Battle for The Hague

Overview

The Battle for The Hague took place on 10 May 1940 during the Battle of the Netherlands. German Fallschirmjäger units were dropped in and around The Hague to capture Dutch airfields and the city itself.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Battle for The Hague formed part of the broader German invasion of the Netherlands on 10 May 1940. German Fallschirmjäger units were committed to seize Dutch airfields and the city itself, targeting the seat of Dutch government and military command. Despite fielding roughly 3,000 troops against a Dutch force of over 11,000, German casualties of 1,745 exceeded Dutch losses of around 1,000, making the operation a costly failure for the airborne assault force. The failure to secure The Hague meant Dutch command and government structures were not immediately neutralized, complicating German operational objectives in the opening phase of the Western campaign.

Tactics

Forces & casualties

Commanders (3)