The Dutch East Indies were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. The Japanese quickly defeated the weakened Dutch colonial forces, amidst the turmoil of war in Europe, and imposed a harsh regime that exploited the region’s resources and forced labor.
They interned European and Dutch nationals in concentration camps and prisoner-of-war camps, totaling 90,000 civilians and 40,000 military personnel. The Japanese occupation inflicted widespread suffering and hardship, with an estimated four million people succumbing to famine, disease, and military conflicts.
by The Indo Project Between 1942 and 1945, more than 130 Japanese ships carried Allied prisoners of war (POW) and Asian forced laborers (romusha) across Southeast Asia, packed into overcrowded holds without food, water, or air. Survivors gave them a name that stuck: hell ships. Several of these voyages ended in death tolls higher than…
By Edward E. E. Frietman This is the first installment in a three-part series (see part 2 and part 3) featuring Indo luminary Edward E. E. Frietman, who is a respected figure in the Indo community, known in both the Netherlands and the United States for his accomplishments in academia, science, and public service. He has previously…
The following was received from Ms. Jan Thompson, President of the American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor Memorial Society and was addressed to the Congressional Veterans’ Affairs Committees. The contents apply not only to American POW’s but also to those Indos, Dutch and others in the former Dutch East Indies who were POW’s of the…
By Jan Krancher, California, USA Overview of the Japanese Imprisonment Experience The Japanese High Command on Java attempted to coerce the Indo-European members of the former Royal Netherlands-Indies Army, Navy and Air Force to enlist in the Japanese army. A goodly number of Indos who refused were summarily executed and many ended up in camps. …
by Petrus Titus Reawaruw, member of The Surabaya Information Community and of the Indo Club Surabaya Surabaya – The end of the war in the South Pacific Region has a deep meaning for people all around the world. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombarded by atomic bombs on August 6 and August 9, 1945, bringing an…
Symbolizing a Momentum of Peace for the Whole World Surabaya, Indonesia – 4 May is the day when De Indo Club of Soerabaya formally commemorates the death of family members, friends, civilians, and all those who served in the military during WWII. During that time, the Dutch and Allied Forces bravely sacrificed their lives in…
On August 15, 2026, communities across the Netherlands gathered once again to mark the anniversary of Japan’s surrender and the end of the war in the Dutch East Indies. The Indo Project was honored to represent Indos around the world at ceremonies in Amsterdam and The Hague — including a private ceremony inside the Dutch…
By The Indo Project Every year on August 15, we commemorate the official end of World War II for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. What Do We Commemorate on August 15? On this day in 1945, the capitulation of Japan finally brought an end to the brutal occupation of the Dutch East Indies. For decades…