Royal Netherlands East Indies Army 1936–42
Product details
- ISBN 9781472833754
- Weight: 178g
- Dimensions: 184 x 246mm
- Publication Date: 23 Aug 2018
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Paperback
- Language: English
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Indonesia was a Dutch colony known as the Netherlands East Indies until 1945, and a major oil exporter to Japan. Following Germany's occupation of the Netherlands in May 1940, Japan decided to expand its influence in the Netherlands East Indies.
Defending the colony was the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL). This force, designed primarily for colonial policing, underwent a series of cutbacks in the interwar years before adopting a modernisation programme in 1936, which focused on building up a strike air force, introducing tanks and increasing the firepower of the infantry and artillery.
Fully illustrated with period photographs and full-colour artwork, this book examines the dress, insignia, equipment, organization and combat performance of the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army as it faced the all-conquering Japanese forces in World War II.
Marc Lohnstein holds an MA in history; his main focus is the former Dutch colonies in Indonesia and Surinam. He specializes in colonial army and police organization, equipment, uniforms and tactics, and has published several studies on these subjects. He is currently assistant curator at the Royal Home for Retired Military Personnel & Museum Bronbeek, at Arnhem in The Netherlands.
Adam Hook studied graphic design, and began his work as an illustrator in 1983. He specializes in detailed historical reconstructions, and has illustrated Osprey titles on subjects as diverse as the Aztecs, the Ancient Greeks, Roman battle tactics, several 19th-century American subjects, the modern Chinese Army, and a number of books in the Fortress series. His work features in exhibitions and publications throughout the world.
