JS50 40/2 WWII Invasion of Netherlands RAF cover signed WW2 Veterans

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Seller: aviationcollectables ✉️ (21,982) 99.8%, Location: Littlehampton, GB, Ships to: WORLDWIDE, Item: 174078253531 JS50 40/2 WWII Invasion of Netherlands RAF cover signed WW2 Veterans.             
  Invasion of Netherlands signed by two WWII Veterans 10-15 May 1940

Cover depicts the bombing of Rotterdam on 14th May 1940, it also depicts Fairey Battles of 12 Squadron RAF attacking the Bridges at Vroenhoven and Veldwezelt on the 12th May to slow the German Advance, it also shows German parachutists descending on the Hague on the 10th May 1940. Cover also depicts the Luftwaffe bade. Cover bears 55 cent Rotterdam Netherlands Stamp for the 50th Anniversary of the Invasion of the Netherlands cancelled with Rotterdam CDS. Cover has been flown in Lancaster PA474 of the Battle of Britain Memorial flight from its base at RAF Coningsby to Netherlands during the 1990 visit of the flight to the Netherlands 28th April to 7th May 1990.

On May 8th 1940 it became known that Germany was preparing ultimatums for the passage of its armies through Belgium and the annexation of the Dutch ports. Leave of absence in both the Belgian and Dutch armed forces was cancelled on 9th May but the Belgian Chief of Staff thinking this was another false alarm allowd his men leave. Just before midnight German sympathisers in Luzembourg were informed that German Troops were soon to pass thhrough the Grand Duchy and this infomration was passed to the Dutch and Belgian Governments. Appeals were made to the British and French Governments and within hours Anglo-French forces were moving in to take up their positions  along the previously agreed line from Zeeland to Mezieres. But Germany who had repeatedly declared its intention of respecting Dutch and Belgian neutrality had cynically invaded both countries. The luftwaffe attacked  the airports at Rotterdam, Bergen, Schipol and de Kooy. Airbourne units began dropping around Waalhaven airfield and despite Dutch resistance the airfield was taken. Waalhaven airfield was dealing with the arrival of German troops and parachutists who had dropped at the Hague were well established. On 12th May the advancing French army clashed with the German forces near Tilburg. Caught off guard the French had o wihdraw. the vital peg in the Dutch defence was Rotterdam and at 1320hr on 14th May the Germans issued an ultimatum threatening obliteration by air bombardment if the Rotterdam garrison did not surrender. Scarcely it had been issued when 54 aircraft gathered iver the city and began methodical bombing with high explosives and incediaries. Within minutes the entire city was ablaze and some 900 dutch people had been slaughtered. After this dreadful treatment and when the city of Utrecht was threatened with a similar fate the Dutch authorites hd little option but to consider surrender. Appeals were sent to the allies who were now under pressure but to no avail. At 1650 hours on 15th May 1940 the Dutch Commander in Chief, General Winkelman in an effort to save further bloodshed particularly amongst the civil population ordered the Dutch forces to stop fighting.

Cover has been signed by Johannes Christiaan de Keijzer who was an engine room artificer with the Royal Netherlands Navy and saw action in defending Wilhelms Bridge at Rotterdam where he was awarded the Bronzen Kruis. He escaped in Submarine 024 from Rotterdam during the night of 13/14th May 1940 and Volkert Stolp who was under fire in Zwijndrecht when as Schipper of his own vessel he was made responsible by the Brugomaster for the removal of about 20 vessels moored in the vicinity of the Jurgens Oil Factories this was completed despite two ships being set on fire and his own ship sunk.

Cover is numbered and certified

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