Dutch rail company to pay reparations for WWII deportations I'll show my ignorance about how occupied counties functioned. Were companies in Holland under control of Dutchmen at all or did they become defacto German companies?
Dave not being an expert but the infrastructure was in place and assume they had to do as they were instructed or face consequences.Along the same lines as producing weapons/fuel/food etc .The occupied countries still had to produce and deliver services even though war was on their doorstep. regards Clive
example Denmark COOPERATION WITH GERMANY The Danish government then began to cooperate with the German occupiers. The political leaders’ strategy was to preserve as much self-determination as possible for Denmark whilst still accommodating the wishes of the Germans. In pursuing this course the large Danish political parties also sought to protect Danish society from harsh measures which might be introduced by the occupiers and from the Danish Nazis (the National Socialist Workers’ Party of Denmark). German occupation (1940-1945) - National Museum of Denmark
Norway central banks under Nazi control In the occupied Oslo area, Quisling’s government, which did not function, was unpopular. Elements of the business elite wanted to remove Quisling so that it would be possible to end the Norwegian military resistance and reach an understanding with Germany https://www.norges-bank.no/globalas...blications/working-papers/2012/wp_2012_02.pdf
On the 17th September 1944, the same day as Operation Market Garden (Bridge too far) was launched, the Dutch railway workers went on strike. Many had to become Onderduikers (in hiding) and their families were then supported through the resistance organisations. German reprisals were swift and severe and resulted in the Hunger Winter in that part of the Netherlands still under German occupation.
Quisling - Wikipedia might help explain - some I believe wanted to be under German rule Some more background - Netherlands in World War II - Wikipedia I know that my friends father was transported away from Holland and became a construction worker, well I say became, he really didnt have the choice TD
There is some harrowing reading in the latter part of this document but it does cover areas where some nationals were 'not' against the German occupation Netherlands Slave Laborers - WWII - Letter to Susan TD
I had to read it all. I have met several Dutch people of that era who have tragic stories to tell and you cannot imagine what it must have been like for them. Having asked a Dutchman that I met where he was from (we had been guests of the Dutch previously), he replied with a smile 'A little village that you wouldn't have heard of.....Arnhem.' He recalled seeing the second wave of parachutists landing. He had two elder brothers, both of whom were taken by the Germans to work at the airfield. His middle brother jumped from the lorry they were in an escaped to work with the Resistance. The elder one was killed by an Allied bombing raid. One of his childhood friends was killed after the War after finding munitions. I expressed my sorrow for him and wondered how he was able to deal with the fact that his brother was killed by the Allies. He went on to say that his wife had been in the Dutch East Indies with her parents and family when the Japanese invaded. Her father was on a Japanese boat when it was torpedoed and he died. I am at a loss to understand how difficult those times were for people. Robert Kershaw's "A Street in Arnhem" is a great book of that time, describing how it was for civilians. As an aside, I have a French friend whose Uncle owned two flour mills during the War. He was travelling from one to the other by bus when it was stopped by the local Resistance. His Uncle was taken from the bus and shot for supplying flour to the Germans. As if he had a choice.
