The book deals, essentially, with an untold history of Dutch collaboration during the German occupation (1940-1945). Principally, theruling class and its political institutions must be held accountable for this collaboration.Immediately after the defeat of the Dutch army in May 1940, the Dutch Queen and the ministers went into exile in London, while the rest of theministries, headed by the Secretaries-General, remained in The Hague.Officially, the Government-in-exile joined the Allied Forces, but at thesame time it allowed the administration in The Hague to establish cordial relations with the occupier, in order to safeguard a proper place for the Netherlands in the "New Europe" in case of a German victory.This policy of 'backing two horses' had to be abandoned at the turning of the year 1942/1943, when the prospect of an Allied victory began to dawn.Unfortunately, at that time a substantial part of the Dutch Jewish citizens had already been deported to the German extermination camps, effectively supported by the Dutch administration in The Hague. The 'London' Government did not make any attempt to call its subordinates inThe Hague to order and made itself an accomplice in genocide.
