Dutch postal card mailed from ‘s Gravenhage to Richmond, California on 8 June 1940. The as-yet-untranslated slogan postmark depicts various forms of transportation from walking through bicycling, motorcycling, and a pickup truck and passenger car.
§
The Hague is the de facto seat of the Dutch government. Originally a hunting seat of the counts of Holland, it has been the royal residence since 1250, and was the seat of the Second Peace Conference in 1907 and the World Court, 1929-30. In 1940, the population numbered 482,397.
At early dawn, May 10, 1940, the Germans struck along the western front from the North Sea to Luxembourg. One spearhead drove along the Frisian coast, another thrust at the Yssel toward Utrecht, a third smashed at Maastricht and the fortress of Eben Emael commanding the Albert Canal. A fourth—the major attack—rolled through the rugged Ardennes towards the Meuse. Planes bombed helpless cities, parachutists seized airfields and bridges, fifth columnists spread confusion and terror behind the lines. The Dutch put up a stout resistance, but were speedily overwhelmed.
Within four days most of Holland was in German hands.