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

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exodus described by one historian as "an evacuation without precedent in the recent history
of western Europe". 149
While they were responsible for the intennnent of foreign militmy personnel, the
armed forces had no obligations to civilian refugees, regarding them as more of a nuisance
than anything else. But since border guards were usually the first Netherlanders refugees
encountered, it was almost inevitable that they became involved in the refugee problem.
Before October 1914, and where possible, the guards moved refugees to the nearest
municipality where locals took over their care. During the exodus out of Antwerp, however,
they had no choice but to help. In fact, the Dutch govel11lnent did not hold itself accountable
for Belgian refugees either, at least until it was forced to do so by the sheer scale and
immensity of the crisis in October. 150 Even after the crisis, the government helped
foreigners in an ad hoc mmmer, only when, and if, support was needed. Provincial and local
councils had a similar attitude. They did their utmost to help the newcomers, but did not see
it as an inherent responsibility.151
Once in the Netherlands, the mass of evacuees posed a logistical and humanitarian
nightmare. The lucky ones managed to find shelter in homes, fanns, school buildings,
churches and railway carriages; thousands more slept in the open air. 152 Between 8 and 10
October, 16,000 Bergen op Zoom residents took 50,000 strangers into their homes. Nearby,
in Roosendaal, 50,000 Belgians slept crammed into the houses of 17,000 locals.
Throughout the south, the populations of towns were doubled and tripled overnight. 153
The military with its well-established supply network and personnel, was
indispensable in providing primmy care to the refugees. Troops shifted refugees, organised
food supplies, cooked meals, provided medical care, and set up temporary shelters. 154
149 Peter Cahalan, Belgian Refugee Reliefin England during the Great War. (Modern British History. A Garland
Series) New York and London: Garland Publishing, 1982, p. 92.
150 See: Heuvel-Strasser "Vluchtelingenzorg of vreemdelingenbeleid" pp. 184 - 204.
151 Bos-Rops, "De Commissaris en de vluchtelingen" p. 108.
152 Telegram from Commander-in-Chiefto Provincial Governor in's Hertogenbosch, 10 October 1914, in ARA,
"Archieven van de Generale Star' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 74.
153 Heuvel-Strasser, "Vluchtelingenzorg ofvreemdelingenbeleid" p. 190.
154 "Overzicht van hetgeen in het gebied der IIIde Divisie door den Militairen Geneeskundigen Dienst is verricht, in
verband met de aanwezigheid van de uit Belgie hier te lande binnengekomen vluchtelingen" [Overview of the
services rendered by the Military Medical Service in Division Ill's area, in relation to the presence of refugees
coming into the country from Belgium] 1914, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Star' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory
no. 1; W. P. Wolffenperger, "Onze Militair-Geneeskundige Dienst en de vluchtelingen" [Our military-medical
service and the refugees] Militair-Geneeskundig Tijdschrift. 19, 1915, pp. 44 - 51.