It looked as if the NAZIs had won the War and would dominate Europe. The invasion of the Netherlnds was the first part of a German offensive which within a few weeks would lead to the fall of France. The NAZIs unleashed the Luftwaffe with th terror bombing of Rotterdam and other Dutch cities. The Dutch attempted fight, but wre overwealmd by the massive German offensive. Queen Wilhemina fled to London and set up a Government in Exile. Germany in May 1940 without any decalaration of War invaded and occupied the Netheralnds within a few days. Most Duth people asumed that the Germans would also respect Dutch soverignity in World War II. The Netherlands considered itself a neutral country and maintained its neutrality as it had done throughout World War I. Britain and France declared war on Germanym but did nothing to actually assist Poland. World War II began when Germany invaded Poland in September 1939.

The Dutch introducd food rationing in August 1939 even before World War II began. As I mentioned before, my firts long trousers I got from a Canadian soldier who had them shipped to me from Canada.' I was fortunate to own two pairs of corduroy shorts that lasted nearly the entire war. My grandmother knitted woollen sweaters for us until she could no longer get wool. Many women started to make clothes themselves, also for their children. My father had made some 'sandals' out of a rubber car tire for me. At the end style was not important anymore as long as you had something to cover your skinny body with. Had decent clothes, at the end most of us were wearing rags. A Dutch reader reports, 'When there is a severe shortage one doesn't care about style. The supply of rationed goods was limited, especially after the War turned aginst the Germans. It also meant that individuals could be called up for labor service in Germany. This is one of the ways the German knew where the Jews were when the roundups began. Yet to get coupons you had to be registered. You needed coupons for purchasing these items. Clothing and more important food rations were part of the German control system. Rationing during World War II - the Netherrlandsĭuring the World War II German occupation of the Netherlands (1940-44/45) clothes and shoes were rationed.

Rations widelands