Second World War

On the 10 May 940, the Netherlands was invaded by Nazi Germany, after which Nazi racial policies were forced upon Dutch institutions, among which Leiden University. As a consequence, protest speeches and activities were carried out by professors and students against the Nazi racial policy. Short after that, the university was closed by the occupying force until 1945. In this period, students and staff of the university have made different choices to cope with the situation. While males figures and perspectives still occupy a dominant role in history of war-times, the materials kept at the Leiden University have the potential to open the gates to new perspectives and drive the attention to the often neglected female figures. In unique sphere of diversity at the university, an increasing amount of these materials are being studied.