In a landmark moment for historical transparency, the names of approximately 425,000 individuals suspected of collaborating with the Nazis during the German occupation of the Netherlands have been published online for the first time. These names come from a vast archive documenting investigations conducted through a special legal system established toward the end of World War II.  

 

 

Among those listed, more than 150,000 faced some form of punishment for their alleged actions. Until now, the full records of these investigations were only accessible by visiting the Dutch National Archives in The Hague, posing a significant barrier to those interested in delving into this chapter of history.  

 

The digitization effort, led by the Huygens Institute, marks a significant step toward making this archive more accessible. The Institute emphasized the importance of these records, stating, "This archive contains important stories for both present and future generations, from children who want to know what their father did in the war, to historians researching the grey areas of collaboration."  

 

The archive comprises files on various individuals, including war criminals, approximately 20,000 Dutch citizens who joined the German armed forces, and suspected members of the National Socialist Movement (NSB), the Dutch Nazi party. The online database provides basic information, such as names, birthdates, and birthplaces, but it does not indicate whether a person was found guilty or the nature of their alleged collaboration. For further details, users must visit the National Archives and request the corresponding file, demonstrating a legitimate interest in doing so.  

 

While the initiative promises to shed light on a dark chapter in Dutch history, it has sparked concerns about the potential misuse of sensitive information. To address these concerns, the initial release of online data has been carefully limited.  

 

Rinke Smedinga, whose father was an NSB member and worked at Camp Westerbork—a transit camp from which many were deported to concentration camps—expressed apprehension about the potential backlash. "I am afraid that there will be very nasty reactions," Smedinga told the Dutch publication DIT.  

 

Tom De Smet, director of the National Archives, acknowledged the delicate nature of this endeavor. "Relatives of both collaborators and victims of the occupation had to be taken into account," he explained. Yet, De Smet also emphasized the potential for healing and understanding. "Collaboration is still a major trauma. It is not talked about. We hope that when the archives are opened, the taboo will be broken."  

 

In a letter to parliament dated December 19, Culture Minister Eppo Bruins underscored the broader significance of this move, writing, "Openness of archives is crucial for facing the effects of [the Netherlands'] difficult shared past and to process it as a society."  

 

As this newly accessible archive begins to reveal its secrets, it offers an opportunity for the Netherlands to confront and better understand the complexities of its wartime history—a journey that may help bridge the divide between past and present.

 

Based on a report by BBC 2024-01-04

 

 

Yes , should have been published much earlier ...

WWII was horrible , but since then , there have been many other wars in different parts of the world , and all were horrible as well ...

 

Just now, nobodysfriend said:

Yes , should have been published much earlier ...

WWII was horrible , but since then , there have been many other wars in different parts of the world , and all were horrible as well ...

 

None were as "horrible" as the German Nazi's and what they were responsible for. Talk about a lame attempt to minimize the holocaust..........

 

They must almost all be dead now, so what's the point?

That country has some neo nazis too, how about sharing their names too not just the ones who are already dead

9 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

None were as "horrible" as the German Nazi's and what they were responsible for. Talk about a lame attempt to minimize the holocaust..........

 

 

What a strange comment. Just because the poster said all wars are horrible you connect that to minimizing the holocaust.

 

Everyone knows the holocaust happened and was a brutal mark on history. Your comment minimises other tragedies in a way that you make them sound less impactful on those who went through it. 

 

The people of rawanda may tend to think they had a pretty horrible thing happen to them too. 

 

 

25 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

What a strange comment. Just because the poster said all wars are horrible you connect that to minimizing the holocaust.

 

Everyone knows the holocaust happened and was a brutal mark on history. Your comment minimises other tragedies in a way that you make them sound less impactful on those who went through it. 

 

The people of rawanda may tend to think they had a pretty horrible thing happen to them too. 

 

 

He was, there is no comparison. This topic is not about all wars, its about the Nazi collaboration in the Neatherlands which included the holocaust, it must be difficult avoiding facts for him as for you with your Rawanda introduction. Period

21 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

He was, there is no comparison. This topic is not about all wars, its about the Nazi collaboration in the Neatherlands which included the holocaust, it must be difficult avoiding facts for him as for you with your Rawanda introduction. Period

 

Its your opinion he was. War is war Brian. Unimaginable things happen. No matter which war it is. 

 

You seem to dismiss all other tragedies which in itself is disturbing.

47 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

None were as "horrible" as the German Nazi's and what they were responsible for. Talk about a lame attempt to minimize the holocaust..........

 

Its not Nazi. 

 

Its National Socialist. Socialist.

4 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

Its your opinion he was. War is war Brian. Unimaginable things happen. No matter which war it is. 

 

You seem to dismiss all other tragedies which in itself is disturbing.

Its not my opinion, it is fact. If you want to create a topic about other wars go ahead. This one is in the OP which happens to be an event that murdered 6 million Jews and the now releasing of nearly half a million names who could well have been collaborators.

Suspected? Until proven in a court of law this is nothing more than slurs on the dead and now their surviving families. 

 

Totally unnecessary and sure to promote more division and hatred. 

 

As if there weren't enough problems in the world today let's dig up some more from 70+ years ago. Pathetic.

2 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Its not my opinion, it is fact. If you want to create a topic about other wars go ahead. This one is in the OP which happens to be an event that murdered 6 million Jews and the now releasing of nearly half a million names who could well have been collaborators.

 

It's not a fact no matter how many times you write it. It's your opinion. 

 

As to the topic it won't matter much now with the names being released other than informing history of who was who. 

9 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

It's not a fact no matter how many times you write it. It's your opinion. 

 

As to the topic it won't matter much now with the names being released other than informing history of who was who. 

No its a fact, 6 million Jews were murdered, there is no other comparison as bad as that in modern times

 

As to the OP, it may not concern you but it does concern people in the Netherlands:

 

According to a survey by public broadcaster NOS, one in five Dutch citizens would prefer not to see descendants of collaborators in public office, such as mayors or parliamentarians.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/03/netherlands-publishes-names-of-nazi-collaborators/

13 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Its not my opinion, it is fact. If you want to create a topic about other wars go ahead. This one is in the OP which happens to be an event that murdered 6 million Jews and the now releasing of nearly half a million names who could well have been collaborators.

 

No.  It's an opinion.  The Japanese killed a lot more civilians than the Nazis and (for example) Pol Pot and Idi Amin were more evil than Hitler.  They just didn't have the technology to kill as many.

 

As far as releasing the names, how did they vet the list, and what was the level of collaboration of each name on the list?  Otherwise, there's too much room for personal vendettas- people ratting out their neighbors that they didn't like for some reason.

 

19 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Its not Nazi. 

 

Its National Socialist. Socialist.

 

"The right needs to stop falsely claiming that the Nazis were socialists"

https://wapo.st/400GoQw

 

1 minute ago, Bkk Brian said:

No its a fact, 6 million Jews were murdered, there is no other comparison as bad as that in modern times

 

As to the OP, it may not concern you but it does concern people in the Netherlands:

 

According to a survey by public broadcaster NOS, one in five Dutch citizens would prefer not to see descendants of collaborators in public office, such as mayors or parliamentarians.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/03/netherlands-publishes-names-of-nazi-collaborators/

 

Who cares what they might not prefer. It's the non comparable event right ?

 

You are not supportive of that opinion I hope ? If they are descendants of collaborators the world needs to know. 

2 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

Who cares what they might not prefer. It's the non comparable event right ?

 

You are not supportive of that opinion I hope ? If they are descendants of collaborators the world needs to know. 

Who cares what they might not prefer. It's the non comparable event right ?

 

They do..............

 

Obviously not you that's for sure. As for me, its not about me I am not Dutch and couldn't care less who is in Gov there. 

8 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

No.  It's an opinion.  The Japanese killed a lot more civilians than the Nazis and (for example) Pol Pot and Idi Amin were more evil than Hitler.  They just didn't have the technology to kill as many.

 

As far as releasing the names, how did they vet the list, and what was the level of collaboration of each name on the list?  Otherwise, there's too much room for personal vendettas- people ratting out their neighbors that they didn't like for some reason.

 

Another one that wants to avoid the facts. Its not about killing, its about genocidal murder of 6 million Jews called the holocaust........

4 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Who cares what they might not prefer. It's the non comparable event right ?

 

They do..............

 

Obviously not you that's for sure. As for me, its not about me I am not Dutch and couldn't care less who is in Gov there. 

 

They do what ? 

 

You are supporting descendants of nazis then.

1 minute ago, blaze master said:

 

They do what ? 

 

You are supporting descendants of nazis then.

You have already resorted to making things up and trolling then

 

10 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

Who cares what they might not prefer. It's the non comparable event right ?

 

You are not supportive of that opinion I hope ? If they are descendants of collaborators the world needs to know. 

 

8 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Who cares what they might not prefer. It's the non comparable event right ?

 

They do..............

 

Obviously not you that's for sure. As for me, its not about me I am not Dutch and couldn't care less who is in Gov there. 

 

2 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

You have already resorted to making things up and trolling then

 

 

 

 

My point is.

 

If those people are descendants of nazi collaborators.  Who gives a f what they think or feel.

 

Their descendants weren't worried about the lives of the 6 million right ?

 

 

12 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

 

"The right needs to stop falsely claiming that the Nazis were socialists"

https://wapo.st/400GoQw

 

The Left needs to recognize that the National Socialists were Socialist.

 

There is a topic on that right here. Your side is losing, badly.

6 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

They do what ? 

 

You are supporting descendants of nazis then.

Cant cast the sins of the fathers on the children, unless they are culpable too. Compare Gundrun Himmler and the Hoess and Frank children

Just now, Yagoda said:

Cant cast the sins of the fathers on the children, unless they are culpable too. Compare Gundrun Himmler and the Hoess and Frank children

 

I know you can see the point I'm trying to make with that poster. 

9 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Another one that wants to avoid the facts. Its not about killing, its about genocidal murder of 6 million Jews called the holocaust........

 

Yup.  The Nazis did terrible stuff.  And the Palestinians paid the price. 

 

That's the reason the collective West focuses on the Nazi holocaust and give the Japanese a pass, for even worse atrocities.

 

6 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

My point is.

 

If those people are descendants of nazi collaborators.  Who gives a f what they think or feel.

 

Their descendants weren't worried about the lives of the 6 million right ?

 

 

No your point was you already started making things up. 

2 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Yup.  The Nazis did terrible stuff.  And the Palestinians paid the price. 

 

That's the reason the collective West focuses on the Nazi holocaust and give the Japanese a pass, for even worse atrocities.

 

More off topic and false deflection...............

Reminder of the topic:

 

Netherlands: Names of 425,000 Suspected Nazi Collaborators Published Online

 

This topic is not about other wars and certainly nothing to do with the Palestinians

24 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

 

"The right needs to stop falsely claiming that the Nazis were socialists"

https://wapo.st/400GoQw

 

Indeed. The Nazis were as socialist as North Korea is democratic.

Most of the collaborators are long dead by now. I don't think their direct descendants should be afraid of retaliation.

After all WWII ended almost 80 years ago now, and the boomer generation is getting on with age. In about 30 years, few people will really think about it that much anymore.