Royal Netherlands East Indies Army
The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (; KNIL, ; ) was the military force maintained by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in its colony of the Dutch East Indies, in areas that are now part of Indonesia. The KNIL's air arm was the Royal Netherl ...
was a Dutch colonial military unit that was active in the
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies (; ), was a Dutch Empire, Dutch colony with territory mostly comprising the modern state of Indonesia, which Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, declared independence on 17 Au ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and the
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution (), also known as the Indonesian War of Independence (, ), was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between the Republic of Indonesia and the Dutch Empire and an internal social revolution during A ...
.
Background
On March 7, 1942, just before the fall of Java, Lieutenant
Governor General
Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
to establish a Dutch East Indies government to continue the fight. Van Mook was recalled to London, but on April 8 the Netherlands Indies Commission for Australia and New Zealand (NINDICOM) was established. The Commission was headed by Ch. O. van der Plas and further consisted of J.E. van Hoogstraten,
Melbourne
Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
, where the headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander in Asia, the
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, p ...
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.
In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American general who served as a top commander during World War II and the Korean War, achieving the rank of General of the Army (United States), General of the Army. He served with dis ...
, was then located. The Commission worked together with the Dutch
ambassador
An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or so ...
Van Aerssen Beyeren in
Canberra
Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...
.
World War II
Formation
On June 1, 1944, at
Camp Victory
Camp Victory was the primary component of the Victory Base Complex (VBC) which occupied the area surrounding the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP). The Al-Faw Palace, which served as the headquarters for the Multi-National Corps – Iraq (a ...
, near
Casino, New South Wales
Casino (Yugambeh-Bundjalung_languages, Bundjalungic: ''Djanangmum'') is a town in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, Australia, with a population of 12,298 people at the . It lies on the banks of the Richmond River and is situated at ...
, the 1st Battalion KNIL was founded. With this establishment the first large unit of the new KNIL was formed.
The service sections, later the "Technical Battalion" led by Lieutenant Colonel IJsseldijk, consisting of BPM and ex- KPM personnel, were intended for oil extraction immediately after the conquest of the oil fields in
Tarakan
Tarakan is an island and co-extensively the sole city within the Indonesian province of North Kalimantan. The island city is the largest urban area in North Kalimantan population-wise and is located in northern Borneo, midway along the coast of ...
and
Balikpapan
Balikpapan is a seaport city in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Located on the east coast of the island of Borneo, the city is the financial center of Kalimantan. Balikpapan is the city with the largest economy in Kalimantan with an estimated 20 ...
.
The armed forces commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Breemouer included the 1st and 2nd Cie "Overseas", consisting of Surinamese and Antillean War Volunteers; the 36 NEI Coy "Timor-Coy", evacuated from
Timor
Timor (, , ) is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, in the north of the Timor Sea. The island is Indonesia–Timor-Leste border, divided between the sovereign states of Timor-Leste in the eastern part and Indonesia in the ...
to Australia in December 1942 and consisted of small interpreters and guides / battle groups , which were partly assigned to American units in the
Pacific
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is bounded by the cont ...
; small groups of liberated Dutch East Indies prisoners of war on New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago islands in the Pacific; and deployed war volunteers in the Dutch East Indies from personnel of the
Princess Irene Brigade
During the Second World War, the Royal Netherlands Motorized Infantry Brigade, later known as the Princess Irene Brigade () was a Dutch military unit initially formed from approximately 1,500 troops, including a small group guarding German prison ...
.
The armed forces were renamed 1st Infantry Battalion on November 15, 1944, and after having passed the Jungle Warfare School, they were brought into battle.
Structure
1st Battalion KNIL (3000 men). This consisted on November 15, 1944 of;
''Technical Battalion'' (Commander Lt. Col. IJsseldijk);
*NICA (
Netherlands Indies Civil Administration
The Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (, NICA) was a semi-military organisation, established in April 1944, tasked with the restoration of civil administration and law of Dutch colonial rule after the capitulation of the Japanese occupation ...
),
*NEFIS (
Netherlands East Indies Forces Intelligence Service
Netherlands East Indies Forces Intelligence Service (NEFIS) was a Dutch World War II-era intelligence and special operations unit operating mainly in the Japanese-occupied Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia).
History
Soon after the evacuation ...
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the List of islands by area, world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is ...
only)
* No. 120 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF
''1st Infantry Battalion KNIL''
*Rudimentary staff/staff Cie
*I Inf.I.
*II Inf. I.
*2 Military Aviation Squadrons of the Royal Netherlands Indies Army (ML-KNIL)
Operations
January 9, 1945: Landing of the US 936th Division at
Biak
Biak is the main island of Biak Archipelago located in Cenderawasih Bay near the northern coast of Papua (province), Papua, an Indonesian province, and is just northwest of New Guinea. Biak has many atolls, reefs, and corals.
The largest popula ...
, and a few weeks later at Morotai. In this (at a later stage) the 1st Inf. I Bat. KNIL takes part.
May 1, 1945: Landing of the 9th Australian Division at
Tarakan
Tarakan is an island and co-extensively the sole city within the Indonesian province of North Kalimantan. The island city is the largest urban area in North Kalimantan population-wise and is located in northern Borneo, midway along the coast of ...
. The 2nd Inf. I Bat. takes part and suffers her first losses.
July 1, 1945: Landing of the 7th Australian Division at
Balikpapan
Balikpapan is a seaport city in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Located on the east coast of the island of Borneo, the city is the financial center of Kalimantan. Balikpapan is the city with the largest economy in Kalimantan with an estimated 20 ...
. The 1st Inf I Bat is part of the first landing echelon.
Indonesian War of Independence
On October 4, 1945 the 1st Bat.Inf. in Batavia consisted of:
*1st Cie KNIL
*2nd Cie KNIL
*6th Cie KNIL / both founded in Tarakan from the Netherlands liberated there.
*8th Cie KNIL \ Dutch East Indies prisoners of war.
From October 1945, the Battalion was charged with ensuring order and peace in the southern and eastern fringes of Batavia. On October 10, the 5 Cie KNIL arrives from Australia, consisting of War Volunteers. On March 8, 1948 the battalion was disbanded due to demobilization. On May 26, the battalion is re-established as 1st Infantry Battalion. In February 1949 were added to the battalion:
*5th Cion (ex 4-Inf XXII),
*6th Cion (ex 3-Inf XII),
*7th Cie (ex 2-Inf XXII) and two Peleton ex 4-Inf XV.
*6-Inf I and 7-Inf I operated outside battalion level under the command of C-W Brigade and C-V Brigade.
Soldiers of Inf I were nicknamed 'the Matjans' (the Tigers) because of their camouflage suits (Jungle warfare suits).
Commanders
*Lieutenant General
Ludolph Hendrik van Oyen
Major-general Ludolph Hendrik van Oyen (25 April 1889, in The Hague – 28 July 1953) was the Chief of Staff of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army from 1942 to 1946, during World War II.
History
Ludolph Hendrik van Oyen began his militar ...
1944–1946
*Lieutenant Colonel IJsseldijk 1944–1945
*Lieutenant Colonel Breemouer. 1944–1945
*Lieutenant Colonel F. Mollinger 1945–1946
*Lieutenant Colonel P.G. Koopmans 1946–1949
*Lieutenant Colonel C. de Jong 1949–1950
*Captain J.W. Zijlstra, commander of the 1st Inf. I Bat.
Images
File:Vanuit Suriname arriveren Nederlanders, Caribische Indianen, Creolen, samen met Javanen en Hindoestanen in Australië 1944.jpg, From Suriname, the Dutch West Indies, Creoles, together with Javanese and Hindus arrive in Australia (1944)
File:Waarnemend KNIL-commandant Luitenant-generaal Ludolph Hendrik van Oyen (links) en Luitenant-kolonel Dr. Brandon (rechts) worden na het bezoek aan een locatoe op Tarakan eiland door een LST teruggebracht naar Lingkas.jpg, Acting KNIL commander Lt-Gen van Oyen (left) and Lt-Kol Dr. Brandon (right) are brought back to Lingkas by LST after visiting a location on Tarakan Island. (1945)
File:Het bekend geworden KNIL-bataljon Infanterie I verzorgde het eerste konvooi na, Bestanddeelnr 5646.jpg, The famous 1st Infantry Battalion (KNIL)