Moroccans in the Netherlands
Moughit Ben Daoud
'I was a sergeant in the French army in Morocco and had 34 soldiers under my command. At the outbreak of the war, I went with my unit to France. We had to stop the German forces. In May 1940 we arrived in Zeeland (a province in The Netherlands). Twelve of my soldiers died fighting near Kapelle. Eight soldiers were taken prisoner. Fourteen survived. We fled along the Westerschelde. We swam the river to the other side in our underwear. A Dutch farmer gave us dry clothes. In 1941 we returned to Morocco via France.’
Moughit Ben Daoud
Zeeland
The Moroccan infantry (tirailleurs) and cavalry (spahis) help to defend France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The French army immediately responds when the Germans invade the Netherlands on 10 May 1940. French and Moroccan soldiers, many a thousand, are transported over sea to Zeeland.
Taken prisoner
The Dutch Army is no match for the heavily armed Germans troops with their tanks and planes. The Netherlands surrenders within five days. In Zeeland, however, the fighting continues a few more days. There are fierce battles on Zuid-Beveland and in Kapelle. The Germans take prisoner Moroccan soldiers in the French army. They are transported in cargo trains and ships to camps in Germany.
Graves
Moroccan soldiers are also killed, mainly during the evacuation of Allied soldiers from Dunkirk. Some body's wash ashore on the coast of Zeeland. The locals bury them, after the Netherlands, Belgium and France were defeated.
