Japanese military administration in Indonesia (1942-1945)

Abstract

The period of the Japanese occupation of Indonesia (1942-1945) was one of the most important periods in the modern history of Indonesia, which ended a long period of Dutch rule in Indonesia. Until 1942, Indonesia was a colony of the Netherlands and was known as the Dutch East Indies. Japan was considered Indonesia as a very important country because of its strategic and political position in Southeast Asia, in addition to the high content of the raw materials, which were necessary to sustain the Japanese power during World War II. The Japanese occupation took place to ensure their economic and political predominance and govern Indonesia in a way that ensures their interests. Japan used its military administration to spread Japanese colonial policy and grant human and property resources to the Japanese colonizer in their war against the Pacific Ocean allies. The Japanese policies were oscillating according to the need of the war. In general, the main goal of the Japanese was to make Indonesia fulfill the Japanese war demands. The Japanese military administration was more sympathetic to the necessity of liberating Indonesia and other Asian countries from Dutch Western imperialism. The Japanese have succeeded in one way or another in creating confidence in the Asian countries, especially Indonesia, and showing that Japan has the power and ability to help liberating themself from colonial domination, Therefore, the Japanese used the military administration in spreading the Japanese colonial policy and granting anything from property and human resources to the Japanese colonizer, in the face of the war against the allied countries in the Pacific Ocean. The research aims to shed light on the Japanese military administration which was formed after their occupation of Indonesia, and the impact of this on the Indonesian administration in different fields. The research subdivided into many sections. The first section includes the importance of the strategic geographical location of Indonesia. The second section discusses the foundation of Indonesia until the Japanese occupation and the race of different countries to conquer Indonesia. The third section includes the Japanese military operation that led to the occupation of Indonesia. The fourth section explains the Japanese administration in Indonesia and its effect on the Indonesian Community Politically, Economically, and Socially