KNIL facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger
Royal Netherlands East Indies Army coat of arms
Established	14 September 1814
Disbanded	26 July 1950 (1951 Colonial Reserve disbanded)
Headquarters	Bandung, Dutch East Indies

KNIL is the abbreviation for a Dutch army. This army was in what is now called Indonesia. The official name is Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger (Royal Dutch-East Indies Army)

The KNIL was formed by royal decree on 14 september 1814. It was not part of the Royal Netherlands Army, but a separate military arm specifically formed for service in the Netherlands East Indies. Its establishment coincided with the Dutch drive to expand colonial rule from the 17th century area of control to the far larger territories.

Indonesia was a Dutch colony from 1800 to 1949. It was then called Nederlandsch Indië (Dutch East Indies). The KNIL taskforce was sent there to maintain order. The KNIL was involved in many campaigns against indigenous groups in the area including the Padri War (1821–1845), the Java War (1825–1830), crushing the final resistance of Bali inhabitants to colonial rule in 1849, and the prolonged Aceh War (1873–1904).

When Indonesia declared itself independent in 1945 the Dutch fought a war to keep the colony. This war was won by the Indonesians. The Dutch government accepted Indonesia's independence in 1949, and the KNIL ceased to exist. At the time of disbandment the KNIL numbered 65,000, of whom 26,000 were incorporated into the new Indonesian Army. The remainder were either demobilised or transferred to the Netherlands Army.

Images for kids

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  Poster for recruitment for the KNIL. 1938

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  Home Guard poster (1941)

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  Recruitement poster - Versterkt onze gelederen! (1944)

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  Isaac Israëls, Het transport der kolonialen (Transport of the Colonial Soldiers), showing recruits for the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army marching through Rotterdam to their transport to the Dutch East Indies

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  Cavalry of the Royal Dutch East Indies Army in 1906 during the Dutch intervention in Bali (1906)

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  Paratroopers are being prepared for an action (1948)

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  Decorated indigenous KNIL soldiers, 1927

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  Indigenous KNIL troops, 1938

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  The Vickers light amphibious tank was used by Dutch forces in the East Indies.

See also

In Spanish: Real Ejército de las Indias Orientales Neerlandesas para niños