*Note: the pre-ww2 KNIL soldiers who survived the Japanese invasion and were imprisoned in the Birma-Siam railway POW camps consisted of European (Dutch) KNIL soldiers but mostly out of Euro-Indonesian (‘Indische’ – offspring of Dutch and Indonesian parents) and Indonesian KNIL soldiers (like ‘Molukkers’, ‘Ambonezen’, ‘Menadonezen’ or ‘Javanen’/ ‘Soendanezen’ – all pro-Dutch native Indonesians).

*Note: other elite units after the Japanese capitulation of 1945 which were formed into KNIL battalions consisting of the same mostly native ex-POW’s were VI KNIL Battalion “Gagak Itam” (Black Crows) and V KNIL Battalion “Anjing Nica” (Nica Dogs).

The name “Gadja Merah” was selected by its troops: it meant ‘Red Elephant’ (Rode Olifant). This referred to the sturdy Indian elephants which carried the same burden during the soldiers POW camp period. Some of these elephants were also mistreated by the Japanese while carrying heavy materials. The name “Gadja Merah” honors these strong friends which never gave up. The elephants had saved many soldier lives since they took much hard labor for their part. Knowing this, “Gadja Merah” is a very powerful name: it in turn refers to the post-war X KNIL Battalion soldier, who bled at the Birma railway POW camps but still remains strong and steadfast as these elephants.

Embarking upon British ships which set course to the Dutch East-Indies the soldiers of Gadja Merah would start their journey in search of their loved ones. They were all traumatized by the Japanese POW camps and full of hatred of the Japanese people. During the post ww2 years no soldiers anywhere on the world had received treatments for trauma’s – those did not yet exist, and there was simply no time for it. A job had to be done: getting the Dutch East-Indies save again.

Very nice drawing of Bali from the book 'Gadja Merah op Bali en Lombok' (See below)

15 august 1945 the Japanese Empire surrendered. This day all POW’s were set free. In reality they had no other option but to stay in their camps and surrounding villages – the allied powers simply did not have enough manpower to manage the numerous camps all together. This would take quite a while but eventually all POW’s were fed, registered and received medical attention. POW’s were sorted by nationality and directed to their countries or allied command.

On the 19^th of November 1945 in Siam (Thailand) the Bali/Lombok Brigade (B/L-Brigade) was created. The name Bali/Lombok refered to the Dutch East-Indies isles this unit was destined for. The B/L Brigade adopted the name “Gadja Merah” and consisted of KNIL soldiers who survived the POW camps and fought the Japanese before they were imprissoned. The B/L Brigade consisted of 3 Battalions (I, II and III), but a shortage of manpower made these under their requested strength.

Eventually the Brigade would disembark on Bali the 2^nd of March 1946 and on Lombok the 27^th of March 1946. Most forces would be concentrated on Bali. Since the 3 battalions of the B/L Brigade were low on strength all was redirected to the I and II Battalions.

After successfully occupying Bali the III Battalion was resurrected on the 26^th of May 1946. To supplement the shortage pro-Dutch native soldiers were enlisted, some former (POW) KNIL. Many Soembawa and Ambon men were added to the Gadja Merah ranks. Even a 6^th company was created and consisted merely of so called Prajoda’s: native pro-Dutch Balinese of an ancient warrior caste. The Prajoda’s officially were distributed from their own unit: the Korps Prajoda (K.P.). The B/L-Brigade was renamed Bali Lombok Garrison Battalion, and one month later the three subordinate I, II and II Battalions received their final designation: X, XI and XII Battalions “Gadja Merah”.

*Since my grandfather served with the XII Infantry Battalion “Gadja Merah” I will concentrate the information about this lesser known unit. History about the X and XI Battalions are more well known – X and XI would eventually relocate to Sumatra while the XII would stay on Bali until the end of the KNIL.

*To understand abbreviations and unit strength order (1945-1950):

Brig. = Brigade (3 battalions)

Bat. = Battalion (6 companies)

Cie = Company (2 – 5 platoons)

Pel = Platoon (peleton) (2 – 4 sections)

Sie = Section (sectie) (10-20 men)

1945 - 1946

May 1946 Order of Battle

From origin Bali Lombok Brigade, III Battalion; into Bali Lombok Garrison Battalion, III Battalion; into XII Infantry Battalion.

                               Staf        Den Pasar (Bali)                Bat.commander Majoor van Nues

                               1^e cie      Kediri (Bali)                        Soembawa (native Indonesian)

                               2^e cie     Mataram (Lombok)           Soembawa (native Indonesian)

                               3^e cie      Den Pasar (Bali)                Ambonees (native Indonesian)

                               4^e cie      Den Pasar (Bali)                Ambonees (native Indonesian)

                                5^e cie      Singaradja (Bali)               Ambonees (native Indonesian)

                               6^e cie      Karangasem (Bali)            Prajoda (native Indonesian)

*Note: Officers were of European (Dutch) nationality. NCO's of native sections were mostly Indo-European (Indisch).

In 1945, 2 days after the Japanese surrender, the Indonesian leaders Soekarno and Hatta proclaimed the independent Indonesian Republic. Without any governing authorities the Dutch East-Indies tumbled into disorder and chaos. Many young, mostly pro-Japanese, Indonesians turned their rage towards Chinese, European and Indo-European people – who had already suffered under the Japanese occupation. Many lived in poverty and most were interned into (civilian) camps. Soekarno and Hatta had no possibilities to control the Indonesian crowds. The Indonesian people were not used to be ungoverned, most were mistreated, lived in poverty and were angry. This resulted in the Bersiap. Many European/ Indo-European, mostly women and children, were savagely murdered. The British forces which were still present tried to combat the Indonesian people. To no avail. A group of Ghurka’s in Soerabaya tried to protect a large column of Dutch women and children who tried to escape. They did not succeed and all Ghurka’s, well known for their fighting spirit, were killed in combat – the column of women and children were burned alive. Many gruesome stories like this one exist.

The violence continued into 1946, mostly on Java. Gadja Merah arrived in March 1946 on Bali and Lombok. After shaping the final battalion structures it was already realized reinforcements were needed in other area’s. For this reason the X and XI Battalions were shipped to Sumatra, Palembang area. The situation on Bali was fairly peaceful, and it was estimated one battalion would be enough for peacekeeping. The XII battalion, with many of its soldiers native Indonesians, was given this task.

The XII would be on its own from November 1946 onward. Its tasks were counter-guerilla, active patrols and destroy the last resistance groups by small assaults. Besides this it preventing infiltrations by sea from Java was also priority. The 6 companies were given new area’s of operations and a plan was made to strengthen all units. This plan would succeed; eventually around 1.020 infantry soldiers would occupy the XII ranks, supplemented by staff and a large number of support units. *1

One month after the X and XI Battalions left Bali the British forces left the Dutch East-Indies. The Dutch government signed the Treaty of Linggadjati with the Indonesian Republic leaders. The Dutch East-Indies would be self-governed by the Republic – but this Indonesian government would still officially be set under the Dutch crown. This treaty was in the best interest of the Netherlands, although the Indonesians were able to control their own land and society. A plan destined to fail.

A noteworthy event in the history of Bali is the 20^th of November 1946: the battle for Marga. During this battle a high ranking and important Indonesian Republic officer was killed and the backbone of the resistance of Bali was destroyed. *1

1947

XII Battalion forces in 1947 were still very strong and distributed among several detachments. Relocations often happened to shift forces for operations and between active and inactive area’s. The resistance still existed, although to a lesser extent.

Between the 21^st of July and 5^th of August 1947 the first police action “Kraai” was executed all over the Dutch East-Indies. The Dutch government needed important resources like oil, rubber and raw materials to fund its own economy in Europe as well as in the Dutch East-Indies. The KNIL and KL forces were until this moment most of the time surrounded in their enclaves and used by organized Indonesian Republican forces – the TNI – for target practice. Also the Linggadjati Treaty lead to no results. The first police actions should break the TNI’s strength and occupy the economical important area’s.

The police actions had no influence on the Bali districts. There were no police actions planned for XII Battalion on Bali – instead the battalion carried on in their normal patrols and counter guerrilla activities. This said, these ‘normal’ activities were still very active. Many ambushes and small battles were fought between the battalion and guerilla’s. During the police actions it also happened that a group of Indonesians captured groups of Dutch families. Some were brutally murdered. The battalion managed to rescue surviving, some badly wounded, children. Their parents and other civilian corpses were retrieved. *1 This explains why there was so much hate between the KNIL soldiers and guerilla’s.

For the second halve of 1947 hostilities on Bali expanded. Confrontations between the KNIL and guerilla forces were more frequent – and it was plain to see that the guerilla forces got more effective by influence of the TNI army structure. Still many guerilla leaders and equipment were captured by the XII battalion.

1948

1948 started with the USA and UN forcing the Dutch government and TNI to sign an agreement aboard the USS Renneville to end hostilities. The area’s occupied by the Dutch would remain under their control. Other areas were under Republican control. The forces on the borders between these areas had to stop hostilities. Areas within the Dutch East-Indies were given the opportunity to choose side. Needless to say this agreement was impossible. The Dutch and Republic forces mistrusted each other – Dutch forces did not end hostilities and TNI forces kept operating within Dutch borders. Too many Indonesian parties were uncontrollable by the Indonesian Republican leadership. 

The ineffectiveness of the Renneville agreement was also visible on Bali. Hostilities did not cease; these would remain the same. Many ambushes, murdering of civilians by Indonesian gangs (mostly not Republic/ TNI), KNIL assaults and killing and capturing of TNI leaders still were very frequent. 1*

At the end of 1948 this resulted in a second police action: “Kraai” (Crow). The Dutch government did not see any positive outcome of the situation and made a last (desperate) attempt to control the conflict. This time by trying to eliminate the Republic Indonesian leadership which settled in Yogyakarta. Other TNI forces were also targeted. Operation “Kraai” started the 19^th of December 1948 and ended the 5^th of January 1949 – the Dutch forces managed to capture both Soekarno and Hatta and occupied Yogyakarta. The United Nations council and the USA were furious; they immediately declared emergency resolution 63: the Dutch had to cease all hostilities. If the Dutch government did not comply (economic) sanctions would be applied. The USA threatened to cancel the Marhsall-agreement – they had an interest in the Republic of Indonesia since they had proven to oppose any communist elements within the Dutch East-Indies. Besides this it was not favorable for the USA if the Dutch were able to control a large, economically very important, area as the Dutch East-Indies – even though they were allies.

1949

After much opposition and political pressure the Dutch government eventually had to concede. The 5^th of May it was decided to cease all hostilities. The Dutch forces had to retreat to their encampments and prepare for recuperation back to Holland. The Republic leadership was released and after negotiations it was decided that New-Guinea would still be under Dutch government – all other Dutch East-Indies territories were transferred to the Republic of Indonesia government.

Betrayal and Exodus

By this decision the Dutch government sealed the fates for ten thousands, maybe hundred thousands, of its people. A very great number of European, Indo-European and many native Indonesian races (Ambonese, Moluks, Soenda, Menadonese, Sumbawa, etc. etc.) were actually betrayed. The country, their home, was surrendered to their enemy even though their own forces were strong enough to keep these occupied.

All these soldiers, their entire families and other pro-Dutch people were given the ‘choice’ to either enlist in the Republican army (soldiers) and stay in Indonesia, not to enlist in the Republican army and stay in Indonesia or leave their country and travel to Holland.

Needless to say, judging the past 4 years of brutal guerrilla warfare and atrocities committed by both sides, all these soldiers, families and people feared for their lives and their loved ones when staying in Indonesia. Therefor they only had one choice: leave by ship to Holland. And to make the situation even worse: by July 1950 all forces, families and pro-Dutch people had to exit Indonesia.

This ‘one option choice’ made many people sad, desperate and angry. Many families, soldiers and entire races saw no way out. As no surprise several revolts broke out. On the 27^th of December 1949 the Dutch government officially transferred all territories to the Republic of Indonesia. Captain Westerling organized a coup on the 23th of January 1950 – which failed, although several KNIL and paratroops, many from the native Molukken, succeeded in their coup goals. In April captain Aziz together with a band of former KNIL soldiers revolted in Makassar (Timur) but eventually got overwhelmed by TNI forces. On the 25^th of April the RMS declared independence for the Molukken territories – which eventually were occupied by Republic Indonesian forces. Until this very day many people, among them the Molukken communities, are still oppressed by Indonesian forces.

In 1950 around 300.000 Indonesian, Euro-Indonesians as well as returning Dutch people migrated  to Holland. 12.500 Molukkers were also transferred to Holland were they were dismissed from military duty and told they would return to the Molukken after the ‘situation was solved’. The situation never got solved and today they are still waiting.

In 2024 it is calculated around 800.000 people, including later generations, are of Indo-European descendance. Although by estimations including all generations this could be up to 1.5 million. The history of the Dutch East-Indies is irrevocably linked to our nation and Dutch people.