Studies in Intelligence (1997)
Of Market-Garden and Melanie The Dutch Resistance and the OSS (U) Maj. Stewart Bentley
On 10 May 1940, the German 10th Some Dutch citizens eagerly joined Army, spearheaded by airborne the new party and to.ok positions in troops, invaded the Netherlands. the government. Others, however, The rest of the Wehrmacht force com- joined with the purpose of pretend- mitted to "the overrunning of the ing to collaborate while remaining West" executed the Manstein Plan loyal co the government-in-exile, through Belgium and the Ardennes allowing them to keep an eye on Forest. On 14 May 1940, the Dutch Dutch collaborators and steer policy commander ordered a cease-fire. and its implementation. The Three days later, the entire Nether- Leegsma family was a good example 44 lands was occupied by Nazi of this tactic. Agardus Leegsma, his Germany.- brother, and their father joined the This evacuation operation Nazi organized Dutch National to Britain of the royal The Dutch royal family, led by Police. The father had been a profes- family and a cadre of the Queen Wilhelmina, along with some sional soldier in the Guards 4,600 Dutch officers, sailors, sol- Regiment of the Royal Dutch Army Dutch Government was diers, and policemen, staged a Dutch during the interwar years. The critical in establishing a Dunkirk, assisted by remnants of the Leegsma family assisted various Resis- Dutch Navy and the entire merchant tance organizations during the Nazi government-in-exile and marine. This evacuation operation to occupation. During the liberation of the initial intelligence Britain of the royal family and a Holland, Leegsma and his brother cadre of the Dutch Government was joined different Allied units, serving networks in Holland. critical in establishing a government- as guides and combatants. in-exile and the initial intelligence 9/ networks in Holland. Additionally, As the harshness of the occupation the emigration to England of Dutch grew, so did native Dutch unrest and civilians and members of the Dutch resentment toward the Germans. armed forces from all over the Conti- Individual Dutchmen took it upon nent and from overseas Dutch themselves to strike back. With no possessions helped form the core of a central command, these brave indi- reconstituted Dutch Royal Army, viduals began recruiting relatives, Navy, and Air Force. friends, and neighbors into the first Resistance organizations. The dan- gers were exceptionally high: All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis Stirrings of Resistance captured members of the Resistance expressed in Studies In Intelligence are those of were usually shot or sent to concen- the authors. They do not necessarily reflect official positions or views of the Central The initial years of the German occu- tration camps. The primary Intelligence Agency or any other US Government pation of Holland were characterized opposition initially came from the entity, past or present. Nothing in the contents Social Democrats and Catholic should be construed as asserting or implying US by the removal of Dutch Jews from Government endorsement of an article s factual their homeland and harsh economic youth leagues. The Dutch Commu- statetnents and Interpretations. and political measures. The Nazis nists began actively resisting after the established their own puppet govern- Germans invaded the USSR. ment at The Hague headed by Maj. Stewart Bentley is a US Army Dr. Seyss-Inquart and established a military intelligence officer. Members of the Dutch royal armed Dutch National Socialist Party. forces who had noz escaped to Britain DECLASSIFIED AND RELEASED BY CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY SOURCES METHOOSEXEMPT ION 3929 NAZI WAR CRIMES 01 SCLOSURE ACT 47 DATE 2007 Dutch Resistance
Netherlands 1944 (U)
Netherlands ,The Hague •Delft Rotterdam