Book

Between 1945 and 1949, Indonesia defended its recently declared independence, and the Netherlands waged its last major colonial war. Much is now
known about this war, but a great deal has also remained unclear or contested. At the end of 2016, the second Rutte cabinet decided to finance a broad-based study on the Dutch military conduct during this conflict. This book presents the conclusions of that study.

Through the eyes of young Major Jacobs, a full view emerges of the "boiling cauldron" that was Sumatra in 1945. In spite of the official Allied victory, Jacobs had to attempt to rule Sumatra using the existing Japanese military structure until British relief arrived.

Raymond Westerling’s Challenge to Terror is his account of his military career in the Netherlands East Indies during the Indonesian struggle for independence. It describes his counter-insurgency operations in South Sulawesi and Sumatra, including the controversial methods used by forces under his command against suspected Republican guerrillas. Written from Westerling’s own perspective, the book presents his justification for these methods and his interpretation of the violence and political upheaval surrounding the Indonesian Revolution.