Council) Three women RVV fighters Landelijke Organisatie voor Hulp aan Onderduikers (LO, National Organizationfor Help to People in Hiding) The decisive general strike, April–May 1943 Landelijke Knokploegen (LKP, National Assault Teams) Prison raids OPEN WARFARE, FROM SEPTEMBER 1944 ALLIED LIBERATION OPERATIONS, 1944–45 GLOSSARY AND ABBREVIATIONS SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
