Around the town of Hook of Holland, the German air force had started to bomb targets. When Hook of Holland came under direct attack, the British troops left their weapons and fled back to the ships. The bombardment cost the British six dead and twenty wounded.

Finally a three column-assault on Overschie was ordered. Troops supported by artillery and anti-tank guns started to advance on the village. Two additional armored cars supported the assault. The Dutch troops advanced through the fields, under heavy fire by German troops who had taken up supreme positions. Also on the motorway, where another column was advancing, the battle raged.

During the opening moments of the assault, the Germans bombed Rotterdam, in order to force a Dutch surrender. The soldiers fighting at Overschie could see the city burning. In the meantime, the grenadiers broke through the German defenses and made it into the city. Fresh units also poured into the gap. The second column had cleared the highway. The troops now advanced against German positions in the south of the city. The third column had maneuvered around the city and was ready to attack the defenders in the back.

However, before they could advance in order to finish the job, it was made clear that the Dutch army had surrendered because of the terror bombardment at Rotterdam and the threat that had been made to also destroy the city of Utrecht. Without ammunition for the anti-aircraft guns and without any reserves left, the Dutch supreme commander felt that he couldn't do anything but to surrender.

It stands to reason that for the Dutch troops the order came as a complete surprise. They simply couldn't believe it. They knew that the situation in the rest of the country wasn't as positive as theirs, though there really hadn't been reports of disasters.

Aftermath

In all, the Dutch army around The Hague suffered 515 killed and many more wounded. The Germans lost at least 2,500 dead, 1,600 captured (of which 1,200 were transported to England) and a large number missing.

According to records of the 22nd Airlanding Division, 42% of all officers and 28% of all troops were casualties, most of whom fell on the first day. The campaign in Holland cost the Luftwaffe over 500 airplanes, of which over 300 were precious transport planes. For years they would suffer from these losses.

General Graff von Sponeck fell in disgrace from the Fuhrer. When later on in Russia he performed a retreat, he was arrested and sentenced to death. He was shot, like so many others, on July 20th 1944.

More May 1940: German Assault on the Hague

General Introduction
Dutch Situation and Plans
German Situation and Plans
May 10, 1940: The War Begins
May 11, 1940
May 12, 1940
May 13, 1940
May 14, 1940 and Aftermath