This is the first work to systematically examine the British occupation of Indonesia after the Second World War. The occupation by British-Indian forces between 1945 and 1946 bridged the gap between the surrender of Japan and the resumption of Dutch rule, and this book is a reappraisal of the conduct on the ground of that British Occupation. Contrary to previous studies, this book demonstrates that occupation was neither exclusively pro-Dutch nor pro-Indonesian; nor was it the orderly affair portrayed in the official histories.

Richard McMillan draws upon a wide range of sources previously unavailable to scholars - such as recently declassified government papers and papers in private archives; he has also carried out revealing interviews with key players. Presenting a wealth of new information, this highly original - and well-written - book, will appeal to scholars of European Imperialism, the Second World War, military history and the history of South and Southeast Asia. It will also be relevant to a wide range of undergraduate courses in History.

Reviews

"Richard McMillan provides a detailed account of the occupation from the perspective of British policy-makers, thus departing from earlier scholarship which has looked at this tense period from the standpoint of the Dutch or the Indonesian nationalists...Although McMillan does not skimp on using military terminology, non-military historians would be heartened to learn that he has kindly provided useful appendices detailing the dramatis personae involved in the British occupation, the structure of army personnell, and chronological events, as well as relevant maps and plans...a British account of the occupation is a crucial addition to the historiography of post-war Indonesia."--Itinerario, 30:2 (2006)

Book Information
ISBN 9780415406093
Author Richard McMillan
Format Paperback
Page Count 248
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 430g