Help with translation plz.

[curses]

Anyone want to give this a try? I think it's in Dutch but I'm not sure. Someone brought this pamphlet up to my work and we were trying to work out what it said.

[livius drusus]

Strijdmiddelen sounds like where Watser? lives.

[Watser?]

Yeah, Dutch. What to do in case of Nuclear, Biological or Chemical attack.

Do you want the whole thing translated?

[curses]

Maybe the first page? I'll pay you in cheese.

[Watser?]

On it

[Qingdai]

How much cheddar is that going to cost?

[Watser?]

There you go:

(page 2)

Nuclear Explosions

Explosion can be recognised by:

at moment of explosion: An incredibly bright FLASH OF LIGHT and HEAT RADIATION

a few seconds to a couple of minutes after the explosion: forming of a FIREBALL
a hurricane like GUST OF WIND
depending on the distance to the explosion a piercing EXPLOSIVE BANG or RUMBLE OF THUNDER
a few minutes after the explosion: the forming of a giant cloud, often MUSROOM SHAPED

There are three kinds of nuclear explosion:
areal explosion (fireball in the sky);
surface level explosion (fireball touches the ground);
undergound (under water) explosion (fireball underground or under water)

Phenomena with consequences Possible consequences
FLASH OF LIGHT Blinding
HEAT RADIATION Burns on uncovered skin
Ignition of dry materials
AIR PRESSURE AND SHOCKWAVE Injuries from airborne debris
DIRECT RADIATION (during |
first minutes after explosion) |Danger of radiation disease
LINGERING RADIATION |

Protection
1 BEFORE A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION
BUTTON UP battle attire, wear gloves, wear outer helmet.
If there is time to dig a foxhole, do that; cover it with a ground tarpaulin (if available).
Make sure you have a water bottle with drinking water with you.

[livius drusus]

Where's the part about not running if you have set yourself on fire?

[Sock Puppet]

Not to mention the detailed instructions on how and when to kiss your ass goodbye.

[BrotherMan]

[curses]

Thanks! As promised...

[Watser?]

Here's the next page too:

(page 3)

2. DURING A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION
Whenever a flash is observed:
a. close the eyes immediately;
b. cover your face with your hands and drop and flatten yourself against the ground, preferably behind the nearest obstacle. Keep your jands in front of your face and use your shoulders to break your fall;
c. become as small a target as possible for radiation;
d. grab yourself tightly, two to five seconds after the heat radiation was palpable.

In vehicle
halt vehicle; driver remains seated, holds on to wheel, head pressed against arms;
passengers take cover inside vehicle, brace themselves, close eyes.
At the command "cover - cover - cover" on board of ships above and below deck, stand with bended knees, on your toes, and hold on tightly.
Above deck the measures to take while observing the flash will precede those taken at the command "cover - cover - cover"

3. AFTER A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION
Stay covered for 90 seconds.
If there is a warning about radioactive precipitation, take shelter in basements, shelters or a gas citadel [don't know what that is in Dutch so left it]
At the command "shelter - shelter - shelter" go to shelter in a hurry.
If dust is forming in an area with radioactive contamination, tie a folded handkerchief or cloth in front of your nose and mouth. Furthermore on board of ships, as long as you are in the open air, wear protective clothing.

HELP WOUNDED COMRADS, AVOID PANIC
OTHER NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE
1. After taking protective measures, continue with your mission as soon as possible.
2. Anything that provides shade, protects against heat radiation.
3. Until further notice do not smoke, drink or eat in an area with radioactive contamination.
4. Food in cans or dust-free packaging and water in tightly closed water bottle do not get contaminated (when using them, always decontaminate the outside, including hands).
5. On the exposure meter you can read the radiation dose received, while you can use the intensity meter to detect the presence of radioactivity.

[Watser?]

I remember those booklets. These were the military version but there was also a civilian version (we were the designated war zone for WWIII), here it is: NBDC - Bescherming Bevolking

It was called Wenken voor de bescherming van uw gezin en uzelf (Tips for the protection of your family and yourself). Dutch writer Harry Mulisch wrote a satire called Wenken voor de bescherming van uw gezin en uzelf, tijdens de Jongste Dag ("Tips for the Protection of Your Family and Yourself During the Last Judgment").

[curses]

gas citadel-gas station, maybe?

[curses]

Originally Posted by Watser?

I remember those booklets. These were the military version but there was also a civilian version (we were the designated war zone for WWIII), here it is: NBDC - Bescherming Bevolking

It was called Wenken voor de bescherming van uw gezin en uzelf (Tips for the protection of your family and yourself). Dutch writer Harry Mulisch wrote a satire called Wenken voor de bescherming van uw gezin en uzelf, tijdens de Jongste Dag ("Tips for the Protection of Your Family and Yourself During the Last Judgment").

I don't remember ever being issued anything like that here, at least not in the late 70s/80s. There are plenty of old nuclear bunkers hanging about, though.

[Watser?]

Originally Posted by curses

gas citadel-gas station, maybe?

Yeah, but gas in Dutch only means gas, not gasoline. I think maybe they mean a gas distribution station. It is likely the folder was translated from English anyway.

I remember one of those folders talking about 'partijganger', party member, when from the context it was pretty clear they meant partisan. Pretty sure that was a translation error.

These folders were distributed in the early 1960s. The civilian 'Wenken' one was issued in 1961.

[curses]

I guess by the 80s we knew that the Cold War was a)a joke, and b)pamphlets don't save lives. Fascinating stuff, though. That booklet came with a gas mask someone bought at an Army surplus store.

[Watser?]

Aha, that makes sense.

Anyway the other page is about Biological and Chemical Weapons, the latter more specifically nerve gas. A gas mask alone won't protect you from that either.

[Ymir's blood]

Originally Posted by curses

I don't remember ever being issued anything like that here, at least not in the late 70s/80s. There are plenty of old nuclear bunkers hanging about, though.

We even found one in a mausoleum!

[Ymir's blood]

Originally Posted by curses

I guess by the 80s we knew that the Cold War was a)a joke, and b)pamphlets don't save lives. Fascinating stuff, though. That booklet came with a gas mask someone bought at an Army surplus store.

By the 80s, it was finally accepted that no one could win a nuclear war, so our Imperious Leader just incorporated that into our propaganda and otherwise just kept up the rhetoric.

[Ymir's blood]

Some stuff I remember. There was a war game I remember at the time that included rules for the use of tactical nuclear weapons. It just said to dowse the board in gasoline and set it on fire.

In the gaming magazine Space Gamer there was a joke about a realistic 'post apocalypse' game between the rats and the roaches.

[Stormlight]

Originally Posted by Watser?

It was called Wenken voor de bescherming

[ceptimus]

In the UK, we had this booklet published by the government in 1980.

There were also a series of 'government information films' (cartoons really) that were broadcast on TV. Here are a couple, but there were a whole series.

Protect And Survive - Casualties - YouTube

Protect and Survive - Action After Warnings ...

[curses]

Oh, that just reminded me of two of the bleakest movies I've ever seen. Threads - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Threads 1 of 12 FULL MOVIE Nuclear War -...

When the Wind Blows (Nuclear War) - YouTube

[Janet]

Um, excuse me, sir, but how am I supposed to hold myself when I'm keeping my hands over my eyes?

Oh, and why is there not a "raises hand" smiley?