Total Control: How the Nazis Countered Unconventional Warfare in the Netherlands During World War Two
Abstract
To prevent and counter resistance in the Netherlands during World War Two, the German occupation forces used increasingly harsh measures. Initially the Nazis left the Dutch bureaucracy in place and they followed a relatively lenient occupation strategy. This had the effect of inviting only limited opposition. Some seemingly trivial measures such as additional identification obligations had far-reaching effects on the ability of the security apparatus to control the population. The Dutch were poorly prepared to fight against the Nazi occupation. Experience German security forces decisively defeated the first Anglo-Dutch unconventional warfare effort. Informants and signals intelligence intercepted incoming operatives before they could do harm. The German counteraction highlighted great intelligence work and interagency cooperation. The many militarized police officers in the German intelligence services used their experience and detective skills and design to wriest the initiative from Special Operation Executive and the young underground movement in the Netherlands. By the final year, when the Nazis hope of victor had evaporated, the Nazis used terror to subdue resistance. This worked in the short term, but in the longer term, this led to more opposition. In conclusion, German population control worked best when it was least invasive. A police operation ensured the destruction of an Anglo-Dutch unconventional warfare effort. This operation relied heavily on human intelligence obtained by cleverly manipulating opponents and Dutch society. The use of terror to subdue resistance worked in the short term, but in the longer term only led to more opposition.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1039901
Entities
People
- Jeroen F. Van Rantwijk
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College