During the Second World War, the Netherlands is occupied by Nazi Germany. Queen Wilhelmina and government ministers escape to England. Over 75 per cent of the Jewish population are deported and exterminated. In 1944 the south of the country is liberated. The north remains in German hands until May 1945. The intervening months are particularly damaging to agricultural and industrial production and to public infrastructure and housing. Food deliveries are halted during the exceptionally hard winter and starvation is rife in the west of the country.
