The Blitz of Rotterdam
By the end of the lesson: You will be able to understand a text, answer questions and give an opinion both written and verbally to describe a situation in the past
Exercise 1
Watch the film and answer the questions that follow each section
Watch the film and answer the questions that follow each section
14 May 1940
The Germans demand the surrender of the Netherlands, with a threat to destroy Rotterdam. The commander of the German troops in Rotterdam, General leutnant Schmidt send three of its officers and negotiators to the Northern Maas at 9.00 am with a white flag with and four copies of an ultimatum, which are however unsigned. This is offered later to colonel Scarroo between 10.00 am and 10.30 am at its headquarters on the Statenweg in the presence of the Mayor PJ Old. This is remembered every year at the monument on the Statenweg. Schmidt presents captain Backerbosch at 13.15 pm a second ultimatum that will expire at 16.20 pm.
Before the ultimatum ends surrender is offered. But the planes are already underway. Schmidt tries to stop any more fighting, as agreed, to stop the planes, but is unable to stop it.
In any case, Rotterdam is attacked with bombs. 90 bombers are sent to the city. A large part of the center (2.6 square kilometers) of Rotterdam, the heart of the city is bombed from 13.27 pm for about 15 minutes, with 97 tons of bombs, as a result, some 80,000 people become homeless, nearly 25.000 houses, churches, shops, stores and schools destroyed, and 800-900 people are killed.
Bombardment Rotterdam 14 May 1940 seen from the district Bergpolder
Colonel Scarroo arrives at 15.50 pm, an half hour before the expiry of the ultimatum at the Noordereiland (“isle” in the Meuse), he is received by Schmidt whom he offers the surrender of Rotterdam. A second bombing is prevented because a part of KG 54 is already on its way to Rotterdam and is stoppped just in time..
The Germans demand the surrender of the Netherlands, with a threat to destroy Rotterdam. The commander of the German troops in Rotterdam, General leutnant Schmidt send three of its officers and negotiators to the Northern Maas at 9.00 am with a white flag with and four copies of an ultimatum, which are however unsigned. This is offered later to colonel Scarroo between 10.00 am and 10.30 am at its headquarters on the Statenweg in the presence of the Mayor PJ Old. This is remembered every year at the monument on the Statenweg. Schmidt presents captain Backerbosch at 13.15 pm a second ultimatum that will expire at 16.20 pm.
Before the ultimatum ends surrender is offered. But the planes are already underway. Schmidt tries to stop any more fighting, as agreed, to stop the planes, but is unable to stop it.
In any case, Rotterdam is attacked with bombs. 90 bombers are sent to the city. A large part of the center (2.6 square kilometers) of Rotterdam, the heart of the city is bombed from 13.27 pm for about 15 minutes, with 97 tons of bombs, as a result, some 80,000 people become homeless, nearly 25.000 houses, churches, shops, stores and schools destroyed, and 800-900 people are killed.
Bombardment Rotterdam 14 May 1940 seen from the district Bergpolder
Colonel Scarroo arrives at 15.50 pm, an half hour before the expiry of the ultimatum at the Noordereiland (“isle” in the Meuse), he is received by Schmidt whom he offers the surrender of Rotterdam. A second bombing is prevented because a part of KG 54 is already on its way to Rotterdam and is stoppped just in time..