The Shooting on Dam Square - Tragedy on May 7, 1945 (The Netherlands after World War II)

[@HistoryHustle]

WORLD WAR II IN THE NETHERLANDS: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWiZfYuwgtxmm7M THE LIBERATION OF THE NETHERLANDS: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZiYeHh7gtl2qas

[@officerbeenadd]

May your grandfather Rest in Peace. Your grandfather had he best grandson he could ever ask for.

[@HistoryHustle]

I really appreciate this comment. Thank you.

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

I feel bad. I hope you're grandfather lived a great life he certainly lived a long one though wow... Good video.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching and yes he did! :)

[@thebirdmapper357]

Thanks for the recovery of this almost forgotten historical event,was an amazing video. I am %100 sure that your grandfather was an amazing person,you're lucky for him to start your passion with history. Rest in peace.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks! My grandfather was of great inspiration to me. It's too bad he's gone, but it is what it is.

[@stever7066]

Very interesting. Been to Dam Square so many times but never knew this. Fascinating video.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks, Steve!

[@lillywildflower]

Thank you for sharing your fathers story. My Opa and oma lived in arnhem during ww2, they had ti leave bennekom. They moved to Australia in 1953. They never spoke of the war but I have learnt more about what happened because of wonderful people like you. Thank you ❤

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply.

[@jangeitz6590]

My father Johhanes Geitz lived in Hilversum,he was 18 during the occupation. My mother's father, my opa, was Jan Motshagen, My father's dad, was Willem Geitz, he was cruelly taken from his family and forced to work in Germany . He came back after the war, but had developed TB. He died in 1956. My father of course told me many stories about the occupation. They had to eat grass toward the end of the war. Your footage is very interesting for me, thank you.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank Jan!

[@ardicergaming6660]

Ik werk in de ouderen zorg in Drenthe. Eergisteren vertelde een Amsterdamse dame met tranen in haar ogen over deze gebeurtenissen. Ik had er nog nooit van gehoord, vandaag kom jij met deze uitleg. Bedankt!

[@HistoryHustle]

Dank voor je bericht! Respect voor je werk!

[@kristjanvalgur8871]

Very-very inspiring, I am glad that your grandfather survived the situation! I have a similar passion, because of my grandfather, who was a forest brother after the WWII in Estonia. He survived the GULAG and managed to tell many stories to my mother. Sadly I was too young when he died to hear them myself but my mother passed it on to me.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing, Kristjan. That is truely unbelievable, the horrors he must've been through. I sometimes think for most Dutch people WW2 was a walk in the park compared to the poor souls in Central and Eastern Europe. Can you share some of his stories? What was fighting like a forest brother? And what did he saw in the Gulag?

[@heavymetal1330]

I am Brazilian and i am in Amsterdam right now. I have been to Dam square already but now i am gonna look at it differently! Thanks for the lesson! I always have been fascinated by WW2 history!

[@HistoryHustle]

Great. Enjoy the city!

[@Jackques]

Wauw, jouw grootvader is ook nog eens ~90 jaar geworden? Wat een mooie leeftijd en een prachtig verhaal zeg! Goed dat hij toen ook veilig wist weg te komen. Ik heb dit verhaal al een keer eerder gehoord via het Klokhuis denk ik, maar nooit zo in detail als jij het hebt vertelt. Keep up the good work Stefan!

[@HistoryHustle]

Dank, mijn opa is 87 geworden meen ik.

[@paulinacasvel3163]

When you told the story of your grandfather I was already thinking that might have inspired you to be a historian! What a story, thank for sharing!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching!

[@marchofdissonance]

That's a really lovely story about how you came into your passion. My opa passed away when I was too young, I have so many questions. Apparently he didn't want to talk or think about Germany once he arrived to Australia. I've been trying to create his storyline as a gift to my mother. I have many beautiful photos and documents, but I have large gaps during and after the war.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply.

[@rolandrothwell4840]

Thank you History Hustle for brilliant vignette of Dutch history spoken with true authenticity. I was visiting Amsterdam recently and was in Dam Square so this lecture was particularly pertinent

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching!

[@JerusnamWien85]

Well put together. Thank you, Stefan! I see a lot of resemblance betwee you and your grandfather.

[@HistoryHustle]

Very nice to read, many thanks for your comment.

[@carolinematyear8804]

My Dutch Aunt lived in Amsterdam throughout the war and was in th Dam square when this happened along with her mum and brother...when shooting started they became separated in the panic...luckily all survived...and till this day she has such clear memories of the event ...we talk of it often, also the noise of the planes flying so low you could see the pilots they were dropping emergency food parcels...they were starving...such difficult times...

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing Caroline.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

Well, that about says it all and explains a lot. Thank you for providing us so much to ponder, remember and a desire to research history.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for replying.

[@mikespike3962]

Stefan's enthusiasm is the best part of his videos. This channel is a gem.

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks for your enthusiasm as well :)

[@theapemen5682]

Your grandfathers story was a very nice addition

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you! It's the most prominent WWII story of my family.

[@theapemen5682]

@@HistoryHustle ours would be of great aunt riding her bike across the country for potatos, and a great uncle walking past customs with food he didnt declare in his suitcase. Faked a backpain and a guard carried his suitcase for him so it never got checked. Cant verify if its all true but thats the story :p

[@user-jq8wr8ru2s]

What a nice tribute to your grandfather. Thank you for this video.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply.

[@karollorak7490]

I am very impressed, I have never heard of it, and spent a lot of time on this square, really many cool moments and not being aware of these events. I feel that every time I visit this place I will not be able to think about it differently from the perspective of these events told in this short video. It is also striking how this place is empty at the moment, it seems so unreal. As usual - Great work. Thank you :)

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks, Karol!

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

Another great story Stefan. Been many times at the Dam. Nice to see your grandfather got away, very tricky times back then. In june my vacation starts and been thinking of doing a historic route through NL by car. Arnhem, Nijmegen, Rotterdam,Amsterdam etc. Not sure this is doable but I am looking for some touring route by car.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching and commenting, as always :) Driving through the Netherlands is possible, yet, I believe traveling by train is more effective. Driving and parking in the big cities can be a hassle.

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

@@HistoryHustle There is one problem, I hate public transport. Well in Paris the metro is very cool and swift.

[@emerycreek8016]

Thanks for sharing the history and family story! What an unnecessary tragedy. The things I wish I could ask my Grandparents as well! My Grandfather left the Netherlands alone in 1919 at age 16 and immigrated to the U.S. Unable to speak English but ready to work hard and make a life. I'm sure he was worried about his parents and family all thru the war.

[@HistoryHustle]

Incredible, what a journey he made! Thanks for replying.

[@magnetadventures]

Mooi dat je dit waargebeurde verhaal hebt vastgelegd. Prachtig verteld en uitgebeeld. Mijn vader, ook overleden in 2018, kon dagen lang vertellen over de oorlog die hij als 13 jarige meemaakte. Gelukkig heb ik veel van deze gesprekken opgenomen en wellicht ga ik dit ook eens net als jij gedaan hebt openbaar maken zodat het niet verloren raakt.👍👍

[@HistoryHustle]

Dank voor je bericht 👍

[@hotspur_courier]

Thanks for the video. I have a little tear in my eye, because my grandfather gave me my love of history too. He was a co-pilot in the US Navy during the war. He flew reconnaissance over the channel to the Bay of Biscay for Uboats. He passed away in June 2013.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you for sharing.

[@ahreaper]

An amazing video. Very eloquently explained and very enriching to know if these little details. Your channel is well worth watching and I love how you cherish the memory of your grandfather by following in his footsteps. Please keep it up.

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks!

[@mammuchan8923]

What an amazing little real life story. I love that the story instilled in you a passion for history. And now you are here with your great channel, instilling in us a passion for history, well played Stefan

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks for your nice comment. Good to read. It's keep me going :)

[@niklasciccone2724]

You are inspiring be to become a historian, your videos are great and hope your grandfather lived a happy life.

[@HistoryHustle]

He did, thanks Niklas:)

[@marcoskehl]

Your grandfather looks like you. Thanks for your videos. Greetings from Brasil!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your message.

[@jona8261]

Thank you for the great video. God bless your grandfather thank God he lived along time

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply.

[@waikatowizard1267]

Our grand-parents generation was truly the greatest, to have been through all of this, and to still carry on after it all. I'm sure your grandfather is smiling down on you, seeing you bringing the stories to life and speaking of them. As long as they are spoken of, they will be remembered. Thanks for sharing Stefan.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your comment! :)

[@graagr4269]

Thank you for telling your story about your grandfather. Best regards.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks!

[@salsheikh4508]

Thank you for sharing that story.

[@HistoryHustle]

You're welcome.

[@marcelvanlierop]

Thanks for your story Stefan. Knowing where someone's drive comes from is always interesting to know.

[@HistoryHustle]

I appreciate your reply. Thanks Marcel.

[@snapdragon6601]

I thought I knew a good amount of WW2 history. This is new to me. Thank you for sharing.👍

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching!

[@shwwoooosshh9228]

Thanks for sharing this. I can relate. My grandfather survived Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. If he died I wouldn't be here either.

[@HistoryHustle]

I understand. Thanks for sharing this.

[@bennyandersen742]

Thanks for an interesting story, just terrible to die like that just when peace is right around the corner

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply.

[@jiltedjohn9294]

Great work, really interesting as are all your videos.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you :)

[@galbas78]

greatly appreciate you sharing this story.

[@HistoryHustle]

You're welcome!

[@jackmundo4043]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@mikhailv67tv]

The people hiding behind the light post would be one of the most Iconic pictures of the chaos at the end of WW2. Now i know the story behind it.

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes, it's an iconic photo.

[@zaggiejwz2265]

Keep up the good work:)

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks! :)

[@victorbart]

Thank you for this video with a personal story! Before you mentioned your grandfather I was thinking what if my grandmother was there (she lived in Amsterdam)

[@HistoryHustle]

Luckily she was not. Thanks for watching and take the time to comment.

[@janherburodo8070]

Very interesting story. R.I.P to your grandfather

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you, Jan.

[@tondehaan8252]

your a great teller, thank you for that

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@lawrencerogers576]

Enjoyed that. Thank you.

[@HistoryHustle]

You're welcome!

[@wowt]

Again a great video. I was quite moved bij the picture at the end.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks! Nice to read :)

[@CharlesvanDijk-ir6bl]

You can see the Dutch 'Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten' had zilch training. Just the way they hold their guns, fingers inside the trigger guard. Any drill sergeant would pull you up in no time. It is exactly how the majority of fratricidal cases occur.

[@HistoryHustle]

Sharp observation, so true.

[@nickpapagiorgio5056]

Stefan how absolutely amazing! My grandfather was in the US navy during ww2 but fought in the Pacific. It is amazing and also a very solemn thought to think that many of us men and woman would not be here today if our grandfathers and even grandmothers in some cases were killed during that war. Great story and god bless your Grandfather may he Rest In Peace.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for replying, Nick!

[@janstepien9892]

A fantastic story, about your grandfather. I'm happy for him, to make it out of there. My grandpa was also a badass, during the war😀 Greets from Poland

[@HistoryHustle]

Cheers, Jan! Thank you for your comment.

[@maincoon6602]

Great video 👍🏻

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you!

[@chrislofkin3066]

God bless your Grandfather A hero and a witness to history Another excellent video

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks for your reply!

[@nzmonsterman]

A really great story. Thank you for sharing 🙂

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your message.

[@TimDutch]

Indrukwekkend verhaal. Bedankt voor het delen.

[@HistoryHustle]

Jij bedankt voor het kijken, Tim!

[@skok5136]

Stefan, thank you for you very educational and interesting videos. I am searching for a video/movie/documentary that I once saw on Dutch television regarding the resistance in Haarlem/Overveen. In the movie a tennis clubhouse (that still exists today) was used as a rendezvous for people to be picked up and moved to another safehouse. Are you aware of this or know the title of the movie?

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply. Can't tell which movie you are referring to. I know there was a tennis scene in Soldaat van Oranje...

[@thomastoadie9006]

Nice one dude. Bedankt!

[@HistoryHustle]

Graag gedaan, dank voor het kijken.

[@sellingtowinselling3876]

Thankyou for this

[@HistoryHustle]

You're welcome.

[@depow5217]

Thank you for sharing. I remember my grandmother telling me stories about occupied Netherlands and she said to me that the Germans were shooting people who were celebrating in the streets even though they had surrendered. I wonder if she was referring to this incident as I think her town Rijnsburg/Katwijk aan Zee was already liberated by the Canadians before the surrender, but I am unsure. The stories of my grandparents also made me become interested in history, a passion and career I have to this day. Thank you!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing this, Derek. Can't tell which incident your grandmother was refering to however... I shall look into it.

[@peterkralt2478]

@@HistoryHustle Might be my grandfathers resistance group liquidating a Dutch policemen who would come to Rijnsburg from Leiden to snatch jewish kids living in hiding for the reward money the germans gave him. he and a collegue who knew Rijnsburg very well and looked for kids they did not recognize as that of the people living on those adresses! at some point they went to Piet van Egmond his house who was hiding a jewish girl but Piet was connected to the resistance group of dokter van der Laan (father of the later mayor of Amsterdam Eberhard van der Laan, rip) and referent Henk Post. The moment Piet van Egmond rushed in to the house of Henk Post demanding a gun because those bastards were there for his kid! (he adored the jewish girl he had taken in as if it was his own daughter) my grandfather Johannes Post and his armed resistance cell were having a meeting inside my great uncle Henk Post his house becuase they were planning a raid somewhere in the region! Instead of giving Piet van Egmond a gun he send a few of his men to elliminate these police officers who had been a manace in Rijnsburg for quit a while! One group would enter the house of Piet van Egmond trough the front door while Jan Wildschut would go around the back trough the kitchen door. But Jan wildschut was faster then the others and run in to officer Willem de Groot in the kitchen before the rest was inside the house where he shot and killled him before de Groot could fire on him. Then he heard the other policemen in the living room so he rushed in and they exchanged fire and that officer dove trough a window at the side of the house to escape while the others were comming in trough the front door. They fired up on him while he escaped running down the street and he was wounded for which he went to the mayors house where he was given firt aid by the wife of docter van der Laan who told him the made up story that the gunmen that atttacked him were not locals but had follewed him and de Groot from Leiden to Rijnsburg. And that's why the Germans never did reprisal executions in Rijnsburg for that liquidation. But they did look for a man in long black leather jacket by the testemony of that escaped police officer and therefor raided the house of Jan Mooten who was known to wear a black jacket. He was not at home when the Germans raided so they arrested his girlfriend which made him turn himself in voluntary. He was released after being molested so bad that his girlfriend did not even recognize him when the Germans figured out he had nothing to do with it. Also because Harm Wolthaus had heard the Germans were looking for Jan Mooten, and because he knew Jan Mooten also had a jewish girl living in hiding in his house, he went to get that kid before the Germans would raid the place and therefor left trough the backdoor right at the moment the Germans came busting in trough the front door and arrrested Jan mootens girlfriend, So a very close call that saved her and possible also Jan Mootens life! For the rest of the war that police officer never showed his face in Rijnsburg again so very few jews and arbeitseinzats refusers were caught in Rijnsburg after that! One was which was caught was the jew my other grandfater was hiding, that man used to bussy city life could not stay indoors in such a small quit village, so often he would sneak out when my grandfather was at work and take the tram to Leiden for a strawl trough the city, Sometimes he would take my back then 5 year old father with him to look less suspicious. On one such escapade he got arrested and within half an hour he had not only told that my grandfather had been hiding him but also where his daughter and where his wife were hiding. So within an hour the Germans raided my grandfathers house and arrrested my grandfather and they also raided the adresses where that man his wife and daughter were in hiding. They did find the daughter but the wife had a bad feeling that day and had relocated to another adress so she was not caught, Both the husband and the daughter were gassed on arrival in Auswitsch but the wife became my adopted aunt Ciska that kept visiting us and my grandparents every birtday and many hollidays untill she passed away of old age! She had no family left after the war, everyone related to her by blood or by marriage were killed by the nazi's so we became her family!

[@emirvmendoza]

Thank you for the story about your grandfather. You're lucky. My grandfather fought as a guerilla against the Japanese during World War II but he never personally told me his experiences. It was my grandmother who did. May both our grandfathers rest in peace.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you for commenting! May both our grandfathers indeed rest in peace.

[@theodorossarafis7370]

we have something in common. thanks to our grandfathers we both felt in love with history.

[@HistoryHustle]

Cool. Just showed this video to my class. Next weekend I'll visit my grandma, first time I see her since one full year.

[@dennisa2325]

Interessante video, zoals al jouw videos eigenlijk. Maar wat is er uiteindelijk met die Duitse mariniers gebeurd? Zijn die uiteindelijk nog opgepakt en terechtgesteld?

[@HistoryHustle]

Dank voor je bericht, Dennis. Wat er precies met hen is gebeurd weet ik niet. Ik heb op internet (kleuren)beelden gezien van hoe deze mannen de volgende dag (of 2 dagen later) met uitrusting en al naar buiten marcheren, een truck opstappen (begeleid door geallieerde soldaten) en worden afgevoerd. Wat er daarna gebeurd is met hen, weet ik niet.

[@maddyg3208]

I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather's bike. Did the pedal get fixed?

[@HistoryHustle]

I believe so.

[@maltesetony9030]

Fascinating persoanl story, beautifully told!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching.

[@marionharding6015]

My mum hid behind the lantarn with the big base she was age 24 .. my grandad had a shop in the Nieuwendijk street adjacent to the dam next to st Nicolaas church all survived

[@RawMeat1226]

interesting to hear that even in 1945 people were stupid enough to risk their life for a bike of all things. the dumb dude got to live but 30 people that probably valued their life much more had to die. what a world

[@peterkralt2478]

Kids at his age had to work to help out in the costs of living so you have no idea how important that bike might have been for him and his family. At that point in the war people in the west of the Netherlands had been deprived of acces to food for 8 months by the Germans so any cent made could help chip in buying some scares food on the black market, that bike could have been a vital asset for months at that point and having one that was functional was rare because the Germans had confiscated so many bikes! My grandmother walked 220km and back to get one small bag of potatoes to feed her starving kids only to have it confiscated by 2 german soldiers 5km before she was back home and they smashed the potatoes with their boots while she was watching it with her hungry food deprived eyes! She barely survived walking that distance so i guess she would have given anything she owned for a bike!

[@RawMeat1226]

@ thank you for sharing. I see things differently now with more empathy and understanding.

[@peterkralt2478]

@@RawMeat1226 Context does a lot 😀but on the otherhand he was a kid and kids tend to see dangers less then adults

[@adomuhic4964]

Amazing story, ur grandfather was so brave

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply.

[@wimschoenmakers5463]

Interessante video. Bedankt!

[@HistoryHustle]

Dank voor je bericht, Wim!

[@dennisvanoord3278]

Ik ben verbaasd dat dit niet vaker wordt vermeld over de tweede wereld oorlog en bevrijdingsdag. Uw opa was een deel van geschiedenis, sorry voor je verlies.

[@HistoryHustle]

Dank voor je reactie!

[@thegametwins7553]

I have heard of it but not like this perspective, great video

[@HistoryHustle]

You're welcome, thanks for watching as always!

[@scottabc72]

Great family history, thanks

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks 👍

[@oceanhome2023]

Your grandfather had a bicycle how important were bicycles in the war ? I heard that the small generator for the light on the wheel could be used to listen on the radio . Is this true ?

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes.

[@t.jjohnson6317]

Sorry about your grampa..would have nice to hear about his life during that time.. nice vid

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply.

[@TheSpritz0]

R.I.P. to your Grandfather, you must have heard some amazing stories over the years!!!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you :)

[@goodgameproductions3039]

May his soul rest in peace.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you.

[@wijk89]

The ‘Binnenlandse strijdkrachten’ were not even supposed to be armed. It was specifically forbidden by the Canadians and this was conveyed to them by Prins Bernard. Which also goes to show what a great command his royal highness had as supreme commander of the homeland fighters.

[@HistoryHustle]

About their arms I didn't know. I do know they had to be controlled by Bernard but this was only a limited succes judging the many incidents that happen.

[@wijk89]

History Hustle Hier kun je denk ik best een aardig youtube filmpje over maken. Ik heb nog meer links die hiermee samenhangen: gerard1945.wordpress.com/2020/05/05/7-mei-1945-de-schietpartij-op-de-dam/

[@andrewrobinson2565]

Excellent personal story.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks!

[@thathistoryiscoolguy]

High quality

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks!

[@thathistoryiscoolguy]

@@HistoryHustle and I like how you shot on spot

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes, I did that a while back. The crisis had just started and the square was empty.

[@chip9649]

Will you do interview with WW2 Vets

[@HistoryHustle]

Interviews are actually beyond the scope of this channel. If I ever run into a WW2 vet I might do it, but don't expect is.

[@heipuntnl]

Dankje. Nog nooit iets van gehoord ( tot nu).

[@HistoryHustle]

Bedankt voor het kijken, Geert!

[@NickDanger0001]

As a former Scout, love to see the Scouts on the job. How about a video on the role of scouts?

[@HistoryHustle]

Perhaps one day.

[@NickDanger0001]

@@HistoryHustle If you've seen the Polish movie, Battle of Warsaw, scouts have a prominent role.

[@hjon9119]

the building, across the madame tussaud to the direction of where the krasnapolsky hotel, has a street behind it with a big bicycle shop if we assume its been there since WW2. your grandpa could have run to that shop?

[@HistoryHustle]

Perhaps yes! Thank you for sharing.

[@jayfrank1913]

My maternal grandmother immigrated to the USA from The Netherlands around 1910 as a young girl. Her only negative experience during WWII was entering the US after traveling through Canada. When the Border Patrol asked her where she was born, she replied, "The Netherlands." Since The Netherlands was occupied by the Germans at the time, the whole family was delayed for hours while she was interrogated to make sure she wasn't a spy for the Germans. Since the family made the trip twice a year, she learned to answer, "New York" and was always waved through. Her name was Wilhelmina Van Deene, after the queen. I asked her about The Netherlands, but she was so young that she only had vague memories of her birthplace and had forgotten most of her Dutch. And that's partially why I exist. I also met her mother (my great-grandmother) as a young child. Oh, the questions I would have loved to ask her if she was still alive when I was older.

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting story to read, John, thanks for sharing.

[@frankvansteen8291]

Ik hou van geschiedenis dus weet van de Dam schietpartij, maar heb nooit geweten dat Ome Arie hier ten tijde van het gebeuren was. Hij heeft 2 jaar later als 18 jarige in de winter van begin '47 nog een heldendaad verricht door het ijskoude water in te gaan en 2 keer onder het ijs te duiken om een 16 jarige jongen te redden. De jongen was al buiten bewustzijn maar heeft het overleefd. Ik ben trots op mijn oom, jou opa

[@HistoryHustle]

Bedankt voor je bericht, Frank. Van die heldendaad leerde ik gisteren trouwens!

[@RogerKant]

The Second World War in the Netherlands was not a black and white situation. It was difficult to distinguish friend from foe because of the variety of political formations. I'm afraid if it hadn't been liberated by the Allies it would have been plunged into civil war.

[@HistoryHustle]

Due to the absense of weapons and the fact that the German occupation was hated by most this is very unlikely.

[@discoverynorthcarolina9824]

Truly amazing story, he was a blessed man

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply!

[@curiousmonster8221]

My grandmother had a close escape with my dad. She had to grab him out of his pram when Nazi fighters came strafing Ryde seafront on the Isle of Wight. When it was safe to return the pram was full of holes. If she had not ran I would not be here

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing. The personal stories give a whole new dimension to the history of war.

[@lordsjaak]

op leraar na hebben wij zelfde doel gekregen om de reden waarom geschiedenis belangrijk was en ook om te delen aan anderen zo dat hun verhalen nooit verdwijnen erdoor.

[@HistoryHustle]

Zo is het, dank je wel!

[@TonySlug]

My grandfather was not there AFAIK but was forced to watch summary executions of random citizens by firing squad, which was fairly common practise during the occupation in reprisal of attacks on German targets by the Dutch resistance. Civilians were rounded up and forced at gunpoint to watch such murders, and the corpses of the victims would sometimes be left there for a few days as a warning. Anyways, the German marines were holed up in "De Groote Club" social club on Dam Square awaiting the arrival of the Canadian forces, so they could surrender to them. Assorted Dutch resistance groups had formed a coalition of combatants called "De Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten" (BS) meaning "interior armed forces". It was the latter who decided to speed up the liberation of Amsterdam by attempting to disarm German military personnel. As Stefan stated correctly, Amsterdam was technically still under German occupation and control although there was a power vacuum at this point. Citizens had gathered in great numbers on Dam square to celebrate the pending liberation in a jubilant and festive manner, crowds dancing and singing, in what is best described as a collective outburst of joy. The resistance people went up to the Germans and demanded they surrender their weapons. The Germans refused to do so, arguing that they did not recognize the BS as allied armed forces or even as regular military units. Perhaps angered by this, the BS men insisted. The Germans said something like "Nope. We will surrender to the Canadian forces once they arrive, but not to you guys. If we hand over our guns, all of us will be dangling from traffic posts in 15 minutes and we just want to get out of here alive. Do you see those people out there ? That crowd is going to lynch us." so this went back and forth and escalated into a heated argument during which one German marine was shot and killed. The Germans then panicked and started firing at the crowd of civilians indiscriminately, killing over 30 innocent people and wounding many more. Another firefight ensued with the BS people firing back at anything German. Things were further complicated when armed members of the NSB (Dutch nazi party and collaborators) interfered and also started shooting in the vicinity. The (nazified) Amsterdam police initially tried to negotiate and realize a cease-fire, to little avail, making this firefight a rather chaotic affair and obviously, a tragedy. Btw - I personally think the public humiliation and mistreatment of Dutch women who had dated German conscripts was shameful. Many of these young women had really fallen in love and weren't collaborators. Whenever their boyfriends were sent over to fight on the Eastern front it was horrible for those couples. Many Dutch women waited even for years after the war, for their boyfriends to return so they could get married and settle down, but for obvious reasons most of those guys never came back.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@onlyvik]

Hi Toni thanks for sharing your story. I do have another opinion about the whole situation that teribble day. Both Bernhard and Carel Frederik Overhoff (leader of the B.S forces) both had strict orders from the military chain of command (General Montgomery and General Foulkes) not to disarm the Germans and were not even allowed to walk around with guns. They both didn't care and they tried to hide this case of course. In my opinion Bernhard and the b.s. forces are responsible for all the victims that day. My grandfather was in the resistance of Amsterdam during ww2 and confirmed this . I also posted a link within the comments in this video above. The civilians were absolutely not the target of the Kriegsmarine. They had a MG 34 up in the club and if they wanted to kill everyone on the dam they could do that within a minute but they didn't . That MG 34 can shoot 800-900 bullits à minute.

[@TonySlug]

@@onlyvik Yes, the MG-34 was a terrifying weapon. I speculate that the Kriegsmarine members would be probably well aware of the fact that if captured by the BS, they wouldn't be treated as POWs under the Geneva convention, for the simple reason that the BS wasn't recognized as a regular military entity operating on behalf of a government that was in a state of war with the German Reich. They may well have been beaten to death by the enraged crowd, taking out their anger at them, and it would seem unlikely that this would have serious consequences for the perpetrators. So, realistically, the Kriegsmarine didn't have much of a choice. Having said that, I wonder if any of those men were ever tried and punished for the massacre.

[@TonySlug]

Interestingly, it is for the same reason the Volkssturm wore armbands that said "Deutscher Wehrmacht". That way the Volkssturm had to be recognized as an official branch within the German armed forces, and members if captured, could not be executed as spies or partisans.

[@rthjong]

The West of the Netherlands was actually never really liberated because the Germans surrendered in the East (Wageningen) and a lot of troops were still stationed in the West. I wonder how this happened. In Den Haag, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Utrecht? Where did they go after 5th May 1945? And how?

[@HistoryHustle]

Actually I didn't know either, but since I catched up with the "bevrijdingsjournaals" by the NOS I do know. Actually most of the cities were liberated on the 7th and 8th. In some cases the situation was really tense when members of the Binnelandse Strijdkrachten were acting on their own.

[@opoxious1592]

There is a Dutch documentairy (Andere tijden), that indicates that dutch resistance fighters started shooting at the German soldiers for some reason. And the Germans reacted by returning fire. Here is the link. I'm very curious about comments from people who know watched this docu. www.anderetijden.nl/programma/1/Andere-Tijden/aflevering/73/De-Bevrijding-nabij

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for the link. Some things in this case are still debated up to this point.

[@opoxious1592]

@@HistoryHustle Your welcome 👍🏻

[@WideAnimationHandle]

History repeats itself..

[@HistoryHustle]

@@WideAnimationHandle please explain.

[@WideAnimationHandle]

@HistoryHustle The ongoing Amsterdam "protests"

[@LS-oq3qh]

I almost vomited when you talked about a dutch woman who arm was ripped off..

[@HistoryHustle]

Almost ripped off. And yes, I remember when my grandfather told me about it. Very gruesome indeed.

[@wallereportersurcheminsdet1951]

Waw.."nice" story .

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks.

[@parmentier7457]

I knew the story, but only from one point of view. Good you tell about the Canadians and the Germans. I only knew that the Germans were shooting on Dam sq. and then end of the story. I could now imagine why the Germans were shooting.

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes, and I even believe there might be more to it, since some aspects are still debated. Thanks for watching!

[@onlyvik]

The BS forces were provoking the German Kriegs Marine on the balcony with guns, and felt threatened and confused because they were the ones following the correct orders from Montgomery which was to wait for the Canadians. Then the the shooting started and people got killed because of that criminal action of our Dutch prince and his army. That's the truth and also confirmed by my grand father who played a big role in the Amsterdam resistance movement. Prince Bernhard tried to cover up the whole story. The Germans had a big machine gun stationed on the balcony (MG34 - 800 à 900 shots per minute) and if the civilians were the target they could have round up the complete Dam square within minutes. That's a simple fact and calculation. The Canadian army was furious about that action and even threatened the BS forces that if they would see them again armed they would have been shot. They were not allowed to have guns in the first place. This is the link where you can read the story gerard1945.wordpress.com/tag/prins-bernhard/

[@jimadamson1808]

Your grandfather would be proud of you!

[@HistoryHustle]

:)

[@danditto4864]

Did the Canadians come back and kill the Nazis. Breaking a truce or surrender is usually dealt with very harshly. Great video, really liked the personal connection.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your comment, Dan. I've seen moving images where the German soldiers walk out and embark on a truck. Can't really see who escorted them, but I believe the Canadians did.

[@marino7414]

i hate it when i'm in history class and my classmates say WhY Do wE NeeD to LeArN HisToRy???

[@HistoryHustle]

Yeah, I understand.

[@berndf.k.1662]

Quite neutral and not one-sided told.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your response.

[@Christian-mt5jx]

Dit is mooi

[@HistoryHustle]

Je bedoelt de video? De schietpartij vind ik niet zo mooi...

[@Christian-mt5jx]

@@HistoryHustle oh god nee niet de schietpartij

[@horrorboys8762]

Daar was ik vorige zomer vakantie heel verdrietig

[@HistoryHustle]

Inderdaad. Zeker als je de Hongerwinter en alles overleefd hebt, en dan op 7 mei aan je einde komt.

[@horrorboys8762]

Ja zeker dan denk je dat als voor bij is mij Nederlandse overgroot oma woonde in een klein dorpje en toen Nederland bevrijd werd gingen 5 mensen de Nederlandse vlag uit wapperen op een brug maar de duiders die veder op woonden schoten ze dood om dat ze niet wisten dat de oorlog voorbij was