In order to contain the violence in the Dutch East Indies after the Japanese capitulation in 1945 and to restore colonial order, the Netherlands sent battalions of Oorlogsvrijwilligers (OVWs; English: War Volunteers) to the colony. They were recruited in 1944 and 1945, mostly in the southern provinces of the Netherlands,[1] and initially intended for deployment in Europe.[2] Others had signed up for the fight against Japan in the summer of 1945.
OVWs on patrol wading through a river on Java, March 1946.
The emergency situation in the East Indies prompted the Schermerhorn–Drees cabinet to send the Dutch military overseas. They arrived in British Malacca in November 1945. The British authorities, who temporarily exercised authority in the Dutch East Indies after the war in Asia, refused to admit the Dutch troops there. They feared that this would escalate the already tense political situation.[2] The fact that there was little international sympathy for the Dutch efforts to restore colonial authority in Indonesia may also have been a factor. It was not until late February 1946 that the Oorlogsvrijwilligers were admitted and took over the positions of the British. They were stationed in enclaves around a number of large cities on Java and Sumatra.[3]
In total, approximately 25,000 OVW personnel would go to the East Indies,[2] of which 5,000 to 6,000 were assigned to the Mariniersbrigade and the rest to the Royal Army. Five brigades were formed from this last group, the staffs of which were composed of officers from the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army. To the numbers mentioned must be added several thousand OVW personnel who served on ships of the Royal Navy and with the Netherlands Naval Aviation Service in the Dutch East Indies. Later, the Oorlogsvrijwilligers were supplanted by much larger numbers of Dutch conscripts.[3]
From the very beginning of their presence in the East Indies, the OVWs were involved in combat operations. The Indonesian nationalists did not accept the renewed military presence of the Dutch and responded with armed actions against the Dutch enclaves. More large-scale military action by the OVWs came during Operation Product in the summer of 1947.
Over the course of 1948, the Oorlogsvrijwilligers were demobilized - except for one battalion that the Dutch army command thought it needed for Operation Kraai, which was to be completed at the end of 1948. This battalion was only able to leave service in 1949. Not all OVW staff were repatriated. Some chose to extend their employment and others emigrated to Australia or New Zealand.[3]
^"75 jaar bevrijding | Oorlogsvrijwilligers melden zich massaal in het zuiden" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
^ abc"1945-1949: van Nederlands-Indië naar Indonesië" (in Dutch). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
^ abc"Nederlandse oorlogsvrijwilligers moeten koloniaal gezag herstellen" (in Dutch). Network of War Collections. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
^"Militaire Willems-Orde: Brandsma, H." (in Dutch). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
May 08, 2024
oorlogsvrijwilligers, order, contain, violence, dutch, east, indies, after, japanese, capitulation, 1945, restore, colonial, order, netherlands, sent, battalions, ovws, english, volunteers, colony, they, were, recruited, 1944, 1945, mostly, southern, provinces. In order to contain the violence in the Dutch East Indies after the Japanese capitulation in 1945 and to restore colonial order the Netherlands sent battalions of Oorlogsvrijwilligers OVWs English War Volunteers to the colony They were recruited in 1944 and 1945 mostly in the southern provinces of the Netherlands 1 and initially intended for deployment in Europe 2 Others had signed up for the fight against Japan in the summer of 1945 OVWs on patrol wading through a river on Java March 1946 The emergency situation in the East Indies prompted the Schermerhorn Drees cabinet to send the Dutch military overseas They arrived in British Malacca in November 1945 The British authorities who temporarily exercised authority in the Dutch East Indies after the war in Asia refused to admit the Dutch troops there They feared that this would escalate the already tense political situation 2 The fact that there was little international sympathy for the Dutch efforts to restore colonial authority in Indonesia may also have been a factor It was not until late February 1946 that the Oorlogsvrijwilligers were admitted and took over the positions of the British They were stationed in enclaves around a number of large cities on Java and Sumatra 3 In total approximately 25 000 OVW personnel would go to the East Indies 2 of which 5 000 to 6 000 were assigned to the Mariniersbrigade and the rest to the Royal Army Five brigades were formed from this last group the staffs of which were composed of officers from the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army To the numbers mentioned must be added several thousand OVW personnel who served on ships of the Royal Navy and with the Netherlands Naval Aviation Service in the Dutch East Indies Later the Oorlogsvrijwilligers were supplanted by much larger numbers of Dutch conscripts 3 From the very beginning of their presence in the East Indies the OVWs were involved in combat operations The Indonesian nationalists did not accept the renewed military presence of the Dutch and responded with armed actions against the Dutch enclaves More large scale military action by the OVWs came during Operation Product in the summer of 1947 Over the course of 1948 the Oorlogsvrijwilligers were demobilized except for one battalion that the Dutch army command thought it needed for Operation Kraai which was to be completed at the end of 1948 This battalion was only able to leave service in 1949 Not all OVW staff were repatriated Some chose to extend their employment and others emigrated to Australia or New Zealand 3 Notable Oorlogsvrijwilligers editGerard Leonard Reinderhoff nl 1904 1977 military attache Herman Vos nl 1910 1965 independent politician and mayor Jan Schelvis nl 1917 1992 resistance fighter during World War II Jan Loman nl 1918 2006 visual artist Daniel de Moulin nl 1919 2002 resistance fighter during World War II surgeon and medical historian Ted Meines 1921 2016 resistance fighter during World War II and veterans rights activist Chris van Oosterzee nl 1922 1989 resistance fighter during World War II and financial manager Ben Bouman nl 1923 2015 resistance fighter during World War II and military historian Halbe Brandsma nl 1923 2000 Knight of the Military Order of William for actions in East Java on 2 May 1946 4 Gerard Hueting nl 1924 2017 resistance fighter during World War II Willem Oltmans 1925 2004 resistance fighter during World War II author and investigative journalist Carel van Lookeren Campagne nl 1925 2017 state secretary and director of Douwe Egberts and Heineken Gerardus Antonius Adrianus Adelaar nl 1925 1966 Reformed Political Party politician and mayorSee also editFriesland BattalionReferences edit 75 jaar bevrijding Oorlogsvrijwilligers melden zich massaal in het zuiden in Dutch Nederlandse Omroep Stichting Retrieved 21 May 2022 a b c 1945 1949 van Nederlands Indie naar Indonesie in Dutch Ministry of Defence Retrieved 21 May 2022 a b c Nederlandse oorlogsvrijwilligers moeten koloniaal gezag herstellen in Dutch Network of War Collections 21 September 2021 Retrieved 21 May 2022 Militaire Willems Orde Brandsma H in Dutch Ministry of Defence Retrieved 21 May 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Oorlogsvrijwilligers amp oldid 1158977354, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
