The Dutch Army during
The Great War

The text was originally published in Dutch as chapter six (vier lange mobilisatie-jaren 1914-1918) in: VAN STAATS TOT KONINKLIJK - GIDS TER BEGLEIDING VAN DE HISTORISCHE EXPOSITIE VAN HET ARMENTARIUM TE DELFT by Drs. P.H. Kamphuis and Dr. C.M. Schulten, MCMLXXXVI, Special Interest Publications, Bussum for the Royal Dutch Army and Armament Museum Generaal Hoefer, Delft.

We would like to thank the Royal Dutch Army and Armament Museum Generaal Hoefer (Delft) for not denying permission to use the text. You may read that sentence again if you like...

Dutch Hussar trumpeter. 1915.

The assassination of Austria’s archduke Franz Ferdinand, on 28th June 1914 in Sarajevo, had far-reaching consequences. The fatal gunshots lead eventually, on 30th June, to Austria’s declaration of war on Serbia and with that to the outbreak of the first world war. Germany, the most important ally of Austria invaded neutral Belgium on the 3rd of August in order to defeat France as soon as possible. At the river Marne the German advance was stopped and a situation of movement changed into a stalemate on the Western front. Armies dug in and until the end a bloody trench-war was fought out in which every meter gained terrain stood for the loss of thousands of lives. New weapons were introduced; airplanes, airguns, poison gas, flame-throwers and tanks. The German use of the submarine, also a new weapon in maritime warfare, caused not only numerous casualties under the merchant service, but also lead to America’s participation in the war. Eventually in 1918 the central powers, of which Germany and Austria were the most important, had to bend their heads.

The First World War was the crucial test for the Dutch neutrality policy. On the day of Austria’s war-declaration the Dutch government declared neutrality: The Netherlands would, with arms if necessary, defend their country if attacked. The Dutch army mobilised on the 1st of August. The mobilisation went perfectly well, partly because of the use of the railroads which transported 177.500 soldiers, 6600 horses and 400 fieldguns and carriages in three days. The choice for neutrality was based on self-interest: an alliance with Germany would have caused the loss of the Dutch colonies which would have meant large economical damages. A choice for England would have probably lead to the occupation of parts or the whole of the Netherlands. The reason that this neutrality was respected by the warfaring countries was the result of a combination of facts. The certain deterrence of the Dutch army although it’s strength was much lesser as the surrounding countries thought. Beside this the possession of Dutch territory wasn’t really necessary for battling parties and both sides had their advantages from a neutral Holland. Germany used the country for transport of provisions and supplies, and on the other hand England was content with the fact that German ships and airplanes could not operate from the Dutch coast. The Dutch government tried to let all parties have their equal share in the advantages of the Dutch neutrality and also tried to adjust their regulations as much as possible.

 

Dutch field artillery at Oisterwijk. 1914.

The mobilised Dutch army counted nearly 200.000 men. Most of these served in the field army, which was 95.000 strong and consisted of four divisions and a cavalry brigade. The neutral position was clear when looked at the positioning of the army; one division guarded the North sea coast, one division was positioned along the river IJssel, there was one in Noord-Brabant, while the first four months a fourth division was, in reserve, stationed at the Veluwe. The positions and lines were manned by 70.000 soldiers while 20.000 did their duty in military depots. An officer of the engineers, General C.J. Snijders (1852-1939) was in command of the forces on land and sea. Original the whole country stood behind the mobilisation. For the first time the social-democrats, from which the politic leader P.J. Troelstra (1860-1930) on 3 August declared that the "National thought predominates the national differences", voted in favour of the defence budget.

 

 

Ambulance-cart 'Kromhout'.
Designed by Engineer Lt-Col. J.H. Kromhout, 1885.
Picture taken 1916.

During the Dutch mobilisation some irregularities came forward; some units were insufficient trained, other had to few machineguns, heavy artillery or ammunition. The quartermaster sergeant wasn’t able to supply all soldiers with their full equipment. Specially shoes and boots were the occasion for many complaints and doctor visits. In those days a soldiers version of the sick-parade signal was coined up: "All which is worn-out, All which is rotten, For the doctor, Get on your feet". Army command did everything they could to solve the problems. Extra training while the production of artillery and ammunition at the armoury factories like Hembrug and Delft reached a high level. The military situation abroad was kept closely in the eye and new gadgets were introduced; in 1916 the steel helmet was supplied and the car was used as a mean of transport. The flying department of the army, in 1914 four planes strong, was expanded. The number of cyclists in the army also swelled.

The mobilisation did put the army before new tasks. After the German raid on Belgium the Netherlands were flooded with refugees, in the beginning 900.000. Soldiers were put in to help with transport, lodging and the distribution of food. On the Veluwe special camps were build in which some 50.000 refugees still had their home after the war in 1918. For the care of the refugees a great deal was left upon charity but for the interred foreign soldiers and officers this was out of the question. Foreign soldiers who crossed the Dutch border were according to International Law disarmed and interred. The number of British and German soldiers was relatively small but the Belgium interred soldiers, 35.000 men, gave the Dutch army a lot of work. At the end the army had to help the Dutch police to restore order and safety in the camps. The economical situation, which lead to bread distribution in 1917, got worse all the time and people became desperate; In the cities hunger revolts broke out in which shops were robbed. In such cases the army was put in to restore the public order. Armed custom officers gave a lot of attention to defray smuggling on the German border. Some Dutchmen earned much money with smuggling and received the nickname "Oorlogs woekeraar" which is a practitioner of "War usury".

 

Schwarzlose machinegun team. 1914-1918.

While the mobilisation lasted longer, irritation grew with the mobilised soldiers, they were bored and voiced their opinion loudly. Army command recognised the problem and General Headquarters erected a department of Leisure and Development which had to give the soldiers a more comfortable time. Singing, music and stage performances were held, card-clubs were established while sport was practised more than ever. In 1915 a relief schedule was introduced: the first soldiers were replaced by new men. Advantage of this system was that the strength of the army stayed level (230.000 men in 1918) and a trained reserve rose of 220.000 men which could be used in emergency situations.

At the end of the war irritation came back, the soldiers had had enough of the military life and wanted to go home as soon as possible. When the life-standards in the army became below zero riots broke out. Famous in those days was the revolt in the army-camp ‘De Harskamp’ during October 1918. Because of this mutiny General Snijders was dismissed from his post by the Dutch government. His position was already disputed because he earlier had shocked the Dutch government with the thesis that the Netherlands could not be defended against a German attack if these would come.

The socialist leader Troelstra was carried away by the mutiny and the situation in Germany where on many places labourers and soldiers took over power. He thought a revolution in the Netherlands was going to happen and declared a take-over of power in the Netherlands. Soon it appeared that his expectations, originated from his social concern, did not fit reality. The ‘revolution attempt’ failed. The law-abiding part of the population organised the ‘Bijzonder Vrijwillige Landstorm’ (Special Volunteer Landstorm). These were volunteers who practised in their spare time with weapons and who, "Als ‘t Moet" (‘If necessary’) as their motto was, were prepared for armed support to restore law and order after a petition from the Dutch government, this in the Netherlands and also against foreign aggression. This organisation was united with in 1913 erected Vrijwillige Landstorm (Volunteer Landstorm) and counted on their high days 100.000 men. During May 1940 some 40.000 ‘Landstormers’ were mobilised, mainly as air observers.

Lessons learnt during the Great War:
Machinegun team with steel helmets.
Picture taken during the inter-war years at the 'Stormschool Waalsdorp'.

Dutch soldier. Picture published October 1918.