The Dutch civil medical services during World War II This study of civil medical services during World War II focuses on the years around 1940. The most striking aspect of health care in the period of mobilization was the lack of cooperation and coordination, which greatly complicated the policies of military and civil authorities. Moreover, these organisations held different views on the strategies which had to be followed. The priorities were the prevention of infectious diseases, by vaccination and (compulsory) isolation of infected people or germ carriers, and the expansion and partial reorganization of hospitals. The medical profession limited their interest almost exclusively to the problems which would result from chemical warfare and bombardments. With the help of courses, special meetings and medical literature, they tried to prepare themselves for war. Because of the short duration of the fighting (May, 1940) and the long period of occupation, the very real problems of the general medical practitioner concerned shifts in the pattern and course of diseases, difficulties in diagnosis and limitations in therapy. Scientific communication was restricted.