- "War in Court" database revealed the list of suspected Nazi collaborators
- Dutch archive digitally released wartime collaborators list
- Currently, accessing more detailed archive files requires a formal request
"War in Court" database revealed the list of suspected Nazi collaborators
These days, nazi-nationalist is a pretty heavy word with many meanings and particularly hurtful powers. Events in the past have caused many deaths and hurt whole families and broader communities. Even Russians claimed they were trying to clean Ukraine because there were too many nazis there.
Typically associated with Germany and Adolf Hitler, his power and influence, the word is very powerful to this day. The true meaning of the hurtful word and the term, in general, can be very different for the people who know or even experienced events of WWII and occupations during that time.
History books and archives hold that information, but not all stories are told, and not all details are known. Now, the research group Huygens Institute has managed to digitalize the archive through a project subsidized by the Ministry of Justice, Education, and Health[1].
The Netherlands has created an online database with the names of nearly 500,000 people suspected of working with the Nazis during World War II. This is the first time this information has been made available to the public.
Dutch archive digitally released wartime collaborators list
The project, called "War in Court," includes about 425,000 Dutch citizens who were investigated for collaborating with the German forces that occupied the Netherlands. It was developed with the help of the Huygens Institute.
"This archive holds stories that are vital for present and future generations," the Huygens Institute shared on their website. "Without easy digital access, these stories risk being lost, especially for younger people. Making this archive widely available ensures we can continue to learn from the past."
The archive includes files on those convicted of crimes and approximately 20,000 Dutch citizens who joined the German military. It also lists suspected members of the National Socialist Movement (NSB), the Netherlands' largest Nazi-aligned political group.
Some records are of people who were investigated and found innocent. However, the database only shows suspects' names—it does not include details about whether they were found guilty or the nature of their alleged collaboration[2].
Currently, accessing more detailed archive files requires a formal request
The database is protected under the European Union's data privacy rules (GDPR), but those rules do not apply to the deceased, covering most of the archive's names. Still, the Dutch Data Protection Authority warns that the files include sensitive details like religious and political affiliations, which could affect the living individuals listed.
The German occupation of the Netherlands lasted from 1940 until the Allies liberated the country in 1945. During that time, over 100,000 Dutch Jews were killed in the Holocaust. The release of this archive is expected to open up painful conversations about this dark chapter in Dutch history[3].
"Collaboration remains a deep wound in our society, something rarely discussed. We hope that by opening these archives, we can break this taboo," said Tom De Smet, director of the National Archives.
A 2023 survey by Claims Conference revealed troubling gaps in Holocaust awareness. Nearly 25% of Dutch Gen Z respondents believed the Holocaust to be a myth, and more than half of all Dutch citizens did not recognize their country as a Holocaust site. Despite this, 77% of Dutch people agree on the importance of Holocaust education.
Of the people listed in the database, over 150,000 faced trial and received some form of punishment. Previously, these records could only be accessed at the National Archives in The Hague. Now, they are part of an effort to make history more accessible and encourage reflection on the complexities of the past.
