Free Dutch Forces

The Royal Netherlands Navy, the strongest branch of the Dutch Armed Forces, served all over the world.

The Dutch were unprepared for the full force of German invasion and by 14 May 1940 all of the Netherlands save for the south western province of Zeeland had been overrun.

The Dutch government-in-exile established itself under Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and remained in London until the end of the war.

[1][2] Free Dutch Forces in Europe primarily consisted of the Princess Irene Brigade, British commando units and those undertaking escort duty.

[5][4] In the 21st Army Group (General Bernard Montgomery), the brigade fought from Normandy to Holland, participating in a liberation parade in Amsterdam.

[5] The brigade undertook training firstly in Guelph, then Stratford, Ontario alongside British units.

[3][10] The Princess Irene Brigade[11] consisted of a headquarters, three companies, reconnaissance unit, artillery battery, and train.

Attempts to form a complete brigade, including a full complement of artillery and a tank unit were not successful.

[14] On 20 September 1944 at midnight they cross the Dutch border near Valkenswaard, located south of Eindhoven[13] as a part of Operation Market Garden.

[15] A monument to 12 members of the Princess Irene Brigade killed between 23 and 26 April 1945 was erected in Hedel, Netherlands.

Conscripted soldiers in Surinam and the West Indies formed national guard units, called Schutterij.

Hundreds of conscripts served as anti-aircraft gunners on merchant and navy vessels during the war, of whom dozens were killed.

[32][33][34][35] Several Dutch naval vessels, including the light cruiser HNLMS Tromp,[36] and several submarines, also escaped to Australia and operated throughout the war.

[37] In early 1942, the Japanese launched a campaign in New Guinea, advancing south towards Port Moresby in the Territory of Papua.

[39] After the victory in the Battle of Noemfoor, which included a 40-man Netherlands East Indies Civil Administration (NICA) detachment,[40] the Allies recaptured more of western New Guinea.

[41] On 5 October 1944, based on FRUMEL intelligence, the Free Dutch Forces submarine Zwaardvisch was ordered to intercept the German U-boat U-168.