Bombing Rotterdam - 14 May 1940 - Commemorative Day
14 May - commemoration of bombing Rotterdam
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At the beginning of the Second World War (WWII, 1940-1945) the Germans had planned a quick passage through the Benelux to France. From 10 May there were heavy battles to take over the Netherlands. However, they encountered a strong resistance from the Dutch, which slowed the German takeover considerably.
In response, and in order to avoid major losses on the ground, the Germans planned an overall bombing of Rotterdam, where peace talks took place at that time.
On 14 May at half past two in the afternoon, in just less than a quarter of an hour, 90 bombers threw 97,000 kilos of bombs on the city centre of Rotterdam. Partly because of the Branden that arose, the city centre of Rotterdam was almost completely destroyed. It is estimated that around 850 people died during the bombings that day, 80,000 people lost their homes.
