History of The Dutch-Indo's

A Brief History of The Dutch-Indo's

The invasion of Java began on March 1, 1942. For three and a half years the Japanese Imperial Army occupied and controlled most of the archipelago. Following the invasion the Japanese began a process of Japanization, banning every remnant of Dutch rule. Over the next three years more than 100,000 Dutch citizens disappeared into Japanese internment camps. They were driven from their homes, seperated from their families and robbed of their possessions. At least 40,000 Dutch military men became prisoners of war.   A majority of them were shipped to camps in Thailand and Burma to work on the infamous death railroad .   Many of them ended up in Japan working coal mines.   The group which suffered the most from this decolonization conflict was the Dutch-Indonesian, or Dutch Indo's. Their ethnic orgin is of a mixed kind:   Eurasians from the Dutch East Indies are typically breeds of Asian mothers and European fathers. It was this group that was given the choice to stay out of internment camps if they cooperated with the Japanese. Many of our family members experienced first hand imprisonment, beatings, starvation, murder and torture.   Unbelievable suffering occured during this period.

The colonial rule of the Dutch East Indies ended after World War II. On August 9, 1945, three days after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, the Japanese prepared Sukarno, a longtime admirer of Japan, to declare independence. The Japanese occupation stimulated the development of the Indonesian independence movement. For Dutch citizens this marked the beginning of a new wave of terror.

Numerous incidents occured during this so called Bersiap period, the formative period of the Indonesian independence movement (September to December 1945). Thousands of Dutch and Dutch Indo's, were victims of a reign of terror perpetrated by the uncontrollable and unruly Indonesian militia. Many were seriously injured or lost their lives.   The Indonesian government gave the Dutch Indo's two years to change their last names, give up their Dutch nationallity and become citizens of Indonesia or return to the Netherlands. In 1948 the Dutch East Indies became the independent Republic of Indonesia.

It was impossible for the Dutch to return to pre-war conditions, even by means of force. The government gave up the fight and granted Indonesia their sovereignty on December 29, 1949.

The Indo's that left for Holland were received in "contract boarding houses." During that period (1950-1955) the Indo's were the minority. It was important for them to keep their cultural identity. They were not welcome and were the subject of hostility and discrimination.   Many left The Netherlands with the hopes of a brighter future in the United States, Canada and Australia.

World War II had caused great losses for all involved.   It is important that we never forget our historical past. We can't allow future generations to forget what happened in the Indies or in other parts of the world as a result of the war. The passage of time will dull our memories but should not obscure the reality of war and it's consequences.

"The Defining Years of the Dutch East Indies, 1942-1949" Survivor's accounts of Japanese Invasion and Enslavement of Europeans and the Revolution that Created a Free Indonesia .... an excellent book by Jan A. Krancher .... Personal accounts of life in internment camps. "Honestly and compassionately told and recounted, often with a heavy heart, for the world to read."