Mariniersbrigade

In 1943, a so-called 'core cadre group' was formed, which consisted of 175 members of the Netherlands Marine Corps mainly from Curaçao, and other career soldiers who had remained out of enemy hands.

More than a hundred members of the core cadre group gained combat experience during deployment with the Princess Irene Brigade, which had been sent to mainland Europe, including the southern Netherlands, after the invasion of Normandy.

Commandant of the USMC general Thomas Holcomb was enthusiastic about the Dutch plan to establish a marine unit and successfully lobbied other US military brass to this end.

Apparently, an important motive of his was an experience he had while serving as a young officer with the American guard of the Beijing Legation Quarter.

When Japan was defeated in August 1945 and Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta proclaimed Indonesian independence, a new situation arose.

A VDMB detachment usually consisted of three or four marines, both volunteers and conscripts, led by a corporal, who was temporarily promoted to sergeant.

Opponents of the VDMB in the field were regulars of the Indonesian military (TNI), pro-Republican militias, Darul Islam (Indonesia) insurgent (which seceded from central Republican government after Renville Agreement, and even common criminals.

The troops in Surabaya were ordered to expel the nationalists (TNI and related forces) from most of East Java and occupy the area.

The marines made an amphibious landing at two places on the Javanese east coast, at Pasir Putih and at Meneng Bay.

After the military operation, an agreement was brokered between the warring parties and the Indonesian forces withdrew from the occupied territory.

At the end of 1948, the deteriorating military situation prompted the Dutch authorities to launch a second police action, Operation Kraai, the aim of which was to wipe out the Indonesian Republic once and for all by attacking Central Java – the stronghold of the nationalists – and other Republican areas.

The Marines contributed to the capture of Central Java in an action that was again initiated by an amphibious landing in Republican territory.

All of Java was occupied and territorial gains were made on Sumatra, but the Dutch troops failed to inflict a decisive defeat on the forces of the Republic.