Dutch East Indies / Indonesia 1945-50 Local Units

[Odulf]

Three metal insignia of the P.A.T.

From left to right:

- Cap badge: 48 mm, Crude cast white metal with stitched-on khaki backing, diam. .

- Sleeve badge: 55 mm, Stamped copper sheet, bend, with two vertical placed loops for suspension, tinned, with dull red paint.

- Purpose undefined: 50 mm, Stamped copper alloy metal

These badges originate from the "Bersiap" period, between Oct. 1945 and early 1946. After the Japanese Army, which occupied the Dutch East indies, surrendered there was a vaccum of power, before the first Allied troops arrived from India. All Dutch Army men were either in POW Camps in Burma, Thailand or Japan, so there were no authorities with muscle to full the gap. During this period rioting Indonesian nationalists saw their chance to grasp power, flared by nationalist radio, and they started a furious riot to kill all enemies. In fact they killed many inocent Dutch women, children who were just release by the Japs from inprisonment, an their personnel (servants) who remained loyal to the Dutch. A storm of blind hated raged the Dutch Eas Indies, and many civilians, men, women and children, fled back into their prison camps under the protection of the japanese Army. The rioters also killed many Japanese soldiers, mainly for their weapons. It lasted weeks before Allied troops, mainly Indian Battalions, reached the outskirts of Indonesia to restore order, and months and much reasoning before order was restored. About 5500 people fell vicim to this riot; most murderers escaped and became celebrated heroes of the Republic.

The Chinese in the Dutch indies, have Always formed a secluded but much valued community [not unlike the Jews in Europe] with their own culture, language, morals, but also in certain cases with directions from the home land. They were also picked by the nationalists as "unwanted elements" in the new to build independent State of Indonesia.

Unfortunately i have no figures about the victims amongst the Chinese, due to this period of violance.

The Pan An Tui was a Chinese Security Corps, financed by the Chinese Community in the Dutch East Indies. Members were local Chinese volunteers (trained and armed by the Dutch Army) to protect their community against rioters. A small unit of female uniformed volunteers were active as domestic, social and medical aids.

[special thanks to Mr. A.J. van Veen!]

Edited March 9, 2014 by Odulf

[Hugh]

Thanks for this input from a much neglected area.

Hugh