Dutch Queen Wilhelmina Escapes To London On Today's History, May 13, 1940

The Queen of the Netherlands, Wilhelmina fled to London to form a government of exile that goes down in history today, 13 May 1940, when her country was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA – Today's history, 82 years ago, May 13, 1940, the supreme leader of the Netherlands, Queen Wilhelmina fled to London, England. His escape was carried out because Nazi Germany was tearing apart the Netherlands.

Adolf Hitler's desire to besiege France by taming the Netherlands first became its estuary. Queen Wilhelmina and a series of high-ranking Dutch officials moved quickly. They set up an emergency government in London. In it, a native, Raden Adipati Suyono, was made Minister of State.

The actions of Nazi Germany in World War II are often in the spotlight. In the German invasion of the Netherlands, for example. Nazi Germany knew very well that the Netherlands was a neutral territory. However, in the name of war strategy Germany broke through. Hitler was sure that if the Netherlands was conquered, his intention to conquer France would be a step come true.

All efforts were mobilized by Hitler. Complete weaponry and a mature attack strategy were asked to be a spell. Even in Hitler's eyes, the Netherlands was not a commensurate opponent. Alias from the statistics of the war fleet, the Netherlands is under Germany. In fact, too far to excel.

Nazi Germany troops entering the Dutch capital, Amsterdam in 1940. (Wikimedia Commons/Bundesarchiv Bild)

As planned, the Germans began to invade the Netherlands in the early hours of 10 May 1940. The sound of bullets and war vehicles accompanied the attack. The raid made the guts of the entire Dutch government elite shrivel up. But the German attack did not make the Dutch government lose its honor.

They continue to give an injection of encouragement to those who participated in the war. Those efforts later seemed in vain. Three days later, a series of elite Dutch Government, including Queen Wilhelmina have smelled the smell of defeat. As a reaction, they then chose to immediately flee to London, England. Instead of being ridiculous.

“Before Germany occupied the whole of the Netherlands, on May 13, 1940, the Queen of the Netherlands Wilhelmina fled to England and formed a government in exile in the City of London. Jonkheer Dirk Jan de Geer as prime minister apparently thought of surrendering to Germany, causing uncertainty within the exile government."

“And, because Queen Wilhelmina was so zealous against fascism, the German-sympathetic De Geer was forced to step down and be replaced. The replacement is the minister of justice from the Anti-Revolutionary Party PS Gerbrandy,” said Rushdy Hoesein in the book Breakthrough of Sukarno in the Linggarjati Negotiations (2010).

Leader of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler and Ruler of Italy, Benito Mussolini. (Wikimedia Commons)

For the Dutch, the attempt to escape was seen as a tactic. They thought that the sovereignty of the Netherlands was in Queen Wilhelmina. Therefore, the Land of the Windmills allegedly still exists. Queen Wilhelmina showed that confidence by forming an emergency government cabinet in London. Complete with the composition of the ministers as well.

If you look closely, there is the name of the Bumiputra, Raden Adipati Suyono, who carries out his duties as Minister of State. The presence of the natives in the cabinet is believed to be due to the influence of the United States. Even so, Germany considers efforts to form a cabinet is a wrong step. Moreover, the day after Wilhelmina fled, the Germans completely occupied the Netherlands.

“Queen Wilhelmina and all members of the Dutch government managed to escape to England and set up a government in exile in London, under the leadership of Prime Minister Gerbrandy. A council, advisors were also formed to accompany Gerbrandy's cabinet. In Gerbrandy's Cabinet, sits an Indonesian. Raden Suyono, as Minister of State, and van Mook as Minister of Colonial Affairs. When van Mook was definitively appointed as Lieutenant Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, his position as minister was replaced by Prof. Logeman."

“Raden Adipati Suyono is a former regent who has served as a member of the Volksraad (People's Council) and a former member of the Visman Commission. He was the first and last Indonesian to serve as a minister in a Dutch cabinet. Prime Minister Gerbrandy called Suyono the son of the Indonesian people." However, the appointment of Suyono could not be separated from the Dutch efforts to respond to criticism from the United States, which was very surprised to see the Netherlands always pressuring Indonesia," said M. Adnan Amal in the book Kepulauan Rempah-Rempah (2016).

The flight of the Queen of the Netherlands, Wilhelmina to London becomes a historical record today, May 13, 1940.