Why did Germans bomb Rotterdam?

Rotterdam was subjected to heavy aerial bombardment by the Luftwaffe during the German invasion of the Netherlands in World War II. The objective was to support the German troops fighting in the city, break Dutch resistance and force the Dutch army to surrender.

Who bombed the Netherlands in 1940?

Germany invaded the Netherlands on May 10, 1940. Four days later, German planes bombed Rotterdam. The Germans tried to halt the raid on the city because Dutch authorities had agreed to negotiate the surrender of their country.

When did the Germans bomb Rotterdam?

May 14, 1940German bombing of Rotterdam / Start date

What were the Luftwaffe bombarding in July 1940?

the Blitz, (September 7, 1940–May 11, 1941), intense bombing campaign undertaken by Nazi Germany against the United Kingdom during World War II. For eight months the Luftwaffe dropped bombs on London and other strategic cities across Britain.

Why was Amsterdam not bombed in ww2?

At the start of World War 2 the Netherlands was a neutral country like it had been for over a century. This policy had kept them out of the bloody First World War. The Dutch sat on the sidelines as other countries in Europe first experienced slaughter on an industrial scale. The Dutch would only fight when attacked.

How many times was Rotterdam bombed in ww2?

Air raids after May 14th After the bombardment of May 14th Rotterdam had to cope with various air raids and shootings as well. As far as is known 128 air raids on Rotterdam and its surroundings were carried out by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Army Air Force (USAAF).

Did the British bomb Rotterdam?

Their target was the shipyards and dock area, in the west of Rotterdam. The bombing took place at 12:25 (BST) in cloudy conditions and only 33 B-17’s dropped 99 tons of bombs.

How many people died in the bombing of Rotterdam in 1940?

Between 13.27 hours and 13.40 hours the big surface bombardment took place on the centre of Rotterdam, Kralingen and the north of Rotterdam. More than 30.000 buildings were destroyed. In total 800 to 900 people died as a result of this bombardment.

What was the worst day of the Battle of Britain?

Sunday 15th September is celebrated officially as the climax of the Battle of Britain, when London had become the Luftwaffe’s main target. However post-war studies of British and German records have shown that the hardest fought day of the Battle was Sunday 18th August.

What side was Lithuania on in ww2?

Lithuania was occupied by Soviet forces and annexed (1940) as a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. In June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union and overran Lithuania.

Who liberated Holland in ww2?

Canadians
Canadians played an important role in the liberation of the German-occupied Netherlands during the Second World War, forging lasting bonds between the two nations. Canadians landed in France on D-Day — 6 June 1944 — fighting through the summer in the Normandy campaign.