The Battle for the Hague—1940: The First Great Airborne Operations by Lt Col E. H. Brongers, translated by C. C. W. van Romondt Vis. Uitgeverij Aspekt (Aspekt Dutch Publisher) (http://www.uitgeverijaspekt.nl), Amersfoortsestraat 27, 3769 AD Soesterberg, 2004, 293 pages, $15.95 (softcover).

In May 1940, Germany launched its attack on Western Europe and in 10 weeks occupied France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Although the Ardennes breakthrough and the assault on Fort Eben Emael are familiar, the operations in the Netherlands are less well known and not frequently documented in English. The Dutch put up stout resistance but ultimately were overcome by German panzers and the bombing of Rotterdam.

The attack on the Hague, the political center of the country, had two purposes: (1) to seize the government and thus paralyze Dutch military activities and (2) to overcome the canal and river defenses located in the center of a series of defendable lines known as Fortress Holland. Germany had established a paratrooper arm in the Luftwaffe early in 1933 as well as an air-landing division that used transport aircraft to assault airfields and then fight as infantry. Hitler’s plan called for paratroopers to jump and seize airfields where German aircraft could fly in reinforcements and supplies; they would also secure bridges to allow panzer and infantry divisions to move up quickly and seize key Dutch cities. The element of surprise, the lack of modern armament in the Dutch armed forces, and the small size of the Dutch army and air force would all lead to a quick and easy German victory.

In 1940 Western countries appreciated neither the size nor the capabilities of German paratroopers, whose existence had remained a secret (they had seen action only during the seizure of Oslo, Norway, earlier that year). In order to move the air-landing division and resupply the dropped paratroopers, the German military made available a total of 430 Ju-52 transports. Although the Dutch planned to withdraw into Fortress Holland, their armed forces could not deal with air attack or the combined-arms concept of blitzkrieg.

On 10 May, following extensive German reconnaissance both on the ground and in the air and after the bombing of three airfields around the Hague, German paratroopers began dropping while Ju-52s swooped down towards the runways. However, the Dutch proved less passive than German planners anticipated, shooting up a majority of these aircraft and killing German troops. More importantly, the Ju-52s could not return to Germany to pick up more troops. The Germans failed to seize the three airfields, and other paratroopers were scattered to Hoek van Holland and other areas north of the Hague.

The paratroopers enjoyed more success in Rotterdam and areas near the critical Moerdijk bridges. Dutch troops bitterly contested Dordrecht, another critical target. After four days of fighting, the Luftwaffe bombed the center of Rotterdam to break Dutch resistance; at the same time, attempts by the Dutch to link with French troops coming from Belgium failed. The Dutch queen reluctantly evacuated to Britain along with the government, and the Dutch military was forced to cease resistance on 15 May.

Few military historians have succeeded in determining what effect this Dutch defense had on further German military operations. German records of the Battle of the Hague were destroyed in 1945, but Brongers uses German and Dutch sources to establish that airborne landings during Operation Sea Lion were restricted, that the Luftwaffe never recovered from the losses to its transport aircraft, and that a lack of aircraft and manpower hampered the drop on Crete in 1941.

This English translation of a Dutch text will appeal to World War II enthusiasts and airpower advocates alike. The Battle for the Hague enhances our understanding of the efforts of the smaller powers, whose contributions in World War II are frequently overlooked in English-language texts. Additionally, Brongers gives us the opportunity to make useful comparisons with the Battle for Arnhem—another great airborne struggle in the Netherlands during World War II.

Capt Gilles Van Nederveen, USAF, Retired
Fairfax, Virginia

Disclaimer

The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.

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