The Low Countries at War: Responses of the Benelux Monarchs to Nazi Occupation

In May of 1940, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg were quickly overrun by Nazi forces. While the Low Countries had each promised neutrality should a wider European war break out, Hitler and his generals dismissed these declarations due to their avaricious demand for territory and wider plans towards invasion of France. As such, the Low Countries were invaded in a surprise attack that saw them each capitulate within days despite resistance by their own militaries. In this chaos the monarchies of Belgium (King Leopold III), the Netherlands (Queen Wilhelmina), and Luxembourg (Grand Duchess... Mehr ...