Talk:East Indies Crisis
Withdrawal of Dutch forces (1975-1976)
Operation Vertrek
Despite General van Langen's concerns, Haverman remained determined to withdraw Dutch forces from the war. As a result, Van Langen and his team began formulating an exit strategy. In December 1974, Van Langen presented his plan, known as Operation Vertrek. The operation was expected to unfold over approximately a year and a half, with an emphasis on neutralizing existing infrastructure that could potentially be utilized by the SLA. It would be executed in distinct phases, requiring sustained high-intensity combat to secure strategic positions and prevent the loss of ground. The strategy was officially approved on the same day that Djambi suffered widespread devastation due to a Soendanese incursion against Dutch forces.
In the early stages of Operation Vertrek, the plan was intricate. Although it was never explicitly stated, there was a tacit understanding that the puppet regime in Batavia would not endure. This particular aspect of the plan had minimal impact on military operations, as many individuals within the government were effectively under Dutch influence. However, the decision did have repercussions on social services provided by the puppet regime and the taxation system. Native bureaucrats within the KNIL grew increasingly disheartened, contributing to a budding atmosphere of dissent.
The decision to withdraw also impacted the morale of the non-commissioned officer (NCO) corps. These career soldiers, who had experienced significant losses among their comrades, began to question the reasons behind their ongoing service. Although combat operations maintained an appearance of effectiveness, signs of discontent emerged within the barracks. This sentiment also extended to the general infantry, who, despite the Netherlands' decision to withdraw, still faced conscription, rotations, and demanding combat conditions.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Soenda Liberation Army (SLA) celebrated the Dutch decision to withdraw, heralding it as a morale victory. This boost in morale further invigorated the SLA, adding to their determination to continue fighting.
Loss of Eastern Java (July 1976)
In March 1976, the eastern urban areas of Java were on the brink of an impending attack by the SLA, prompting meticulous preparations by the Dutch for their evacuation from the region. As they left, they also undertook the destruction of key military installations along their path. This departure created a significant power vacuum in Eastern Java, one that the SLA quickly exploited.
By July 1976, the SLA launched coordinated offensives in the strategic cities of Soerabaja (Surabaya), Djember (Jember), and Malang, successfully capturing these vital urban centers. In anticipation of the SLA's arrival, the local population was swift to eradicate any remnants of Dutch influence, which included the removal of Dutch flags, the abandonment of Dutch clothing, and the elimination of other symbols associated with Dutch colonialism.
Fall of Batavia
Siege of Batavia (October 1976)
By October, the rebellion had gradually advanced towards western Java. Soendanese forces, comprising both regular and guerrilla units, took advantage of the Dutch withdrawal and the presence of rogue KNIL units. Their progress led them to Batavia, initiating a massive siege and intense urban warfare that inflicted substantial damage on the city. Chemical weapons were used to deter the advancing rebels. In the midst of this chaotic final phase, the main objective was the evacuation of the remaining civilian population.
Final Evacuations of Batavia (November 1976)
By November, a meticulous and orderly process unfolded as Dutch forces prepared for an imminent evacuation. During this phase, the Dutch still had firm control over both air and naval resources in western Java, enabling them to execute raids with remarkable efficiency. The bustling port of Batavia played a central role in these critical preparations. Government officials, accompanied by staunch Dutch loyalists, swiftly embarked on ships. At 23:00, November 11 1976, Dutch radio stations, broadcasting for the last time, officially ended their transmissions. Colonial institutions, which had long symbolized Dutch influence, followed suit with ceremonies that closed the era of Dutch colonialism. Finally, at precisely 23:48 on November 11, 1976, the last Dutch vessel weighed anchor and departed from the port of Batavia and to the nearby colony of New Batavia.
Final Military Operations
Air Offensives in Celebes and Borneo
Throughout the final years of the war, the Celebes and Bornean theatre of the conflict had been marked by continuous counter-insurgency and conventional warfare. Notably, it was during this time that Soendanese pilots gained valuable experience by engaging in a guerilla air campaign against the Dutch air forces, utilizing state-of-the-art Russian-supplied aircraft.
When the order for withdrawal finally arrived from higher authorities, the Captain-General Ronald Weerman, the commander of all Dutch forces on the island, set to work on a plan to gain air superiority in Celebes and Borneo, allowing for the safe evacuation of inexperienced recruits. All these preparations culminated in Operation Levensweg, launched on October 1, 1976. This operation marked the largest air offensive of the entire conflict. Operation Levensweg involved a total of 971 combat sorties, which led to the partial destruction of the SLA's air force.
Operation Retributie
Operatie Retributie, also known as "De laaste lag" in the Netherlands, commenced on November 11, 1976, and officially concluded on December 31, 1976. The operation involved a series of large-scale evacuation efforts, commando raids, air strikes, and maritime raids conducted by the Netherlands against the Soendanese forces. Its primary objectives were to safeguard New Batavia, prevent potential reprisals against Dutch interests, and secure Dutch shipping routes in the Malacca Strait and Kra Canal in Thaitania.
Post-War Situation (1977)
Formation of KNIL Rogue States
After the gradual de-escalation of the conflict between the Netherlands and Soendanese forces, several rogue states emerged in the areas of Soenda not under Soendanese control by early 1977. One of these entities was the Borneo Republic, founded by a rogue KNIL unit, which declared its sovereignty in Koetsjing, Eastern Borneo. However, the republic's lack of coordination and absence of connections with the local population quickly led to its disintegration within a few months. Similar rogue states emerged in early 1977, including the Free State of Brunei, and Bali (established by the self-proclaimed Balinese Liberation Army). These entities also proved short-lived and eventually capitulated to the Soendanese Liberation Front.
Free State of Pinang
The only rogue state to survive was Pinang, established by a rogue KNIL unit in July 1977, under the leadership of General Martin de Vries. What set Pinang apart was its predominantly Chinese population and a significant contingent of Dutch loyalists. General de Vries successfully collaborated with these factions to fend off Soendanese incursions into the region. The Chinese community in Pinang leveraged its connections with China, seeking assistance and recognition, which prompted China to engage in negotiations with Soenda to deter any invasion of Pinang. Although Soenda initially hesitated, external factors such as an impending conflict with the Philippines diverted their attention away from Pinang. In 1979, the Amoy Agreement, facilitated by China, was ratified by Pinang and Soenda, officially establishing the Free State of Pinang.
