Danny Pronk • Our Men in Berlin
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Conclusions
The NMM persistently tried to gain a foothold on behalf of the Netherlands with respect to the policies of the ‘Big Four’ regarding Germany. Overall, these efforts had limited results. The influence of the mission on the ‘Big Four’, like that of the missions of other small allies, was small. Although the task of the mission was intended to be liaison, only limited consultation was possible with the Allied Control Council for Germany. Other matters, such as the return of displaced persons, taking care of the consular interests of Dutch citizens in Germany and the purge of politically unreliable people gained prominence immediately after the war. These matters were taken on energetically and often successfully by the mission staff. When dealing with issues of equity interests, claims and refund, the NMM was dependent on Allied policy. The mission had no instruments to enforce compensation. The relationship with the Russians, which began with an indifferent and reluctant attitude towards, also centred on the return of displaced persons and the settlement of individual cases. Although the NMM as an extension of Dutch foreign policy rarely found a sympathetic ear in the Allied Control Council for Germany, it did serve the Dutch national interests. Immediately after the war the mission played a key role in facilitating the return of displaced persons. Moreover, it skilfully took the lead in the politically sensitive “cleansing” of Dutch people who had moved to Germany. Later on, the mission turned out to be an important source of information for the Dutch government regarding developments in Germany. This was not in the least regarding information related to the Soviet zone. And finally, from the moment the Dutch government began drafting a consolidated policy on Germany’s future, the mission was consulted for advice.
Occupation, 1945-1949, Cambridge and London, 1995, pp. 69-140, 141-204.
