Take care of the resistance in The Hague
In the exhibition 'Care for the Resistance', posters, leaflets, and stamps show how the 1940-1945 Foundation raised millions shortly after the war. This money was used, among other things, for convalescent homes to accommodate resistance fighters. Space was also made for this group at Paleis het Loo. As long as Queen Wilhelmina was not inconvenienced by it, according to a report from the National Archives collection. During that time, the Foundation was also involved in the reburial of fallen resistance members, such as Hannie Schaft. On display at the National Archives through July 18, 2026. What do you know about the 1940-1945 Foundation and the Winter Relief stamps?
Foundation 1940-1945
On October 13, 1944, representatives of a number of national and regional resistance organizations met at the building at Keizersgracht 567 in Amsterdam. Even before the liberation, the resistance was convinced that it was important to care for the surviving relatives of fallen resistance fighters. Initially, the name was Stichting 40 – 44, as they were convinced that the war would be over soon. After all, the south of the country had already been liberated. The statutes stated:
The Foundation aims to provide for the moral, spiritual, and material needs of persons or groups of persons who, during the occupation, contributed to the domestic resistance through their actions or attitudes, as well as their families or surviving relatives, should they prove to be in need of assistance after the cessation of hostilities in our country or a large part thereof.
During the final year of the war, the foundation's board met in secret every two weeks. To mislead the Germans, this took place at a different address each time. Betrayal led to the arrest of three board members in January 1945.
Shortly after the liberation, on June 27, 1945, the 1940-1945 Foundation was re-established. The legal basis for the foundation was the Extraordinary Pension Act 1940-1945 (Wbp), which came into effect in 1947. Under this Act, members of the Resistance became entitled to a pension in the event of disability. Widows and orphans could also claim a benefit under this Act. The 1940-1945 Foundation was charged with the implementation of this Act. In addition, the foundation provided non-material assistance: widows and their families were supported by social workers. The foundation also organized holiday weeks for widows and other activities for its target groups.
In the 50s and 60s, the target group of the 1940-1945 Foundation was expanded to include a number of new groups. These included hostages and victims of reprisals, such as in Putten, and those who escaped to England. In 1972, the 1940-1945 Persecution Victims Benefits Act (Wuv) was passed. As a result, the 1940-1945 Foundation gained a new target group: people who had been persecuted during the war because of their race, religion, worldview, or sexual orientation. In 1984, the 1940-1945 Civilian War Victims Benefits Act (Wubo) came into effect. Consequently, victims of bombings, evacuation, or forced labor were also included in the foundation's target group.
The current Stichting 1940-1945 is the continuation of Stichting 1940-1944, established in 1944, and Stichting Burger-Oorlogsgetroffenen (SBO), founded on March 19, 1981. Although Stichting 1940-1945 and Stichting Burger-Oorlogsgetroffenen both derive their legitimacy from the Second World War, they have entirely different origins and, as a result, focused on different groups of war victims. Because the target groups are shrinking due to aging and death, the boards of both organizations decided to join forces and merge as of January 1, 2002. It was also decided to continue using the old name of one of its legal predecessors (Stichting 1940-1945).
In 2024, Het Parool published the results of an investigation revealing that Stichting 1940-1945 had been passing on private data and medical records to the Domestic Security Service for decades. Of the 65 files examined, primarily concerning left-wing resistance fighters, more than three-quarters contained information originating directly from Stichting 1940-1945.
Relationship between the Foundation 1940-1945 and the proceeds from the 1946 Winter Relief stamps
On display in the exhibition is the design for the promotional poster created for the Winterhulp stamps, which were used at the time to call upon people to buy the stamps and thereby contribute to the various charities associated with them. One of those causes was that of Stichting 1940-1945. The proceeds from the campaign amounted to 190.000 guilders.
Winter help in the Netherlands
The Winterhulp Nederland Foundation (WHN) was the National Socialist organization that was intended to take over all social assistance provided by the government, private, and church organizations in the Netherlands during the Second World War.
Winterhulp was established on October 22, 1940, by Reich Commissioner Seyss-Inquart. According to common parlance, the aid was focused on the winter. According to National Socialist doctrine, poverty could not exist, but in times of winter cold, extra charity in the form of food, clothing, and the like would be necessary. According to Article 2 of the founding decree, the objective was: “It is the task of the Foundation to provide aid and support to needy Dutch citizens living in the occupied Dutch territory, without regard to person.” The support consisted of vouchers and goods such as foodstuffs, clothing, etc. Initially, Jews also received support, but that aid soon ceased.
Winterhulp took the form of a foundation headed by a Director-General who was accountable only to the Reich Commissioner. The first Director-General was Carel Piek (until June 1, 1942), and the second (and last) was Frederik Willem van Vloten (until the collapse of Winterhulp following Dolle Dinsdag). A national honorary committee and a financial oversight committee were to bear administrative responsibility. Several Secretaries-General and all eleven Provincial Commissioners served on the honorary committee; Meinoud Rost van Tonningen was also a member. Financial audits were conducted under the leadership of the Secretary-General of Finance, LJA Trip. All Dutch mayors were appointed as local directors. Each province had an office; in addition, there were offices in the major cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague. There were also 'circles,' including in the Gelderse Vallei, and local branches, including in Maassluis. The headquarters had a departmental structure: there were departments for propaganda and information, organization, statistics, purchasing, and finance.
The Winter Relief's revenue consisted of collections, lotteries , 5% of company profits, and a 1% deduction from employees' wages. The collections were not very popular among the Dutch; there were frequent calls not to give anything to NSB members. "Not even a button from my fly for Winter Relief" was scrawled on Winter Relief posters. The lotteries, on the other hand, were popular, as the urge to gamble often triumphed over principles. To encourage generous giving during collections, donors received pins. These pins were issued in ever-changing series (fairy tales, flowers, traffic signs, etc.), making them popular collectibles. The first pin issued in the Netherlands was a luminous windmill. The 'ordinary' population did not want the pins at all and said: "Only NSB members walk around with windmills." In later years, the collections were no longer truly voluntary; checks were carried out to see if someone donated and how much.
As a benefit, Winterhulp Nederland issued vouchers with which the recipient could purchase food, clothing, shoes, and fuel. All shops were required to accept the vouchers. It was prohibited to exchange the vouchers for cash. Upon application, the WHN first assessed whether people were eligible for vouchers.
In mid-1941, the Nederlandsche Volksdienst (NVD) was established. Its ultimate purpose was to encompass Winterhulp and other organizations in order to take responsibility for the entire domain of social and societal care. Winterhulp presented itself as a broad and, above all, Dutch national platform for social care. While much emphasis was placed on the Dutch character of Winterhulp, the organization's Nazi political orientation could not be concealed. Partly as a result of this, its success and, consequently, its effectiveness were limited.
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Care for the Resistance, The turbulent history of Foundation 1940-1945, through July 18, 2026:
https://nationaalarchief.nl/beleven/tentoonstelling/zorg-voor-het-verzet
Foundation 1940-1945: https://www.st4045.nl/
May 5 Liberation Day: Celebrate freedom at the National Archives and the KB National Library. Tuesday, May 5 is Liberation Day, and we celebrate the fact that we can live in freedom in the Netherlands. This year, we do so by gathering around the table during a Hague Freedom Meal:
Everything about Winterhulp Nederland, including the philatelic items:
https://nedacademievoorfilatelie.nl/winterhulp-nederland/
Previous World War II blogs:
https://www.postzegelblog.nl/tag/tweede-wereldoorlog/
Previous museum blogs: https://www.postzegelblog.nl/tag/made-in-holland/
Winter relief, after the country has been looted, distribute the remains among the population.