At first, after the Dutch capitulation on 14 May, not much changed in our day-to-day lives. If I remember correctly, the blackout had already been implemented earlier. Black paper rolls were installed on all the windows, and these were pulled down at night. From the outside, you weren't allowed to let any light escape from inside. The authorities imposed considerable penalties for non-compliance.
Street lamps had tiny bulbs that gave off just a pale glimmer of light. Car and bicycle lamps were allowed to shine only a narrow strip of light, sufficient to see an approaching vehicle, but wholly inadequate for the driver to see where he was going.
The Germans requisitioned many school buildings, including the Christian school and several secondary schools. Later, German officers were sometimes billetted at civilian homes, although this was an exception.
Gradually, necessities like food, clothing, shoes, bicycle tyres, etc. were rationed. However, there wasn't any real shortage, provided you had enough money.
The Germans requisitioned many school buildings, including the Christian school and several secondary schools. Later, German officers were sometimes billetted at civilian homes, although this was an exception.
Gradually, necessities like food, clothing, shoes, bicycle tyres, etc. were rationed. However, there wasn't any real shortage, provided you had enough money.
At that time there was considerable poverty in The Netherlands. Although it was strictly forbidden and just as strictly enforced, poor people often sold their ration books in order to to get by.
During the first May days, a German fighter plane was shot down in 's-Graveland. Father and I rode our bikes over to take a look. The plane was completely destroyed. Pieces of metal lay scattered all over the place. I remember that Father found an aluminum seat, presumably belonging to the gunner.
During the first May days, a German fighter plane was shot down in 's-Graveland. Father and I rode our bikes over to take a look. The plane was completely destroyed. Pieces of metal lay scattered all over the place. I remember that Father found an aluminum seat, presumably belonging to the gunner.
Later, a British bomber suffered the same fate and went down in Eemnes; I went with some of my friends to look at the crash site. According to reports, the crew had bailed and gone underground. That was the term used to describe people in hiding, although in reality this particular crew were high and dry in the loft of a farm. As far as I know, the Resistance movement helped them get back to England through Belgium and France.
Years later, a nurse told me she had climbed up to the loft to ask if there were any wounded. In French, 'wounded' is 'blessé'. Her English wasn't very good, and she asked whether there were any blessed people. I'm sure the response was resoundingly positive.
In that first year, I remember a school outing to Valkeveen, a large conservation area nearby. It turned out to be our last one. As there was no motor transport, we walked the whole way, a distance of some 5 km, and back again. Although we didn't mind having to walk so far, we were all exhausted when we came home at the end of the day.
As children, we hardly noticed that the Germans were already picking up people. In the beginning, they would arrest mainly members of the Resistance, though that was to change.
Cars started to disappear. At first this was because it was difficult to obtain petrol. Later, the Germans seized all the vehicles they could lay their hands on. In the beginning, doctors were still allowed to drive so they could continue their house calls.
In that first year, I remember a school outing to Valkeveen, a large conservation area nearby. It turned out to be our last one. As there was no motor transport, we walked the whole way, a distance of some 5 km, and back again. Although we didn't mind having to walk so far, we were all exhausted when we came home at the end of the day.
As children, we hardly noticed that the Germans were already picking up people. In the beginning, they would arrest mainly members of the Resistance, though that was to change.
Cars started to disappear. At first this was because it was difficult to obtain petrol. Later, the Germans seized all the vehicles they could lay their hands on. In the beginning, doctors were still allowed to drive so they could continue their house calls.
We had great fun on the largely empty streets because we could cycle and rollerskate wherever we liked. During the first winter, when there was snow, we would sled behind the few cars still on the road. You could lie on your stomach with both hands firmly holding the bumper, or you could sit on your sled with a length of rope looped around the bumper. You had to hold onto the loose end, and let go when you had had enough. Drivers usually allowed us to do this. Actually, they didn't really have much choice, because even if they didn't like it, the pesky kids would still stick to the back bumpers like flies.
Father sometimes brought home 'Wehrmachtswurst' (Wehrmacht sausage). This was a rare black market treat that he'd buy clandestinely, but occasionally he would receive meat as a gift from German officers who were private clients at the bank where he worked.
Father sometimes brought home 'Wehrmachtswurst' (Wehrmacht sausage). This was a rare black market treat that he'd buy clandestinely, but occasionally he would receive meat as a gift from German officers who were private clients at the bank where he worked.
The black uniformed Dutch WA soon made its presence known.
The WA (or Weerbaarheidsafdeling) was the paramilitary arm of the national socialist movement. They were ruthless members of the NSB, who specialized in terrorizing people.
They particularly liked to victimize Jews. The Dutch didn't take this lying down, however, and in Amsterdam and other large cities, there were many skirmishes.
In Amsterdam, one particular WA member named Koot was bludgeoned to death. Very soon the following song became popular:
Sla hem dood,
Sla hem dood,
Net als Koot,
Sla hem op zijn mieter!
Punch him dead
Just like Koot
Beat him to a pulp!
One day I was walking with Father in Paulus Potterstraat in Bussum, when a WA platoon came marching in our direction. Father started to whistle Mondschein, a German tune.
Just like Koot
Beat him to a pulp!
One day I was walking with Father in Paulus Potterstraat in Bussum, when a WA platoon came marching in our direction. Father started to whistle Mondschein, a German tune.
This was clear provocation on his part, because, as everybody knew, the tune also had extremely anti-NSB lyrics. I still remember the men peering at Father from under their caps. Of course, it was also very foolish of Father to do this. The commander could quite easily have ordered his men to beat him up, something they would have been only too happy to do. Fortunately nothing happened.
The song went like this:
The song went like this:
Op de hoek van de straat staat een NSB-er,
Met een krant op zyn buik staat hij daar te venten
En verkoopt zijn "Vaderland" voor vijf luttele centen.
On the street corner stands an NSB-man
Holding a paper he is vending
Selling his "Fatherland" for just five cents.
(The national socialist movement, the NSB, had its own propaganda publication titled 'Folk and Fatherland', which cost 5 cents).
Holding a paper he is vending
Selling his "Fatherland" for just five cents.
(The national socialist movement, the NSB, had its own propaganda publication titled 'Folk and Fatherland', which cost 5 cents).
As far as I can remember, the first real war action in our town didn't start until the end of 1940 or the beginning of 1941. One Sunday morning a British aircraft dropped a bomb in Bussum about 1 km from our house. Oma von Ziegenweidt happened to be visiting that weekend.
The air raid alarm didn't go off till after the explosion. I always found the sirens frightening. Mother hastily sent us into our miniscule cellar, which was only half underground and couldn't possibly have provided any real protection. Oma also squeezed in and by then the small area was completely full. There was no room for my parents.
We waited about twenty minutes before the all clear sounded and Mother let us come out again. Later we discovered the bomb had been intended for the Christian School where Germans were billeted.
The air raid alarm didn't go off till after the explosion. I always found the sirens frightening. Mother hastily sent us into our miniscule cellar, which was only half underground and couldn't possibly have provided any real protection. Oma also squeezed in and by then the small area was completely full. There was no room for my parents.
We waited about twenty minutes before the all clear sounded and Mother let us come out again. Later we discovered the bomb had been intended for the Christian School where Germans were billeted.
Unfortunately, the bomb missed the school, hitting the house next door instead. It fell through the roof, and exploded in the bathroom on the second floor. The owner had just been in the bathroom and was in the adjoining bedroom at the time of the blast, which blew the entire roof off the building. Luckily she survived.
In retrospect, perhaps we overreacted to this one explosion. As the war years progressed, my attitude to danger changed greatly.
In retrospect, perhaps we overreacted to this one explosion. As the war years progressed, my attitude to danger changed greatly.
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