Wolf, Susanne - 1917: Deserters, Politics and Religion Keywords: Belgium | churches | Dutch government | Dutch neutrality | German deserters | Netherlands Abstract: It is clear from the differing concerns of the Dutch government in 1917 compared to 1914, that the attitude and requirements of the internees has now changed. The issues being dealt with are no longer the basics, food, shelter and clothing; but more complicated matters that have greater potential to compromise Dutch neutrality.The numbe…

Wolf, Susanne - Going Home Keywords: Dutch government | Germany | Netherland Abstract: The British ambassador in The Hague wrote to the Dutch government declaring that, as the war was over, all treaties concerning the POWs interned in the Netherlands and Switzerland were no longer valid. To this end the British proposed to send five ships to collect the approximately 5,000 British and Commonwealth men currently interned in the Netherlands. The need to mobilize the army had meant tha…