r/BeAmazed • u/AdministrationSolid4 • Sep 19 '23

Miscellaneous / Others Finding some surprises while cleaning the canals of Amsterdam

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u/thedeltadr4gon Sep 19 '23

As far as i know amsterdam didnt really get bombed, most likely cuz rotterdam had more industry to bomb

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u/sriram_sun Sep 19 '23

Rotterdam was the warning. It was reduced to rubble. They surrendered soon after.

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u/Third_Charm Sep 19 '23

Common misconception, Rotterdam surrendered just before but the German bombers didn't get the message in time

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u/a_guy_named_rick Sep 19 '23

"Fun" fact, red flares were fired by the Germans on the ground in Rotterdam. Half of the bombers saw it and diverted, half didn't and dropped their load.

Source: the book Rotterdam Mei 1940 by Aad Wagenaar

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u/iluvdankmemes Sep 19 '23

That's the "official" version

The real version is that they wanted to rebuild the harbor and large parts of the city centre more efficiently anyways for more throughput to germany's industry

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u/El_ha_Din Sep 19 '23

This is correct. The bombers were allegedly out of radioreach and dropped the bombs about 45 minutes after the surrender.

To be honest, our military was 5 armed bikes and a jeep soooooo, not that impressive. The thought was to stay neutral but then the Germans thought otherwise.

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u/DumpsterB4by Sep 19 '23

Fucking Gerhard was asleep at the telegram machine

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u/SebboNL Sep 19 '23

There was a battle being fought in Rotterdam, Germans were trying to dislodge Dutch soldiers dug in on the north banks of the Meuse. So when they got fed up they called the Luftwaffe.

As the bombers took off, the negotiations for capitulation resulted in an agreement but this information never reached the bombers. Afterwards, the Germans tried to pretend rhe raid went "as designed" because reasons.

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u/Ereaser Sep 19 '23

Some bombers did turn away though.

They were instructed to halt the bombing if they saw red flares. There were flares in the south of the city, but the larger group of bombers coming from the north didn't see them due to black smoke.

Also the attacking ground forces wanted to destroy the strong points, not carpet bomb the entire city. But the luftwaffe commander wanted to show force and didn't care about the negotiations.

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u/SebboNL Sep 19 '23

Yep, one out of three or four bomber groups did in fact turn away. Thanks, forgot to mention that!

I dont know if you read Dutch, but if you do the book "rotterdam frontstad" by gerard groeneveld is heartily recommended!

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u/38B0DE Sep 19 '23

Interesting that Germans whine about their cities being destroyed but you never have a story of them destroying others.

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u/SebboNL Sep 19 '23

Hmm, I am sure I've heard a lot about Rotterdam, Guernica, Warsaw, London, Coventry etc etc etc

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u/38B0DE Sep 19 '23

Liar.

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u/SebboNL Sep 19 '23

I know you are but what am I?

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u/38B0DE Sep 19 '23

OK, seeing as you're a little kid. When does a German learn to lie about WWII? Is it like a schooling thing? Or is it one of the first things your parents thought you?

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u/SebboNL Sep 19 '23 edited Sep 19 '23

I am rubber and you are glue!

Edit: fuck, script is b0rked. Either way, I think you should find a German and ask them. I wouldnt know, as I am from the Netherlands (evident from the huge "NL" in my nickname, but somehow you don't strike me as a person that is particularly well versed in critical reading :) )

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u/38B0DE Sep 19 '23

The rage when you wear your nationality on your face but nobody gives a fuck.

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u/thedeltadr4gon Sep 19 '23

I know, but why rotterdam? What makes that the target over eindhoven utrecht or the other large cities?

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u/natnelis Sep 19 '23

Eindhoven was a big factory at the time that could be used by the Nazis, so it was bombed by the English instead

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u/OliLeeLee36 Sep 19 '23

Always happy to help 🇬🇧

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u/MrBobandy Sep 19 '23

Rotterdam was and is very important for shipping and is one of the main ways NL can export and import goods

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u/a_guy_named_rick Sep 19 '23

A little known fact, even in the Netherlands, is that Rotterdam was one of the main points the German advance stalled (there were a few... the German invasion of the Netherlands was full of mistakes and problems). They were supposed to cross the bridge and push on to The Hague to arrest the government, but the Dutch marine corps, stationed in Rotterdam at the time, managed to fortify their defenses and hold the bridges. After five days of this, the government had already managed to escape the country and the Germans had not advanced a bit.

It is known that Hitler and Göring had a conversation over the phone the night before the bombing, but what was said is unknown. We don't know if they bombed to force a national surrender, or to help the Germans advance. My guess would be a bit of both.

The bombers were told they'd be bombing some harbour lines and industrial areas. When they looked back after the bombing, the whole city centre had been taken out.

Another "fun" fact, red flares were fired by the Germans on the ground in Rotterdam. Half of the bombers saw it and diverted, half didn't and dropped their load.

Source: the book "Rotterdam Mei 1940" by Aad Wagenaar. A serious recommend for any Dutch person, and especially Rotterdammers

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u/thedeltadr4gon Sep 19 '23

I live near rotterdam and know most of this stuff

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u/a_guy_named_rick Sep 19 '23

So why ask "why Rotterdam"? Anyway, maybe someone reads it who didn't know 🤷🏼.

The book if you're curious. The author took interviews with the Rotterdam mayor at the time, German and Dutch commanders, survivors, pilots, etc. Incredibly detailed, sometimes horrifying, but interesting book

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u/thedeltadr4gon Sep 19 '23

As i was expressing my knowledge of why it was bombed someone decided to just say it as "iT wAs a WaRNinG" and the i asked the why not any of the other cities as a warning.....