| The Ruins of Rotterdam, 1940 |
| World History > World War II in World History > World War II in World History Maps and Pictures |
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| The German ultimatum which ordered the Dutch commander of Rotterdam to cease fire was delivered to him at 10:30 A.M. on May 14, 1940. At 1:22 P.M., German bombers set the whole inner city of Rotterdam, Netherlands, ablaze, killing 800 to 980 of its inhabitants. This photograph features an aerial view of the ruins of Rotterdam. Click here to enlarge. |
| The destruction of Rotterdam in 1940 occurred on May 14, when Nazi Germany bombed the Dutch city during its invasion of the Netherlands in World War II. The intense aerial bombardment aimed to break Dutch resistance and force a quick surrender. The attack resulted in widespread devastation, with much of the city center reduced to rubble, causing approximately 900 civilian deaths and leaving 85,000 people homeless. The destruction of Rotterdam exemplified the brutal tactics of total war and served as a grim warning to other European cities, significantly impacting the course of the Netherlands' involvement in the war. |
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