The civil-military role of the KNIL during the Japanese Occupation and Independence War in the Dutch East Indies from 1942 till 1949

This thesis examines the transformation of the civil-military role of the Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger (KNIL) in the Dutch East Indies between 1942 and 1949, during the Japanese Occupation and the Indonesian Independence War. This question was raised due to the changing view on the reputation of the KNIL because of new information that comes to light on the KNIL's role and operations during the Japanese Occupation and the Independence War. It explores how the KNIL, initially tasked with maintaining colonial order, was affected by the Japanese invasion, forced to capitulate, and later reestablished itself in cooperation with the Koninklijke Landmacht (KL) amid a growing Indonesian independence movement. By answering three sub-questions-how the KNIL was affected by the Japanese Occupation, how it reestablished itself afterwards, and what effect the Independence War had on its role-this study highlights the transformation of the KNIL's civil-military function. Drawing on primary sources such as official reports, diaries, and portraits, the thesis applies a content analysis methodology to better understand morale, restructuring efforts, and military strategy. The thesis argues that the KNIL's role changed significantly across both periods: from a colonial army with a focus on internal policing to a force cooperating directly with the Dutch, using extreme violence on the population during the Independence War. These transformations had long-term effects on civil-military relations in Indonesia, especially as former KNIL and PETA soldiers were integrated into the Indonesian National Army (TNI). The findings contribute to ongoing discussions about colonial violence, shifting military identities, and the legacy of the KNIL in Dutch and Indonesian memory.