Welcome
The Dutch war-history foundation 'Kennispunt mei 1940' presents a website that is dedicated to the events that took place during the brief war in the Netherlands in May 1940. German forces invaded the neutral country at 0355 hrs Dutch time at May the 10th. It was part of the German offensive [Case Yellow] against the neutral countries Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg as well as the already existing belligerent France.
The name of this website 'War over Holland' refers to the unique feature of the German operation in the Netherlands, where for the first time in history a large airborne and airlanding force was flown in by a vast transport fleet of the Luftwaffe in order to be dropped in the heart of the Dutch defences: the Fortress Holland. The operation unleashed by these forces 'from the sky' facilitated the Germans with a quick defeat of the small neighbour in the northwest.
The website contains an elaboration on the events of those days in May 1940. It provides a chronological overview of the events within the country and also beyond the Dutch borders, where the battle for Belgium and the north of France was raging simultaneously. General information on the belligerents is provided as well as typicals for the Dutch theatre and army. Furthermore we added a section about the events in the southwestern Dutch province Zeeland. A battle that incorporated a large French involvement.
The menu structure provides for easy navigation and a clear overview of the presented information. Pages are presented with easy-print formats and font enlarging tools. Updates and news flashes are shown in separate menu's which are hard-linked on the 'home' page. Last but not least visitors are invited to post their questions and/or remarks on a May 1940 dedicated forum, mastered by a team of historians. Direct questions or queries may also be sent directly to the author or the foundation.
The website is currently in the process of a large overhaul. The original 2005/2006 content is being updated, the gallery is being restructered and the lay-out has changed to a more user-friendly environment. Currently only part of the content has been overhauled. The process is ongoing. We apologize for the inconvenience, but in the conviction that its all for the better of our visitors we are positive that you will gladly accept the minor inconvenience over the (to be) improved website.
Disclaimer: All content, texture, pictures, sketches, maps, photographs, illustrations, etc.etc. that are displayed on this website are protected by propriety rights. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission of the owners of this site.