On This Day in History: May 5, 1945
On May 10th, 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands. And so the little country which had tried to remain neutral was thrust into the Second World War. What followed was five years of brutal occupation by the Nazis. The Dutch flag and national anthem were forbidden. Radios and bicycles were confiscated. Food was rationed and became more and more scarce. Young men were rounded up and sent to do hard labor in Germany. Jews were discriminated against, marked with a yellow Star of David badge, and finally hauled off to concentration camps where most of them were killed. That was also what happened to anyone who helped the Jews–or resisted the Nazis in any way. Jews wearing the yellow Star of David badge. Still, some did resist. Despite the great risk to themselves, members of the Dutch Resistance movement found shelter for Jews and others in danger, stole ration cards so those in hiding could eat, blew up train tracks, cut telephone wires, liquidated Dutch traitors and Germans, and gen...
