All episodes

In the 1930s, a global economic crisis raged, leaving deep scars on societies around the world. Growing discontent among the population provided fertile ground for new radical movements, including fascism, which was on the rise. This ideology gained increasing support not only in Germany, where it exerted its greatest influence, but also in the Netherlands, leading to growing polarization within society. In these turbulent times, boxing friends Ben Bril and Sam Olij, once united by their shared passion for the sport, found themselves diametrically opposed, separated by their political convictions and the forces dividing the era.

Under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, the German Reich is expanding at an alarming pace. Country after country falls victim to his ruthless expansionist drive. On May 10, 1940, the attack on the Netherlands follows, in which the Dutch armed forces are confronted with overwhelming German superiority. During these crucial days, responsibility rests on the shoulders of Commander-in-Chief Winkelman, who must maintain his composure amidst chaos and threat to lead the country through one of the most defining moments in its history.

During the occupation of the Netherlands by Nazi Germany, the Nazis regarded the Dutch as a brother nation and emphasized that they would treat them with respect, provided the population adapted to their wishes. However, this attitude was accompanied by drastic measures, such as the billeting of German soldiers in families' homes. This led to tensions and discomfort in many Dutch living rooms, where daily life was disrupted by the presence of soldiers and the pressure to conform to the occupier.

The Nazis label Jews as so-called ‘Untermenschen’. Through systematic exclusion, mandatory registration, and strict isolation, everything is taken from them: work, property, and freedom of movement. Using sophisticated tactics, the occupier attempts to split Dutch society and sow distrust between population groups. All these measures serve one horrific purpose: the total destruction of the Jewish community.

While most Dutch people obey the occupier, there are also those who offer resistance. At universities, through illegal newspapers, and by helping those in hiding. Resistance groups emerge throughout the Netherlands. The occupier responds to every form of opposition with harsh reprisals. Time and again, the question arises as to what extent resistance fighters are willing to continue.

With the advance of the Allies, the liberation of the Netherlands seems close, but it does not come without a price. Hundreds of Dutch people die in Allied bombardments, and in large parts of the country, a bitterly cold winter sets in with a harrowing shortage of food and fuel. The grueling final act of the occupation. When liberation finally arrives, not only joy prevails; it is also the beginning of the reckoning.

With the fall of Nazi Germany, the war is over. At least, that is the hope of the Europeans. But soon, it is precisely the Netherlands that is put to the test and will itself act as an aggressor. In August 1945, Indonesia, a Dutch colony, declares its independence. What follows is a bloody colonial war.