How the German invasion of Millingen took place.

The months before the invasion of Millingen.

For the people who lived along the border, the war had already started in 1937, 1938, because the Germans placed barriers along the entire border so that no one could cross the border. In local shops there was already much talk about whether there would be a war. Just before the German invasion there was also talk in Millingen about dark figures wandering late at night through Millingen. Those would have been German scouts. Many people in Millingen knew that there would be a war, the only question was when it would happen.

May 10, 1940, the day of the invasion.

Everyone in Millingen woke up early because of noise in the air. German planes entered the Netherlands at 03:45 to attack certain places. Not much later the first German troops crossed the border at Millingen. They went directly to all important buildings in the village to occupy them. Soon all the streets were filled with German soldiers, and soldiers were also lying along the dike to fire at Fort Pannerden on May 10 and 11. (If you want to read more about the shelling of Fort Pannerden click here.) If you opened your window to see what was going on, German soldiers pointed their rifle at you and shouted “Fenster schließen”. On the Heerbaan there were all troops of German soldiers with trucks and motorcycles waiting. In Millingen itself the Germans did not receive any resistance from Dutch soldiers. Later in the day some people from Millingen saw people who lived in Bimmen or Keeken and often came to Millingen, now suddenly standing in German uniform and occupying Millingen. The days after May 10 it remained quiet in the center of Millingen, but in the air it remained busy with the German planes going further into the Netherlands.

The days after the invasion.

After the invasion, on May 13, 1940, the Mayor of Millingen, on orders from the German authority, passed on the message to all citizens of Millingen that sabotaging or opposing the Germans would lead to the death penalty. On the radio only German stations were allowed to be listened to. All windows had to be covered so that no light from inside the house would come onto the street. From May 14 everyone had to go back to work. These rules took effect immediately. Soon the news spread in Millingen that two boys from Millingen had been killed during the invasion. Johannes Wilhelmus Strik died on May 11, 1940 in Rhenen and reached the age of 25. Gerardus Lambertus Spann died on May 13, 1940 from a shell splinter at the Grebbeberg and reached the age of 26. Both boys are buried at the Military Cemetery Grebbeberg.

Johannes Wilhelmus Strik