Eighty years ago, the Final Solution gets under way and the neutral monarchs of Europe try to ward off the inevitable
The two neutral countries most at risk from the possibility that
the Phony War would turn live were Belgium and the Netherlands, and they were
acutely aware of this. Both were monarchies and their respective sovereigns
gave ample proof that both countries were acutely aware of the dangers in a
last hurrah for royal diplomacy in Europe. With little preparation or prior announcement
Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, who was credited with having helped
preserve her country’s neutrality in the First World War, travelled to Brussels
for discussions with King Leopold of Belgium. In part inspired by German troop
movements on their common frontier, the Netherlands had begun precautionary
preparations against invasion. The two sovereigns sent a joint telegram to the
leaders of Britain, France and Germany offering to mediate a settlement. It made
no mention of any possible base for an agreement and rather treated the warring
powers as equally responsible for the conflict; there was no suggestion that
Germany might restore Poland’s independence. Scenting a device to support its
depiction of the western powers as the war mongers, the German foreign office
offered polite encouragement.
The Nazi regime began to give a hint as to the part that Poland was
to play in its projects for the future. It began to deport those Jews who had failed
to escape from Germany to the region around Lublin. They were given minimal
time to prepare and all their possessions were confiscated. The Nazis
maintained the pretence that the Jews would ultimately be allowed some
authority in the new mega-ghetto, but the Germans were clearly in charge. Apart
from medical doctors, who could still practice, the only work permitted was
agricultural labour.
The British public were given a sense that the Phony War might be
a rather gentler experience than had seemed at the start. The period of black-out
was shortened by one hour in response to please from trade unions and
employers. The appalling surge in deaths from road accidents might also have
played a part. Henceforth the black-out would begin thirty minutes after sunset
and last to thirty minutes before sunrise.
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