Oorlogsjaar

Oorlogsjaar is a Dutch term that translates literally as “war year.” It is used to describe a calendar year in which war or armed conflict has a dominant impact on a country, region, or population. The expression appears in historical writing, journalism, and public discourse to label specific years within wars or periods of conflict, rather than to denote a formal, fixed era.

Etymology and nuance: The word is formed from oorlog (war) and jaar (year). It shares with related phrases such as oorlogstijd (wartime) and oorlogsjaren (war years) a focus on the temporal dimension of conflict. Unlike fixed national calendars, oorlogsjaar is contextual and subjective, depending on the country and the events involved.

Usage: In Dutch historiography and media, oorlogsjaar may refer to a single year characterized by major wartime events or conditions—such as bombardments, occupations, or political upheavals—that distinguish it from peacetime years. It can be used descriptively or evaluatively, and is often employed to stress how a particular year affected civilians, economies, and governance.

Examples: In the Netherlands and Belgium, the years of World War II are discussed as wartime years, with 1940–1945 marking the period of occupation and conflict. In other contexts, writers may designate other years during different conflicts as oorlogsjaar if the impact in that year was especially pronounced.

Notes: The exact labeling of a year as an oorlogsjaar is subjective and depends on the perspective of the writer or speaker, as well as on the historical context being considered.