Netherlands - German Occupation

Life in the Netherlands during the German occupation (1940-1945) was extremely difficult and multifaceted. The occupation profoundly affected all aspects of Dutch society, from everyday life to economy and politics to culture and resistance. In May 1940, the German army quickly overran the Netherlands. The bombing of Rotterdam was particularly traumatic. The royal family fled to London, setting up a Dutch government-in-exile. Arthur Seyss-Inquart was appointed Reichskommissar, representing the German regime. Food stamps and rationing of other products were introduced. Severe shortages of almost everything, including food, clothing and fuel, developed. The Germans imposed strict censorship on the press, radio and other media. Strong Nazi propaganda flooded the country. Citizens' movements were restricted, curfews were imposed. Many Dutch men were forced to work in Germany in the war industry. Arrests, raids and deportations kept the people in constant fear. The Germans gradually introduced anti-Semitic laws and regulations that isolated the Jewish population from society. They made it mandatory to wear the yellow star. Jews were deprived of their property, jobs and restricted their freedom. More than 100,000 Dutch Jews were deported to concentration camps, where most of them were murdered. The Netherlands had the largest Jewish population of any occupied Western European country. Dutch society showed various forms of resistance to the German occupation. Secret newspapers and leaflets were published to inform the population about the real situation and resistance activities. Many Dutch people hid Jews and other persecuted people from the German authorities. Resistance groups carried out sabotage actions against German infrastructure. Some gathered information for the Allies. There were several major strikes against the occupation, such as the February 1941 strike in Amsterdam for the deportation of Jews. Unfortunately, a part of Dutch society collaborated with the German occupiers. Some volunteered for the German army (Waffen-SS). Some became members of the Nazi Party (NSB) and actively participated in the goals of the occupiers. In September 1944, the Allies began the liberation of the Netherlands from the south. The complete liberation of the Netherlands occurred in May 1945 with the German capitulation.

The Germans changed the Dutch monetary system during the occupation to better suit their own and their war effort. The currency of the Netherlands was the guilder, which was based on a gold standard. Coins were minted in silver, nickel, bronze, and copper. Banknotes were issued by the Nederlandsche Bank (Holland Bank). The Germans fixed the guilder's exchange rate to the German Reichsmark, which meant that the Dutch economy came under German influence. The occupiers introduced new coins, the material and design of which were different from the previous ones. The war effort caused a shortage of silver and other precious metals, so cheaper materials such as zinc and iron were used. The new coins often featured symbols of the German Empire, although this was used more sparingly in the Netherlands than in other occupied territories. During the occupation, inflation arose, which necessitated the issuance of smaller denominations of coins. The previous Dutch coins were gradually withdrawn from circulation. Changes also took place in the field of banknotes, although perhaps less drastic than in the case of coins. The Nederlandsche Bank could still issue banknotes, but German influence prevailed here too. Characteristics of coins during the occupation: They were mainly made of zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe), but there were also coins made of steel. The minting of the previous precious metal coins was discontinued. The coins often bore the inscription "Nederland", but the previous Dutch symbols (such as the portrait of Queen Wilhelmina) disappeared or appeared in a more stylized form. The German eagle also appeared on some coins, although this was rarer. Various denominations were issued, such as 1, 5, 10 and 25 cent coins. After the war, the Netherlands restored its previous monetary system, although this took time. Coins issued during the occupation were gradually withdrawn and replaced with coins similar to those issued before the war or with completely new designs.