Chapter 4: Operation: Kingfisher
After the defeat of France, the Netherlands focussed their attention to the United Kingdom and the Islands, Borneo and Singapore region in particular. After success in Belgium and France, the 1st Army was offered a period of rest and training, especially how to execute an invasion from the sea. In 1939 new divisions were added to the army and the whole army was equipped with new weapons. In addition, new tactics were worked out to cope with the terrain in the UK.
Meanwhile the British forces captured a part of Borneo but was set free by the Japanese not long after that. For the Dutch the East Indies were safe with Japan backing them up. The Dutch – Japanese deal was Japan would capture Borneo and the Singapore region and would hand them over to the Netherlands, in return the Netherlands would help the Japanese with their plan in taking the strategic US bases along the Pacific coast and on the islands in the Pacific. That plan however was to be executed somewhere in 1940 or 1941.
On February 15th early in the morning Dutch troops landed along the coast south of Great Yarmouth between the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. Again the Allied forces were surprised as both the boldness of the attack and the fact that the Netherlands had a small navy, certainly nothing compared to the British naval forces. Late in the evening a beachhead was secured and as soon as the divisions landed, they moved into Lowestoft to capture the small, but big enough port for ships to bring in more troops and supplies.
Corporal Hendrik de Vries wrote to his wife again about the invasion and capture of the port:
Lowestoft – January 18, 1940
Dear Miep,
On Monday we landed along the English coast and I happen to be on the first vessel that touched the beach. It was apparent the English did not expect us, nor were they prepared for us. There was no soldier to be seen. We trained last year to prepare ourselves for the worst, but as it seems, it was not needed. It was cold though, around 0 degrees Celsius, just a small breeze and hardly any rain so it was ok, but hopefully I will not have to get through that again.
Tuesday we marched to Lowestoft to take the port and upon arriving the border of the town, we noticed troop movement. The road was blocked with improvised roadblocks and houses on the outskirts were barricaded. It was obvious this division just entered town a day or perhaps 2 days before us and had little time to prepare their defenses. Yesterday we surrounded the town and attacked them from all sides. I managed to overpower a few guards and capture their captain. Before the sun set they raised a white flag and the captain offered their surrender. I’ve been told I will receive the Militaire Willems-Orde medal for this action, because thanks to their fast surrender we could take the town and the port. As it seems 2nd Corps was getting close and it would be safer and faster to have them disembark inside the port compared to the beach.
Tomorrow we will be on our way to London and we expect a lot of resistance along the way. I think their alarms have gone off by now and I can only assume they are not pleased.
Hope to write to you soon again from London.
With love,
Hendrik
Medal: Militaire Willems-Orde
After the Dutch landings Germany was actually a little embarressed. How could such a small nation with an equally small army do such great things. On top of that, the Soviet Union declared war on Germany who could actually do nothing to contain Dutch agression. Up untill that point the Fuhrer always thought Prince Bernhard was his puppet in the Netherlands, but as it seems, it was the other way around. Just when the Fuhrer thought he would settle this by invading the Netherlands the DoW came from the Soviets and eventhough Poland was a safe buffer for now, he still could not wager a two front war on his own. He knew that invading the Netherlands would open up the gateway for the UK to Germany. In conclusion, the Fuhrer could do nothing than to accept the situation and offer the Netherlands leadership in the Axis.
The plot of the, now Dutch, Prince and his ambition to create a great Dutch Empire was slowly revealed to the world and the world at that point did not care or was blind. Dutch Army command was moved from Amsterdam to Paris, a more central point, also for future ambitions.
The advance in the UK was going slow and not according to the Princes plan. To confuse Brittish High Command, a second invasion was executed in February along both sides of the Brighton Pier. It was actually even a bit arrogant how the Dutch executed their second invasion of the UK but it proved to be very effective and within a month London was surrounded by the Dutch invasion force.
Second invasion
Advancement in the UK
Encirclement of London
Battle of London
After the capture of Londen, British resistance was broken. The Dutch were carving through the lands like a knife through butter. The only thing the defending army could do was retreat and to make sure they could not regroup with the troops based in Scotland, the Dutch army cut off the north passage.
In April the Dutch drove the defenders back to Scotland and Germany started to invade the north so they could actually say the helped bringing down the UK. Later that month, on the 25th the British forces surrendered. Leaving the door wide open to Ireland which was conquered about a month later.
Germany’s pathetic attempt to mark their contribution
Next chapter: Operation: Toro Naranja
.
