7 December Division - Netherlands Indies

THE MISSION OF “7 DECEMBER DIVISION”

The First Division "7 December” was sent to the East Indies in 1946. Their mission was restored “the peace, order and security”. According Royal Dutch, they were planning to Dutch Indies along a gradual path to greater independence, but the declaration of the independent Republic of Indonesia two days after the Japanese capitulation accelerated these events.

Originally, "7 December" was named after Queen Wilhelmina's speech in London on 7th of December 1942:

"I am for, while not on the opinions of the conference that will focus on a government level, which the Netherlands, Indonesia, Suriname and Curacao will share together, while they each in themselves, their own autonomy in internal matters and drawing on its own merits, but would work with each other to stand, will represent.
It will be a difference of treatment based on race or national character is not place, but will have only the personal skills of citizens and the needs of different population groups be crucial for the policy of the Government. "

It could be the statement was influenced about the political background in that period. This was the mandate, which the conscripts of 7 December Division to the Dutch Indies were sent. They were held for the purpose, "the granting of independence to the colonies and eliminating racial discrimination so that all citizens were equal in the great Kingdom of the Netherlands. As the people of very different people would want to self and not a big communist state as Soekarno for had eyes”.


THE EMBLEM “7 DECEMBER DIVISION”

The emblem of the “7 December Division” the letters "EM" refers to “Expeditionaire Macht” (Expeditionary Force). This "EM" abbreviation became symbolic of the concept of "Elke Man, Elk Moment" (Every Man, Every Time). The “EM” was separated by the sword from the arms of Batavia (standing upright sword with laurel wreath).

During the Second World War, the emblem of the first division was designed for the future expeditionary force to the fight against Japan. However, after the capitulation of Japan in August 15, 1945 emblem was unnecessary. The emblem was re-introduced by army order in 1946 (for binding) by the future commander of the First Division, Colonel HJJW Durst Britt.





THE TROOPERS
“7 DECEMBER DIVISION”

The 7 December Division in India consisted of 18,544 persons of which 880 officers, 1,300 under-officers and 16,364 under-corporal and soldiers. The first commander of “7 December Division” was Major General H.J.J.W. Dürst Britt (1st of September 1946 – 2nd September 1949). Then, the second commander was Major General E.Engles (2nd September 1949 – 25th of April 1950).



THE MILITARY RESOURCES “7 DECEMBER DIVISION”

The military resources of “7 December Division” is following below (based on “Wij Werden Geroepen” by Alfred van Sprang and published in 1949, www.7decemberdivisie.nl):

THE COMPOSITION

Division Staff:
1 Division liaison department
1 Battalion AAT (4 comp)
1 Battalion Pioneers
1, 2 and 3 Inf. Brigade Workshop
1 Regiment Light luchtdoelart.
1 Anti-Tank Artillery Regiment
2 Field Artillery Regiment
6 Field Artillery Regiment
8 Field Artillery Regiment
1 Reconnaissance Regiment
1 machine-gun Battalion

Staff 1 Infantry Brigade Group:
3 Garde Grenadiers Regiment
3 Garde Regiment Jagers
3 Guard Regiment Prinses Irene

Staff 2 Infantry Brigade Group:
3-1 Infantry Regiment
3-9 Infantry Regiment
3-12 Infantry Regiment

Staff 3 Infantry Brigade Group
3-2 Infantry Regiment
3-14 Infantry Regiment
3 Shock Troops Regiment

1, 2 and 3 Help Link City Department
1 Field Hospital
Hygiene Group
Dental Company
Arva Division 1
1 and 2 Royal Military Police Company
Division 1 Park Equipment
1 Division of Field Post Section

Security battalions:
3-3 Infantry Regiment (distributed)
3-5 Infantry Regiment (distributed)
3-7 Infantry Regiment (distributed)
3-8 Infantry Regiment (West Java)
3-10 Infantry Regiment (West Java)
3-11 Infantry Regiment (distributed)

Other components, which long-term in West Java:
4-3 Infantry Regiment
4-8 Infantry Regiment
4-10 Infantry Regiment
5-7 Infantry Regiment
Infantry I KNIL
Infantry II KNIL
Fighting vehicles I KNIL

Under temporary command in West Java:
1-11 Infantry Regiment
1-4 Infantry Regiment
2-13 Infantry Regiment
4-11 Infantry Regiment
5-1 Infantry Regiment

Relief in the area, the F-Brigade, consisting of:
401 Infantry Battalion
412 Infantry Battalion
413 Infantry Battalion
41 Field Artillery Regiment



THE ARMAMENT

Light machine guns 1197
Heavy machine guns 36
Piat 421
Twin machine guns 1
2 "mortars 283
3 "mortars 60
4.2 "mortars 16
PAG (62)
9 field guns (72)
Cannons at 8. (24)
Cannons at 8 on motoraffuiten (24)
Cannons 2 tl. - 20 mm (42)
Cannon 4 tl. - 40 mm (54)



THE TRANSPORT

Bicycles (335)
Engines (995)
Cars (90)
Jeeps (380)
Trucks (2043)
Trailers (477)
Carriers (547)
Tractors (175)
Light reconnaissance vehicles (32)
Panzers/metal vehicles - pantservoeruigen (32)
Motoraffuiten (24)
Ambulance Vehicles (48)