Australasia 1947: Indonesian War of Independence

Just days after the Japanese surrender, Indonesian nationalists proclaimed independence, beginning a war to liberate the East Indies from Dutch colonial rule. The Netherlands, only recently freed from German occupation, took over a year to send troops south in an attempt to crush the revolution.

About this map

Download map (without labels)

Main Events

21 Feb 1946–28 Apr 1951 British Commonwealth Occupation Force▲

The British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF), consisting of Australian, British, Indian and New Zealand troops, assists the United States in the occupation of Japan. The BCOF is headquartered at Kure and is responsible for supervising demilitarization and the disposal of Japan’s war industries. From 1947 on, it winds down its presence in Japan, eventually merging with the British Commonwealth Forces Korea after the Korean War breaks out.in wikipedia

21 Jul–4 Aug 1947 Operation Product▲

The Netherlands conducted Operation Product, a major military offensive against the Republic of Indonesia, after the breakdown of negotiations between the Dutch and the Indonesian nationalists. The offensive recaptured large parts of Java and Sumatra, before international pressure on the Dutch led to a ceasefire.in wikipedia

15 Aug 1947 Partition of India▲

Under the direction of Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma, the last Viceroy of the British Indian Empire, British India was partitioned into the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India. As Pakistan was designated as a Muslim homeland, the religiously mixed provinces of Punjab and Bengal were also divided between the two new states. The princely states were advised to choose between Pakistan and India, rather than retain independence.in wikipedia

25 Nov 1947 Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947▲

The Parliament of New Zealand, under Prime Minister Peter Fraser and his First Labour Government, passes the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947, making New Zealand the last dominion to adopt the Statute of Westminster 1931. The Act allows New Zealand to amend its 1852 Constitution and creates a separate New Zealand Crown.in wikipedia