The Netherlands were occupied by the Third Reich in May 1940, and later that year was integrated as a state (Land) of the Reich including the Flemish part of Belgium. The overseas territories of the Netherlands were de facto administered by the British Empire, and officially they were loyal to the government and Crown of the Netherlands, now sitting in London. The Reich preserved dutch culture and language, but the State of Netherlands was controlled by the National Socialist party and German was mandatory at schools.