The small Dutch Air Force was the first to be dealt with (only about 70 fighters of the Fokker D.XXI/D.XVII and twin-boom G.I types and obsolete biplanes for light bombing/recce). Even before operation began, German officers had no difficulties spotting all the bunkers and defensive position on the border, which entered the sights of the artillery. At the same time, the 22nd Air Landing Division and 7th Fliegerdivision were to land around the Hague and capture Queen Wilhelmina, the government and General Staff in one stroke. This unit was then ordered to aim for the Moerdijk Bridge in Southern Holland.
The 9th PZD was to break through the so-called Grebbeline, above the Rhine, and hold a crossing on the Afsluitdijk river. Although secondary in the German attack plan, the only concerns were to avoid the Liege corridor and securing the route through Limburg.įor that, the 18th Army and the 9th Panzer Division were committed to the action. The 1st Corps was the force strategic reserve, located in the Vesting Holland, around The Hague, Leiden, Haarlem and in the Westland. Despite all odds, the Dutch succeeded in some areas in holding back the German forces for three days. The resources allocated for the Koninklijke Landmacht (KL), or "Royal Army", were way below the level needed to be able to fight the German Army. The 1940 campaignīeing a colonial empire and despite its limited resources and population, the Dutch had to fight both the Germans and the Japanese. The puttees and helmet shape, as well as the specific uniform colors, are distinctive.
When WWII started, the growing defence budget was mostly attributed to the KNIL, the Dutch East Indies Army, and its sizeable navy, at least to help modernize it.
Only armored cars were retained for patrol and police duties. During WWI, the Dutch remained neutral and therefore did not have the feel to develop a tank force, at least on its national territory.