During World War II, the Netherlands is occupied by Nazi Germany. Japan, Germany’s ally, occupies the Dutch colony the Dutch East Indies.

On 10 May 1940, Germany invaded the Netherlands. The Dutch in the East Indies were shocked. Members of the Dutch National Socialist Movement (NSB) and Germans living in the East Indies were immediately imprisoned as enemies. Contact with relatives in the Netherlands was no longer possible. The Dutch government moved to England. In the East Indies, Dutch nationals and Dutch East Indians organised all kinds of aid campaigns in support of the government in exile. Read more.