How many times in recent weeks have we heard people use the Second World War as some kind of comparable event to the virus lockdown and its impact on our lives? While the scale of national emergency may be in some way comparable, there are few other ways in which such a comparison can be made. 

In no sense do I want to minimise the suffering of families bereaved through Covid-19, or the bravery of key workers who take risks each day to keep not just our health service but also our society – its utilities, its food production and distribution, its delivery services running. But I was talking this weekend to one of our parishioners about her memories of the war, and it helped me to understand how many blessings we still have.

Tine is Dutch and when the Netherlands were forced to surrender to the German occupation in 1940, she was nine years old. For five years her mother struggled to provide for the children. Her father, an accountant, had to change his identity, go away and work on a barge to resist forced labour and the many requirements of the occupiers, who changed all the norms of Dutch society: the children had no idea where he had gone. In the last winter of the occupation, all food coming to her region was stopped and the very harsh winter froze the canals, there was no way to get food. It is reported that 18,000 Dutch people died just from starvation in that winter.

Tine spoke of this factually, but her voice was overcome with joy as she remembered Tuesday the 5th May 1945 – 75 years ago today – when liberation came. She was 14. She said they rushed to find the flags which had been carefully hidden and ran to the streets to welcome the Allied forces who liberated them. She recalled being warned not to eat too much white bread, when Sweden managed to get flour to the region, as they were not used to so much wheat. 

Today, 5th May, is Liberation of the Netherlands day, a little in advance of VE day. We have so much to thank God for, despite our present troubles. When we lament a lack of supermarket slots, let’s try to remember what flour meant 75 years ago in Holland, and thank the Lord for all that we have.

SG