The German attack on the Netherlands, 10 May 1940
Engines start, aircraft take off, tanks break out of a barn and roll across fields past a windmill, and men in round helmets are led away as prisoners.
A hand works an engine, a gloved hand grips a steering wheel and a tyre rolls over cobbles; ground crews run across an airfield and single-engined aircraft lift off. A tank breaks out of a straw-hung barn, a column crosses the fields in a cloud of dust, soldiers wrench away an obstacle, trucks drive past a windmill and twin-engined bombers fly in stepped formation. Soldiers dash across a cobbled square, a half-track fords a stream, and a German soldier leads two men in round helmets, apparently Dutch prisoners, through a street. German newsreel footage.
At dawn on 10 May 1940 Germany invaded the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg without a declaration of war. German armour broke through the Dutch defences in the east and south and by 13 May had joined the airborne troops at Moerdijk. After the bombing of Rotterdam on 14 May the Dutch army laid down its arms; the queen and the government had already left for London.
Film Tanks break out of cover and cross a field
Film Engines start and wheels roll
Film Ground crews run and aircraft take off
Film Soldiers clear an obstacle as a tank moves up
Film Tank tracks, a windmill and a motorised column
Film Twin-engined bombers fly in formation
Film Soldiers dash across a square; a half-track fords a stream
Film