The National Monument commemorate the casualties of the Netherlands who were lost during World War Two and subsequent conflicts. It is located at Dam Square in Amsterdam.
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| National Monument Amsterdam |
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| National Monument Amsterdam |
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| National Monument Amsterdam |
On 10th May 1940 the Germans invaded the Netherlands, a neutral country, and without a formal declaration of war. The Dutch armed forces surrendered on 15th May following the bombing of Rotterdam the previous day. The country remained under occupation until the allies launched Operation Market Garden in September 1944 and the liberation of the Netherlands began. Liberation was finally accomplished with the surrender of German forces in the Netherlands on the eve of 5 May 1945, three days before the general capitulation of Germany.
During the conflict 205,901 Dutch men, women and children died of war-related causes, of which 107,000 were victims of the Holocaust. Another 30,000 people died in the Far East fighting the Japanese or in camps as Japanese POWs.
The National Monument was unveiled by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands on 4 May 1956
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| National Monument Amsterdam Unveiling May 4th 1956 |
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| National Monument 1956 Dam Square Amsterdam |