May 1940

Herman Amersfoort (1951), Ph.D. (1988) in History, University of Leiden, is Professor of Military History at the Netherlands Defence Academy and at Amsterdam University. He has published extensively on Dutch military history in the 19th and 20th centuries.Piet Kamphuis (1953), M.A. in History, University of Groningen, is Director of the Netherlands Institute of Military History. Since 2000 he has also been secretary-general of the International Commission of Military History.

"This edited volume is a fascinating read from beginning to end. ... Fully footnoted and benefiting greatly from an annotated bibliography, the source material is in itself a valuable resource enhancing greatly the detailed narrative and analysis found within the main body of the text. The translation is of the highest quality and amply demonstrates the considerable time and effort that this must have taken. The range of photographs is extremely impressive and really helps to illuminate the story not just of the invasion and defense, but also the events leading up to the start of the European war. Especially noteworthy are the thirteen color maps at the book's beginning, which are later reprinted within the main text in monochrome. This is indeed a most commendable military study, one of the best that this reviewer has ever received, and would grace any bookshelf." - Andrew Stewart, Defence Studies Department, King's College London, in: Global War Studies 8 (2) 2011, 98-100 [DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5893/19498489.08.02.10]

• PrefaceColour mapsI. Introduction, H. AmersfoortThe Netherlands and the warThe shockThe questionsII. The Emergence of the German Threat, H.W. van den DoelThe consequences of the First World WarVersaillesThe 1920s: seeking stabilityFascism and National SocialismNational Socialists in powerThe German Lebensraum ambitionsConclusionIII. Between Hope and Fear: The Netherlands armed forces in the interwar period, C.M. Schulten and P.M.J. de KosterIntroductionThe legacy of neutralityAfter the First World WarThe cupboard is bare - from 1922 to 1933Turning pointRising tensionsThe military geography of the NetherlandsStrategic policyWinkelman’s operation planIV. The Gathering Storm: The German armed forces in the interwar period, J.W.M. SchultenIntroductionThe German rearmamentBaptism of fireThe German operation plan for the WestfeldzugPlan of attack of the 18th ArmyThe alertV. The Generals’ Duel: Five days of war at the military strategic level, H. Amersfoort and J.W.M. SchultenDüsseldorf, Friday 10 May 1940The Hague, Friday 10 May 1940Düsseldorf, Saturday 11 May 1940The Hague, Saturday 11 May 1940Düsseldorf, Sunday 12 May 1940The Hague, Sunday 12 May 1940Düsseldorf, Monday 13 May 1940The Hague, Monday 13 May 1940Düsseldorf, Tuesday 14 May 1940The Hague, Tuesday 14 May 1940Rijsoord, Wednesday 15 May 1940VI. ‘Fall Festung’: A surprise attack on The Hague, C.M. SchultenIntroductionYpenburg, Valkenburg and Ockenburg captured by the GermansThe continuing battle for the airfields on 10 MayThe recapture of YpenburgThe battle for ValkenburgOckenburg back in Dutch handsFurther actions against the airborne troops and the battle at OverschieConcluding remarksVII. Disputed Territory: The battle in the Dutch provinces of Limburg, Noord-Brabant and Zeeland, H.W. van den DoelIntroductionOperations against the bridges over the river MaasThe battle at MillPassage through Noord-BrabantZeeland struggles onThe final pocket of resistance eradicatedConclusionVIII. The Field Army Defeated: The battle for the Grebbe Line, H.W. van den DoelIntroductionThe fall of the IJssel LineThe attack on the outposts of the IVth DivisionGeneral Harberts’ countermeasuresThe German attack on the main resistance sectorChaos among the military leadershipThe fall of the Grebbe LineThe battle at ScherpenzeelThe endConclusionIX. “Vorwärts denken, vorwärts sehen, vorwärts reiten!”: The battle in the northern provinces, P.H. KamphuisThe territorial defence of the northern NetherlandsA morning of battle and a pursuit in vainThe collapse of the Wons PositionThe offensive reconnaissance mission failsConclusionX. Not a bridge too far: The battle for the Moerdijk bridges, Dordrecht and Rotterdam, H.W. van den DoelThe German plansDutch combat readinessThe German airborne landingsConsolidation of the German positionsActions by the border battalions and the Kil GroupThe Light Division takes actionDie Panzer arrive on timeThe battle in RotterdamThe bombing of RotterdamConclusionXI. Myth and reality, H. AmersfoortStill coming to terms with the past?Analysing the military operationsPre-war defence policy: does it require re-evaluation?Annex: Table of land forces rank equivalentsAnnotated bibliographyIndexBiographical notesPhoto acknowledgements