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Soldaat Sikke Hiemstra

Research on the Mobilization and/or (Conscripted) Soldiers

Research on the Mobilization and/or (conscripted) Soldiers

Introduction:
The article for the month of February focuses on conducting research on the mobilization and/or (conscripted) soldiers. In this article, I will explain step by step how to approach this research and which sources are useful for it.

Step 1: Define Your Research Topic
First and foremost, it is very important to determine your research topic. You might want to research the mobilization in a specific municipality or region, or you may be looking for information about a military ancestor. It is crucial to clearly define what your research will focus on before you begin.

Step 2: Write Down What You Already Know
Write down everything you already know about your research topic. For example, if you are researching a military ancestor, you might know his regiment number or the location where he was stationed. You may have heard stories from that period. Note this information down in bullet points, so you have a solid starting point for further research.

Step 3: Helpful Secondary Sources
Next, it is important to search for secondary source material that can help your research. This provides more context about the period, and you might discover something relevant. Secondary sources are works about an (original) source. These can include websites, books, and journal articles. These (secondary) sources are often written by local, military, amateur, regional, and/or national historians.

Based on your research topic (Step 1) and the information you have noted (Step 2), you will search for relevant secondary sources. For instance, if you are researching the mobilization in the municipality of Assen, it is essential to find out which specific books, websites, or journal articles are available about the mobilization in Assen. In addition, there are general sources about the mobilization period that might be useful. Below are some of these sources shared.

Useful Websites:

Useful Journals:

Useful Books:

Step 4. National

After you have gathered information, it is important to consult primary source material as well. Primary source material refers to the original source itself.

Based on your research topic (step 1) and the data you have noted (step 2), you will now search for primary source material that may be useful for your research. It is possible that you found information in the secondary source material (step 3) that can assist you in this search.

There are various national archives, institutions, historical projects, and museums where you can find more information about your topic and consult primary source material. In addition, several websites offer step-by-step guides for researching military ancestors. Below are some of these resources shared:

Step-by-step plan for researching military ancestors:

Useful Archives:

Museums:

Useful Historic Projects:

Useful Institutions:

Step 5. Provincial, Regional & Local

It is also important to look for provincial, regional, and local archives/museums. In addition, there are many local historical associations in the Netherlands that also have primary sources. Below you will find some links that may help you further (though a Google search will also yield many results):

Useful Links:

Step 6. Experts

If your research is progressing slowly, I recommend presenting your question or issue in the following Facebook group. This group consists of various members with extensive knowledge about the Dutch army before 1940, including the mobilization period (1939-1940). Feel free to ask your question there, and you may find the answer you’re looking for.

Facebook Group: