Germany's airborne assault on The Hague failed to capture the Dutch government, marking one of the first successful defensive actions against a major German airborne operation.
Key Facts
- Date
- 10 May 1940
- Duration of German holdout
- 5 days in nearby dunes
- German force type
- Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers)
- German commander
- Hans von Sponeck
- Dutch commander-in-chief
- Henri Winkelman
- German objective
- Capture airfields and force Dutch surrender same day
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
As part of the broader German invasion of the Netherlands begun on 10 May 1940, Nazi Germany planned to seize key Dutch airfields around The Hague and capture the city to compel an immediate Dutch surrender, deploying Fallschirmjäger in a surprise airborne assault.
German paratroopers landed in and around The Hague but failed to hold their initial gains. Dutch forces regrouped and launched effective counter-attacks, forcing isolated German units under Hans von Sponeck to retreat into nearby dunes, where they were pursued and harassed over five days.
Despite repelling the German attack at The Hague, Dutch commander-in-chief Henri Winkelman was ultimately forced to surrender due to major setbacks on other fronts, ending the Battle of the Netherlands. The failed German airborne operation, however, demonstrated that determined defenders could neutralize a paratrooper assault.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Henri Winkelman.
Side B
1 belligerent
Hans von Sponeck.