The rise of Indonesian nationalism and the Japanese threat was for many ultranationalist Indos reason to join.

Another reason was the feeling among Indos that as party members they were equal to Totoks ('pure blooded' Dutch).

The government banned membership of the party for civil servants on 9 May 1940, immediately after its European counterpart entered into collaboration with Nazi Germany.

Around 500 members of the party were arrested on the orders of governor-general Alidius Tjarda van Starkenborgh.

Most members of the party left for the Netherlands following the Japanese surrender and Indonesian independence war.