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

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siege" ultimate responsibility for any unrest already lay with the military authorities, who
could move troops at will. 32
In January 1918, the effect of the war on available supplies of coal, grain and
potatoes began to have a serious impact. The number of meetings organised by disgruntled
groups increased, and Groningen municipal workers and Amsterdam concrete workers
organised strikes during the month to express unhappiness at their working conditions. On 4
February, many socialist trade unions in Amsterdam, The Hague, Haarlem and Rotterdam
called for a general strike to protest against rationing measures. But the strike did not
receive universal support; several unions told their members not to involve themselves for
fear of military reprisals and deaths. 33
With the reduction of the bread ration to 200 grammes per person per day in April,
public tolerance reached breaking point. 34 On 5 April 1918, crowds again amassed in
Amsterdam's streets, some forcing bakeries to sell them bread while refusing to hand in
ration cards, others simply taking bread without paying. Soon, looting and plundering broke
out in several areas. This time troops and police were more careful in handling rioters. No
one was shot. The population was not as lucky in the country's administrative capital.
Inspired by the revolts in Amsterdam, residents in The Hague also took to the streets, rioted,
and plundered shops. Soldiers here set up barricades and tried to break up the crowds.
Eventually, they opened fire, and, although the available records give conflicting
information, it seems that during the riots between 11 and 15 April, two people died. 35
Public protests erupted in other cities as well, fortunately without the same tragic result, and
for the first time the farming centres in the provinces voiced their united disgust. 36 Those
who had been able to profit significantly from the supply crisis until this stage, namely
farmers, smugglers and shopkeepers, were no longer immune from its effects.
The April 1918 riots occurred at the most inopportune time, and certainly the
tension caused by the international situation - caused by the Allied requisitioning of Dutch
ships - heightened the sense of nationwide unrest. Yet within days, the disturbances were
32 Territorial Commander in Overijssel to mayors, 21 September 1917, in ARA, "Archieven van de Generale Star'
entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 667.
33 Burger, Lillksefrontvonningpp. 97 - 98.
34 D'Overflacquee, Uit Een Geheim Dagboekp. 55.
35 Ibid. p. 60; Miep de Zaaijer, diary entry 13 April 1918, in Haags gemeentemuseum, Dell Haag '14 - '18 p. 20;
Troelstra, Gedellkschriften. Vierde Deel. Storm p. 77; Burger, Linkse frontvormillg p. 104.
36 Burger, Lillksefrontvormingp. 104.