1st Edition
The British Occupation of Indonesia: 1945-1946 Britain, The Netherlands and the Indonesian Revolution
This is the first work to systematically examine the British occupation of Indonesia after the Second World War. The occupation by British-Indian forces between 1945 and 1946 bridged the gap between the surrender of Japan and the resumption of Dutch rule, and this book is a reappraisal of the conduct on the ground of that British Occupation. Contrary to previous studies, this book demonstrates that occupation was neither exclusively pro-Dutch nor pro-Indonesian; nor was it the orderly affair portrayed in the official histories.
Richard McMillan draws upon a wide range of sources previously unavailable to scholars - such as recently declassified government papers and papers in private archives; he has also carried out revealing interviews with key players. Presenting a wealth of new information, this highly original – and well-written - book, will appeal to scholars of European Imperialism, the Second World War, military history and the history of South and Southeast Asia. It will also be relevant to a wide range of undergraduate courses in History.
Introduction 1. The Arrival of British Forces in Indonesia 2. The Battle of Surabaya 3. Anglo-Indonesian relations in the aftermath of Surabaya 4. Anglo-Dutch relations and the British withdrawal from Java 5. The British Occupation of Sumatra 6. Morale Conclusion
Biography
McMillan, Richard