Dutch Intervention in Indonesia

[NeedsABetterName]

As a Dutch Marine, my grandfather was wounded in Indonesia during the Dutch intervention there shortly after World War II. I'd like to know a little more about the topic, due to the family connection and all.

I've googled around a bit; the Wikipedia articles from the Dutch standpoint are pretty thin, and most sources/readings are in Dutch (which I do not speak). From what I gather, there were two operations: Operatie Product in 1947, which was a raid by Dutch paratroopers followed by a few months of fighting, and Operatie Kraai, which was a much shorter attack followed by the Dutch withdraw.

Does anybody, especially the Dutch members here, have any further reading on this topic?

[Derfel]

As an Indonesian I too would like to know more about these events. There was also that opeartion by Dutch special forces under the command of Westerling in December 1946-1947. The only info I managed to get so far is from the Indonesian Wiki, and unfortunately it might be somewhat biased, since it followed the historical events as prescribed by the Indonesian government.

In Indonesia Westerling is basically seen as a mass murderer and a war criminal. I don't know if this is true or not. Would be interesting to see an account of what happened from the Dutch point of view.

Concerning the two Dutch operations you mentioned I couldn't find anything on it in anything Indonesian so far. Probably the best source for this would be a Dutch one

EDIT: I think I just found them, though the info on them is very sparse

There called the first and second military aggression in Indonesia.

The first was an operation aimed at three areas. East Sumatra, Central Java, and East Java. involving Dutch paras from First Parachute Company, or the KST (Korps Speciale Troeppen).
They actually managed to seize several key assets, such as the tobacco plantations, harbours, and several plantations

The second was operation Kraai, where the First Parachute Company (1e Para Compagnie) dropped into an airfield called Maguwo.
It began in the early hours of 19 December 1948.

1.At 2:00 am the Paras received their parachutes

2.At 3:30 am the final briefing took place

3. At 03:45 Major general Engles arrived, followe fifteen minutes later by General Spoor, a brief inspection and a short speech followed

4. At 04:20 the elite paratroopers of the KST under the command of Captain Eekhout boarded their sixteen Dakotas, at 04:30 the first of the transports lifted off

5.At 05:45, the airfield was bombarded and strafed by five Mustangs and 9 Kittyhawks, the airfield was defended by 150 airfield defence guards, with light weapons and only one .50 cal AA gun, and a full company of Indonesian soldiers

6.At 06:45, the Dakotas received word that the DZ was ready, soon after, the KST paras began their drop, the battle lasted for approximately 25 minutes

7.At 07:10, the airfield was under the control of the KST, 158 Indonesian soldiers were killed, while not a single paratrooper was a casulty

8.At 09:00, all 432 paratroopers have landed and by 11:00 Battle Group M, numbering 2600 men and T brigade numbering 1900 men with their heavy weapons have assembled in Maguwo under the command of Col. D.R.A van Langen, they soon began to move towards Yogyakarta

The battle for Yogyakarta, began with an aerial bombardment and the dropping of more paratroopers in the city
It seems that other areas in Java were also under attack at this time.

That's really all I've found so far, hope that helped a little

[tercio67]

Google for 'Dutch police actions' and 'KNIL', there should be plenty english version documents and documentaries around.
There is also some stuff on youtube.

[JJHH]

As a Dutch Marine, my grandfather was wounded in Indonesia during the Dutch intervention there shortly after World War II. I'd like to know a little more about the topic, due to the family connection and all.

I've googled around a bit; the Wikipedia articles from the Dutch standpoint are pretty thin, and most sources/readings are in Dutch (which I do not speak). From what I gather, there were two operations: Operatie Product in 1947, which was a raid by Dutch paratroopers followed by a few months of fighting, and Operatie Kraai, which was a much shorter attack followed by the Dutch withdraw.

Does anybody, especially the Dutch members here, have any further reading on this topic?

I have no idea how much is written in English about this subject.

This is a link to a very good, comprehensive article (in Dutch by the Dutch institute of Military History) on Dutch military operations in Indonesia during 1940-1945. Maybe you can use some keywords and an online translator? If that doesn't work, I can translate some parts.

Het Nederlandse militaire optreden in Nederlands-Indië/Indonesië 1945 - 1950
http://www.nimh.nl/nl/images/bibliografie-indie-versie-nov-2008-def-pdf_tcm5-8386.pdf

[NeedsABetterName]

Thanks for the quick replies.

Jelle H.,

I've skimmed through the article you provided. I searched for "Mariniersbrigade," (which I understand to be the Marines) translating the text around that phrase. The article seems to be more of an order of battle, at least from what I can tell; the Marines were under the command of so and so... etc. However, it seems to cite several books (all in Dutch, of course) where these came from. I'm curious if these texts have more information on the subject. On page 40 of the article, it lists (or appears to list) the sources for the referenced Marinersbrigade. You don't have to do a full translation, but could you please tell me if that is the case? I also don't suppose any of these would be available online?

An interesting find:

“Desnoods te voet”: een foto-reportage van de zuiverings-acties ondernomen door de mariniersbrigade 19 dec-31dec 1948. Z.n.,

I'm pretty sure that's the book my grandfather gave me along with his medals ("By foot" rings a bell, from when he translated certain parts into English a few years ago). Opa is in several of the photos, specifically one of him saluting at a funeral (the action for which he received his medals). I will see if I can find the book, and I'll look into scanning some of the photos to post here.

[JJHH]

Thanks for the quick replies.

Jelle H.,

I've skimmed through the article you provided. I searched for "Mariniersbrigade," (which I understand to be the Marines) translating the text around that phrase. The article seems to be more of an order of battle, at least from what I can tell; the Marines were under the command of so and so... etc. However, it seems to cite several books (all in Dutch, of course) where these came from. I'm curious if these texts have more information on the subject. On page 40 of the article, it lists (or appears to list) the sources for the referenced Marinersbrigade. You don't have to do a full translation, but could you please tell me if that is the case? I also don't suppose any of these would be available online?


You are corrext, pp.42-44 all cover the Dutch marines. The list seems pretty comprehensive.

What is your grandfather's name? I might find some more info on Dutch websites.

Looking forward to those photos!

[JJHH]

By the way, there is some more info here:

Dutch Marines, Qua Patet Orbis
http://forums.wildbillguarnere.com/index.php?showtopic=2566

Google results:
http://www.google.nl/search?as_q=dutch+marines+indonesia&hl=nl&num=10&btnG=Google+zoeken&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=lang_en&cr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&safe=images

[SineJustitia]

NABN, a good thread. Both to you and Berfel the best of luck in your quest.

Maybe these links can be of help:

The organization of former marines:
http://www.contactoudmariniers.com/

The Royal Netherlands Marines Museum (they have a permanent exhibition on the Marines' actions in the Dutch East Indies):
http://www.mariniersmuseum.nl

And the museum for the Dutch East Indies Army, Bronbeek, also has a lot on military action over there:
http://www.bronbeek.nl

Mind you: all these sites are in Dutch, but through their contactpages I'm pretty sure you can get a lot of info.

[Yoram777]

Some videos (again, all in Dutch):

fragments from the DVD:
'Ons Koninkrijk in de Tweede Wereldoorlog; Strijd om Indie - Het Nederlands-Indonesische conflict 1945-1949'
(Our Kingdom in World war 2; Conflict over the Indies - The Dutch-Indonesian conflict 1945-1949)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74hu5mRBZVo

First police actions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5-APHxW7-E

Second police actions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pnGW61NI8A

[Sixpints]

Some reading in English about my dad's brigade:

http://extrapages.tripod.com/Tigerintro.html

Translated pages from the book Tussen Sawahs en Bergen "Het Leven van de soldaat in de Tijger Brigade" in English: Between Rice Fields and Mountains "the life of the soldiers in the Tiger Brigade"

Cheers,

Sixpints