Netherlands Releases Names of 425,000 Nazi Collaborators

The Netherlands has released the names of 425,000 individuals suspected of collaborating with Nazi Germany during its occupation from 1940 to 1945, marking the first public access to this information in 80 years. This release, part of a digitization project titled 'War In Court', comes after the expiration of a 75-year restriction on access to the Central Archives for Special Criminal Jurisdiction (CABR) on New Year’s Day 2025. While the database features the names of mainly deceased individuals, it does not include those still living, due to privacy concerns. The project, backed by $18 million from the Dutch government, aims to provide a significant resource for historians and families seeking to understand their past. However, detailed case files remain restricted and can only be accessed through formal requests at the National Archives, emphasizing a balance between historical transparency and privacy rights. This initiative is seen as a crucial step in addressing the 'gray areas of collaboration' during the war, providing insights into wartime actions and societal responses in post-war Netherlands.