WA march on the occasion of Anton Mussert's birthday, May 11, 1941. The Weerbaarheidsafdeling (WA; "Resilience Department") was the

paramilitary A paramilitary is a military that is not a part of a country's official or legitimate armed forces. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the use of the term "paramilitary" as far back as 1934. Overview Though a paramilitary is, by definiti ...

arm of the

National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands The National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands (, ; NSB) was a Dutch fascist and later Nazi political organisation that eventually became a political party. As a parliamentary party participating in legislative elections, the NSB had some suc ...

(NSB), the fascist political party that collaborated with the German occupiers of the Netherlands during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. The organization, roughly equivalent to the German SA, was founded in 1932 by Anton Mussert, co-founder of the NSB in 1931 and its leader until the end of the war. Members wore and marched in black uniforms and were thus called "blackshirts". In 1933 the Dutch government banned the wearing of uniforms (by civilians), and the WA was disbanded in 1935 in order to forestall the Dutch government's banning it. In 1940, after the German invasion, the WA became openly active again, and more ruthless than before. They specialized in violent attacks, particularly on the Dutch Jewish population.

Occupation

After the occupation, the WA was put to use in much the same way as the SA was, forcing owners of restaurants and cafes to put up signs saying ''Jooden niet gewenscht'' ("Jews not welcome") and harassing and provoking inhabitants of neighbourhoods with many Jewish inhabitants. This led to the formation of ''"knokploegen"'', informal militias, and fights erupting between the WA and Jewish and non-Jewish inhabitants. On 9 February 1941 there were riots on the Rembrandtplein between the WA and Jewish youngsters. On 11 February a group of 40 to 50 WA members marched through Amsterdam to the

Waterlooplein Waterlooplein (Waterloo Square) is a square in the centre of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The square near the Amstel river is named after the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Prominent buildings on the square are the Stopera city hall and opera bu ...

in the heart of the Jewish neighbourhood. This led to a pitched battle with Jewish and inhabitants of the

Jordaan The Jordaan () is a neighbourhood of the city of Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is part of the Boroughs of Amsterdam, borough of Amsterdam-Centrum. The area is bordered by the Singelgracht canal and the neighbourhood of Frederik Hendrikbuurt to the ...

in which WA member Koot was severely injured. He died a few days later; he was buried with great pomp, and stylized a martyr, in much the same way as

Horst Wessel Horst Ludwig Georg Erich Wessel (9 October 1907 – 23 February 1930) was a member of the Sturmabteilung (SA), the paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party, who became a propaganda symbol in Nazi Germany following his murder in 1930 by two members ...

in Nazi Germany. The events led to the first razzias, deportations of Jews and formation of a ghetto in Amsterdam, and from there to the February strike.

Ranks and insignia

W.A. Uniform insignia from ''Distinctieven der Beweging''

File:Distinctieven der Beweging NSB Nationaal Socialistische B. (Dutch Nazi movement Uniforms insignia flags Booklet c 1940-42) p 17 W.A. Weerbaarheidsafdeling (paramilitary ranks collar tabs shoulder straps). No copyright. Bright image.jpg File:Distinctieven der Beweging NSB Nationaal Socialistische B. (Dutch Nazi movement Uniforms insignia flags Booklet c 1940-42) p 18 W.A. Weerbaarheidsafdeling Mouwonderscheidingsteekens Pet (cap) Sportinsignie etc. No copyright. Bright imag.jpg File:Distinctieven der Beweging NSB Nationaal Socialistische B. (Dutch Nazi movement Uniforms insignia flags Booklet c 1940-42) p 19 W.A. Weerbaarheidsafdeling, Vendelarmband Adjutantennestels Autostandard. No copyright. Bright image.jpg

References

Paramilitary organisations based in the Netherlands National Socialist Movement (Netherlands) 1932 establishments in the Netherlands Military wings of fascist parties {{DEFAULTSORT:Weerbaarheidsafdeling