door The German invasion of the Netherlands on 10 May 1940 came as a surprise to many Dutch people, although there were signs announcing the threat. The Netherlands had maintained strict neutrality during World War II, hoping this would avoid involvement in the war. This gave a false sense of security, while German military strategy, known as Fall Gelb, had for some time included plans to invade the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg as part of a wider attack on France.
Although the Dutch government made preparations, such as mobilisation of the army in 1939, they were insufficiently prepared for the intensity and speed of the German attack. This was partly due to limited military resources and the underestimation of modern warfare, such as Germany’s large-scale use of paratroopers and tanks. Some German soldiers even expected to encounter British troops in the Netherlands, showing that there was also uncertainty on the German side about Dutch military policy.
The Defence Minister’s service postcard bears witness to the unexpected raid. The card was sent by Rayonbureau X.IJ.Z. , Industrial Control Bureau (Industrieel Controle Bureau) at Hengelo and sent to Hazemeyer’s Factory of Signal Devices (Fabriek van Signaalapparaten). The card was sent at 1 pm on 9 May.
Rayonbureau X.IJ.Z.
Rayonbureau XYZ in Hengelo was part of a network of rayonbureaus established during World War II in the Netherlands. These bureaus functioned within a larger military or civil defence structure, often handling coordination and communication for various wartime efforts. Specifically, they played roles in organizing local defences, managing logistics, or supporting emergency operations.
Hengelo’s Rayonbureau XYZ was notable for its placement in the eastern Netherlands, an area of strategic importance during the war. Like other rayonbureaus, it likely contributed to the regional management of resources and personnel amidst the challenges of wartime.
Hazemeyer’s Factory of Signal Devices
Founded in 1922, it played an important role in the development of fire control systems for the Dutch navy. The company was established in cooperation with Siemens & Halske to produce German technologies, banned by the Treaty of Versailles, through a Dutch company. This made it possible to integrate modern fire control systems, such as for the Hr. Ms. Java and Hr. Ms. Sumatra, into the Royal Navy.
During World War II, the factory came under German control and was used to produce military equipment. After the war, the factory was nationalised by the Dutch government and renamed N.V. Hollandse Signaalapparaten (later Signaal). Philips acquired a stake in the company in 1946 and expanded operations to include the development of radar and fire control systems, including for the navy.
In the decades that followed, Signaal grew into a leading company in defence technology. Key products included radar equipment and the Goalkeeper system, a short-range defence system. The company changed hands in 1990 when it was acquired by Thomson-CSF (now Thales). Today, the company operates as Thales Netherlands, a global player in defence and security technology.
Leave
The message on the card is that the Weermachtsindustrieverlof (Armed Forces Industry leave) of a Hazemeyer employee, a conscript soldier, was extended.
The card will be on offer in auction 69 (Sprng 2025). René Hillesum Filatelie, Zwijndrecht.
