u/Khabooem

USS Kidd (DD-661) after shipyard repairs may 2026

Today, 86 years ago; The Battle of The Hague, also known as the Battle of the Residence, on May 10, 1940, was the first large-scale (and also unsuccessful) airborne attack in military history as part of the German invasion of the Netherlands. In the process, the Germans lost half of their attacking air fleet of 1,100 aircraft plus half of the attacking troops of approximately 5,000 men from the German 22nd Airborne Division. It was the largest failed component of the German attack on the Netherlands, alongside the holding of the Rotterdam Maas bridges and the Kornwerderzand Position on the Afsluitdijk. Belligerents

Netherlands vs Nazi Germany

Leaders and commanders

Henri Winkelman Herman van Voorst tot Voorst Jan van Andel Godfried van Voorst tot Voorst Petrus Best Nicolaas Theodorus Carstens Gerard Johannes de Groot Tede Beets Albert Kesselring Hans Count von Sponeck

Troop strength

11,100 soldiers (3 divisions) Two armored vehicle groups 3,000 paratroopers and airborne troops (22nd Airborne Division) 1,100 aircraft

Losses

Belligerents Netherlands Nazi Germany Leaders and commanders Henri Winkelman Herman van Voorst tot Voorst Jan van Andel Godfried van Voorst tot Voorst Petrus Best Nicolaas Theodorus Carstens Gerard Johannes de Groot Tede Beets Albert Kesselring Hans Count von Sponeck Troop strength 11,100 soldiers (3 divisions) Two armored vehicle groups 3,000 paratroopers and airborne troops (22nd Airborne Division) 1,100 aircraft Losses - 515 killed - 1,000 wounded - 134-400 killed[1] - 700 wounded (according to Dutch estimate) -[1][2] - 1,745 taken prisoner (Dutch figures) - 125 transport aircraft lost - 47 transport aircraft damaged

Map of all sunken Imperial Japanese Navy ships of World War 2.