World War II Diary

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World War II Diary April 8th 1940,

Dear Diary,

Life is the same as usual in Rotterdam. My wife, Lisa and son Jack,

are doing fine and my job at the harbour is going well. However a new

threat seems to be lurking in the distance, one we have not had to

deal with for a long time…war.

It is now just over a year since the Germans took their first victim,

Czechoslovakia in March 1939. Since then I have heard that the German

war machine has churned its way through Poland, Denmark and Norway and

as nobody has yet succeeded in stopping them, I fear places like

Holland, Belgium and France are next. However, we have not taken

sides, Holland is a neutral country and up to now we have been living

peacefully under good-old Dutch rule.

May 13th 1940

Dear diary,

My worst fears have come true. I heard this morning on the wireless

that Germany officially declared war 3 days ago. Rumour has it that

German planes are currently flying over Holland full of bombs and

troops, sweeping through Holland at a terrifying rate. I myself have

not yet been directly affected but I know it’s only a matter of time

and so I am taking no chances. My family and I are making preparations

to leave Rotterdam tomorrow. We will head for the country and

hopefully find refuge in my brother Frank’s, farm in Arnhem. I’ve told

Jack that we are going to visit his uncle just like we used to do, for

I cannot bear to tell him the truth. I plan to stay with Frank until I

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...ess the allies!!

May 5th 1945

Freedom at last!! The Nazi scum, who have occupied and corrupted our

land for so long, subjecting it to brutal conditions, exploiting its

resources and people, destroying its infra-structure and bringing

death and suffering, have finally been driven out and defeated. After

almost five years under German rule, the Dutch nation and its people

are free once more. Restoring Holland to its previous state may seem

like an insurmountable task, but one way or another, with the help of

the sheer determination of the Dutch people, it shall be done.

The Third Reich has fallen, good as inevitably triumphed over evil and

peace has been restored in Europe and the rest of the world. This day

marks the end of the Second World War and the beginning of a what I

hope will be, a new and better life.

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