Operation Kraai
Part of the Indonesian National Revolution

Clockwise from top left:
  • Dutch troops enter Djokjakarta. On the left a burning car.
  • Dutch troops on the advance of East Java
  • Station of Ngebroek. A bivouac is set up.
  • Advance in Tapanoeli (Sumatra). Patrol of Dutch soldiers passes some typical Batak houses
  • Advancement in Padang, Sumatra by Dutch troops.
  • Dutch soldiers in the main street of Rantau Prapat
Date19 December 1948 – 5 January 1949 (1948-12-19 – 1949-01-05)
Location
Result

Dutch victory

Belligerents
 Indonesia  Netherlands
Commanders and leaders
  • Sudirman
  • Djatikoesoemo
  • Abdul Haris Nasution
  • Simon Hendrik Spoor
  • Dirk van Langen
Units involved

Indonesian Army

  • Kodam I/Bukit Barisan
  • Kodam III/Siliwangi
  • Kodam IV/Diponegoro
  • Kodam V/Brawijaya
Indonesian Air Force

Royal Netherlands East Indies Army

  • Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force
  • Korps Speciale Troepen

Government Navy

Royal Netherlands Army

  • Grenadiers' and Rifles Guard Regiment
  • Garderegiment Fuseliers Prinses Irene
  • 1st Regiment Infantry (1 RI)
  • 9th Regiment Infantry (9 RI)
  • Regiment Infanterie Oranje Gelderland
  • Regiment Limburgse Jagers
  • Regiment Stoottroepen Prins Bernhard

Royal Netherlands Air Force

Royal Netherlands Navy

Mariniersbrigade
Strength
Casualties and losses
unknown unknown

Operation Kraai was a fight between the Dutch Republic and Indonesia, in December of 1948. Talking had failed to stop the fight.

The Dutch were able to take over Indonesia's capital Yogyakarta, and arrested Indonesians such as President Sukarno.

The success was followed with small groups fighting the Dutch. It led to the Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference and recognition of Indonesia as a country by the Dutch.[4]

The Dutch call it the second politionele actie, and the Indonesians call it the Agresi Militer Belanda II.[5]

References

[change | change source]
  1. 1.0 1.1 Kahin (2003), p. 89
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kahin (2003), p. 90
  3. Nasution, Abdul H. (1965). Fundamentals of Guerilla Warfare. New York: Praeger. pp. 179–180.
  4. Ricklefs (1993), p.230 "... both a military and a political catastrophe for [the Dutch]".
  5. Zweers (1995)