Dutch forces in the Pacific.

Outstanding information! Thanks for sharing!

 

I didn't realize that the Dutch contributed in the Pacific until just this week. I started reading Bahh Bahh Black Sheep by Pappy Boyington USMC. He mentions that when he joined the AVG (American Volunteer Group) other known as the Flying Tigers. He arived by on a Dutch merchant ship the Boschfontein to Rangoon. He said though that the Dutch seemed to hate the British more then the Germans. At least the way they talked.

 

One thing I would like to remind people of, is many native Indonesian people saw Japans victory over the Dutch as an opportunity to break free of their colonial rulers.

On Aug 17th 1945, Japan did formaly grant Indonesia its independance, thus making that country, the first to begin the decolonization process of Asia.

There was little love lost between the Dutch and the Indonesian people during the 2nd world war, regardless of how cruel the Japanese ended up being.

 

If anyone is interested in this I posted a thread about it back in march.

http://www.ww2f.com/war-pacific/22102-indonesian-national-revolution-allies-1945-a.html

 

The page on Dutch vehicles in the East & west Indies:
welcome to overvalwagen.com

Cheers,
Adam.

 

Been there quite a few times LOL

 

KNIL Group Photo


KNIL Infantry Training in Netherlands East Indies
KNIL infantry training in the Netherlands East Indies prior to World War II. The Madsen can be seen in the middle foreground. Behind are troops armed with Mannlicher M95 bolt-action rifles.


KNIL infantry training in the Netherlands East Indies prior to World War II.


KNIL infantry training in the Netherlands East Indies prior to World War II.

 

In 1940, the so-called Stadswacht was erected to act against enemy paratroopers and "Vijdfe Colonne" (enemy spies) in areas
unprotected by regular KNIL forces. These were normally old
draftees and volunteers, including foreigners like British



Dutch soldiers of the 10th KNIL Battalion
Palembang, February 14th, 1942

The Fall of Java Island, March 1942 (Photo Gallery)

 

Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger, KNIL (Royal Dutch East Indies Army)
Originally the KNIL was part of the Dutch army. On March 10, 1830 the formation of the East Indies Army was approved by Royal Decree, consisting of 8 Mobile Corps, each with a battalion of Infantry, a company of Cavalry and four pieces mountain artillery, with a total strength of 600 European and 37 native officers and 12,905 non-commissioned officers and lower ranks. This grew to 20,000 in 1840, 29,800 in 1882 and 36,900 in 1930. Some of the action it was involved in: Padri War, (West-Sumatra) 1821-1845; Java War, July 1825-1830, Bali 1849; War of Aceh (Atjeh-oorlog) 1873-1901. After the pacification in the East Indies was completed, the "Defense Principles of 1927" formulated the task of the KNIL as 1. maintaining Dutch authority in the archipelago against unrest and resistance within its borders and guaranteeing order and calm; 2. performing of military duty as member of the community of people against other peoples. Depression and the fact that everything had to be imported made this a tough task. The newly formed Air Ministry of the KNIL however received 117 bombers form the US.
In May 1940 KNIL consisted of 1,345 regular officers and 35,583 non-commissioned officers and lower ranks. With reserve officers, local conscripts etc. the total could grow to 3,200 officers and and 73,000 non-commissioned officers and lower ranks. When The Dutch government declared war with Japan on December 8, 1941, KNIL was mobilized. On March 9, 1942 KNIL capitulated. Only a small units escaped to Australia.
On November 15, 1944, the First Battalion was formed and participated in some allied actions: Tarakan (May 1, 1945), Balikpan (July 1, 1945). Together with the Second Battalion, consisting of released POW's, they arrived on October 4, 1945 in the capital Batavia (Jakarta).
General S.H. Spoor combined the new KNIL with units from the Dutch Army and used it during both police actions July 21-August 4, 1947 and December 21, 1948-January 5, 1949. Its name was changed in 1948 to "Koninklijk Nederlands Indonesisch Leger" (Royal Dutch Indonesian Army).
On July 26, 1950 KNIL seized to exist. Its members either became part of the Royal Dutch Army, or the armed forces of Republik Indonesia Serikat, or were dismissed (with or without pension).
On July 1, 1950 a Royal Decree determined that "The tradition of the KNIL will be adopted and continued by the Regiment Van Heutz"
(source: Winkler Prins Encyclopedie 19..). Zie ook Het Vergeten Leger, Nederlandsch Indië 1945-1950, KNIL, KNIL Stamboeken, KNIL in Wikipedia (Nederlands), KNIL in Wikipedia (English), KNIL history.

Military in Netherlands New Guinea/West Papua/Irian Jaya

 

Hello,

The assault and seizure of Kendari, Celebes (Sulawesi) in January 1942 will be covered in some detail in a new book to be released this Christmas.
Unfortunately the Dutch KNIL units there did little if any real fighting against the Japanese Combined Special Naval Landing Force that was tasked with capturing Kendari. In their defense, however, it is worth noting that there were no more than 400 lightly armed KNIL soldiers defending the town and airfield ("Kendari II") against at least 1500 veteran Japanese troops.

 

"During WW2 a brigade was formed in the US called the Mariniers Brigade, also called Marbrig. This unit was used intensively in the fighting in Indonesia from 1945-1949. Little is published about them, except that they had 18 tanks, one of which was an ARV, the others being HVSS Shermans armed with a 105 mm howitzer. After the wars in Indonesia the unit was disbanded."

All I could find so far about them is only in Dutch,
Mariniersbrigade in Nederlands-Indië

In World War II, a Korps Mariniers unit in Rotterdam preparing to ship out to the Dutch East Indies successfully defended the bridges across the Maas, preventing the German paratroopers in the central city from hooking up with conventional German infantry. The Germans ended the stalemate by bombing Rotterdam. The threat of an attack by Marines caused its German captain to scuttle the Antilla in Aruba in 1940.
When the surrender was declared and the Dutch soldiers came out of their positions, the German commander who was expecting a full battalion of men was stunned to see only a few Dutch Marines emerge in their black uniforms. He ordered his men to salute them out of respect for their bravery and determination and labelled them Zwarte duivels (The Black Devils).
Some Mariniers later joined the Princess Irene Brigade to fight against the Germans. They distinguished themselves in combat near the Dutch city of Tilburg in the autumn of 1944.
Starting in 1943, the United States Marine Corps trained and equipped a new brigade, the Mariniersbrigade, of the Korps Mariniers at Camp Lejeune and Camp Davis in North Carolina in preparation for amphibious landings against the Japanese in the Dutch East Indies. The Japanese surrendered before such landings were needed, but the Mariniersbrigade, fully trained and equipped, left North Carolina in six transports in 1945 and fought against the Indonesians in their National Revolution for independence. It was part of the A Division, which was itself commanded by a Korps Mariniers officer. It was disbanded in 1949"

Netherlands Marine Corps - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Wow! Great link Adam! Thanks very much!!!!

Great stuff JCF!!

Thanks!!

 

No prob bigfun . I enjoy helping.

 

Alvis Straussler

 

Bofors 75-mm Model 1934 howitzers

 

P02819.001