Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury

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removed families from their homes,171 made farmers hand over valuable land, while closing
access to towns and villages along main arterial routes. 172 For many of these inconveniences
the government compensated civilians. In 1916, one farmer even received money when his
cows went into early labour because of incessant noise from artillery practices held on a
nearby field. 173 Mayors also forced the unemployed to work for the military by digging
trenches, moving goods, and perfonning other menial tasks.
Perhaps the most intrusive aspect of the mobilisation for civilians was the billeting
of troops. The Dutch Army did not have the facilities to house 200,000 men in barracks,
and in the south of the country (where the Field Army was stationed), it was extremely
inconvenient to build such structures as it would limit the mobility of the force. Yet even in
the fortified positions there were not enough bunks available. Some tent camps were
erected, but as a rule, mayors had to find accommodation for thousands of men. Schools,
public buildings, empty warehouses, factories, castles, and even ships were turned into
temporary (and sometimes permanent) dormitories. In addition, men were housed in
bedrooms, cellars and attics of fanns and houses. The state paid for housing and feeding
soldiers, and many factory and warehouse owners made substantial profits from this
arrangement. Yet billeting would remain one of the most burdensome features of the
military presence for civilians. 174
AN UNDIVIDED POSITIVE IMPRESSION 175
As planned, by its third day (3 August) and despite problems, the mobilisation was
deemed a success. Almost all the troops were in their mobilisation positions, the Field
171 In a communal letter from the Provincial Governor in South Holland to all mayors in his province, 8 August 1914,
he requested that mayors do everything in their power to ease the distress and problems caused by families that had to
move out of their homes (in SAD, "Stukken betr. maatregelen i.v.m. oOl'log 1914 - 1918" [Pieces regarding
regulations dealing with the war 1914 - 1918] archive no. 6 ("Stadsarchief 1851 - 1980"), inventory no. 38/8
Kabinet). A copy of the letter requesting the emptying of a house can be found in Geerke et. aI., De Oorlog Volume
1, between pp. 139 - 140. See also: ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Star' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 78,
filled with details of property requisitioned by the military and compensation provided by the state. Het Leven
GeWustreerd. 9, no. 32, Tuesday 11 August 1914, has pictures of a district in Gooi (near Amsterdam) which had to
be evacuated (in SMG/DC, [Miscellaneous copies of Het Leven GeiUlIstreerd. 1914 - 1919] 0212/233).
172 Documents in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Star' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 122, outline problems
encountered by the closure of roads, bridges and shipping routes, and complaints from civilians.
173 Inspector of Mounted Artillery to Commander of the Field Army, 4 July 1916, ARA, "Archiefvan het
Hoofdkwartier Veldleger" entry no. 2.13 .16, inventory no. 202.
174 For more about the impact of billeting on civilians, see: Chapter 9, pp. 327 - 331.
175 "[E]en onverdeeld gunstigen indruk" (Treub, Oorlogstijd p. 12).