When Admiral von Friedeburg surrendered German forces in north-west Germany in May 1945, around 150,000 German troops — mainly members of the 25th Army — were still stationed in the western Netherlands, in the area known as “Fortress Holland” between the Meuse, the IJsselmeer and the North Sea.
After disarmament, many were interned in East Frisia.
They were classified not as prisoners of war but as “Disarmed Enemy Forces”.
The 34th SS Division, composed largely of Dutch nationals, was concentrated in a camp near Arnhem.
In addition, three groups totalling about 7,000 engineers and naval personnel were retained for mine-clearance work.
Allied POW camps included:
Bergen op Zoom
Bierick
Geertruidenberg
Groede
Haamstede
Hellevoetsluis
Hoek van Holland
Hoog
Midelburg
Mook
Nistelrode
Oranjezon
Oss
Ouddorp
Roermond
Tilburg
Udenhout
Utrecht
Vlissingen
Ymuiden