Impossible quiz

"Dutch" probably comes from "Deutsch" which is German for "German". After all, the language known as Dutch used to be little more than a dialect of the language family of which both Dutch and German are derived. It is probably a result of the fact that English is a Saxon language, like German and Dutch, and that the terms used to describe this other language predates Latin or French influence. However, this is all just my own guesswork... I'd have to ask someone.

Meanwhile don't worry about calling the Dutch "Hollanders" since they do it themselves too. It's easier in conversation to say "I'm from Holland" than "I'm from the Netherlands/die Niederlande/les Pays-Bas". Germans by the way do call us Niederlander.

The Batavians were a people that used to live on what is now Dutch soil back in Roman times. There was a revolt against the Roman occupying force in the first century, and you know what nationalistic feelings of later centuries can do to such meaningless events of old history. It is similar to calling the Germans "Saxons".

 

Or maybe 'Nethers'

 

Ok, my own quiz question...

In May 1940 a small detachment of French troops was sent to defend Zeeland. What was one of the problems they encountered when taking over the Dutch positions?

 

Did they have some problems distinguishing between dutch and german uniforms....?

 

No-one had told the Dutch soldiers in question they were going to be relieved and they thought they were being attacked by the French as well as the Germans?

 

They were really Flemish not Dutch and mistaking them for Walloons shot them.

:lol:

No offenec to the Belgians.

 

None of the above, but they are hilarious suggestions! :lol:

Edit: first hint. There was no friendly fire.

 

Non of them spoke Dutch or Deutsch and went to the Germans to be captured or killed.

 

The French detachment did pretty much end up captured, routed or killed, but not because of language problems. And how they ended up is not the answer I'm looking for.

 

No one has an idea to post?

Second hint. This story makes the Dutch look really bad.

 

The Dutch surrendered to them ... ?

 

Nope.

 

That would have made them look pretty bad though.

Was it worse even ? Or not quite as bad ?

 

The Dutch positions were made of cheese?

 

No, not cheese; they were improvised out of clogs, tulips & broken windmills. lol :lol:

(No offence meant)

 

"What do you mean, 'K rations'? Here, have a piece of trench..." :lol:

Worse.

 

The Dutch told the Germans and they killed them.

 

They were in the wrong place and found no positions?

 

The positions faced the wrong way?

 

Actually Ricky's suggestion carries some truth; the Dutch were pretty fanatic about looking neutral and so devoted time and troops to building positions facing France as well as Germany. As if they didn't know where the real enemies were. :roll:

However, I still haven't heard my answer...