The announcement that former Dutch soldiers would be recalled to go to prison camps in Germany led to the April/May strikes.
The Germans reacted violently. With the declaration of Martial Law enforced by the police (Polizeistandrecht), every form of resistance could be punished by death. On 3 May 1943, the strike ended.
When the press was forced to toe the German line, radio also became pro-German. Many people however listened secretly to the banned British broadcasts and to Radio Oranje. This was the radio station of the Dutch government in London. The Germans were afraid that secret instructions would be sent to resistance fighters by radio. In April 1943, everyone had to hand in their radios. Anyone refusing was at risk of being severely punished. Approximately 325,000 radios were hidden in homes.
For real news many Dutch people listened to BBC (from England) and Radio Oranje. Queen Wilhelmina's speeches were encouraging and were listened to by millions of Dutch people. The illegal press multiplied and distributed its texts. The British air force dropped the speeches over the Netherlands. The persecution and deportation of Jews were also issues that came under discussion.