Japan's Conquest of the Dutch East Indies, 1941-1942 (ALL PARTS)

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In 1941, following Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, their powerful naval forces swiftly advanced towards the Dutch East Indies. Japan aimed to secure crucial oil reserves and assert dominance in the Pacific, seeing the region as vital for sustaining their wartime efforts and expanding their influence amidst the ongoing global conflict…

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41 thoughts on “Japan's Conquest of the Dutch East Indies, 1941-1942 (ALL PARTS)”

  1. The Japanese takeover of the Dutch East Indies was swift and decisive, they were even able to score some self inflicted losses. Lessons were learned though, and this bloody winning streak would soon be jolted to a halt.

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  5. The great success of Japan in WWII was putting an end to European colonialism.

    Once broken, the American World Empire encouraged the formation of many "independent" countries that were wholly unable to defend themselves in any meaningful way. Thus they were dominated by the American World Empire, while being as "independent" as they were capable of being, which often wasn't much.

    China is the first significant competition to the American World Empire, but like Japan has alienated most of the countries in the area, causing them to continue to support the American World Empire.

    But what will happen when the American World Empire pulls out and leaves these powerless "independent" nations to deal with China on their own?

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  9. I love the history of the War in the Pacific until January 1943. After that, we know now that it was just a matter
    of time before the Allies won. So with hindsight, it's like watching a sports game where you know the outcome.
    Not really AS interesting.

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  11. My Grandfather was a B-24 waist gunner in the 5th USAAF 380th BG 531st bomb 💣 squadron. They were the first to strike Bailikpan after the Japs occupied it. Could you please do a video on their raid?
    No one has done one yet. It was one of the longest bombing strikes up to that point in the Pacific. My grandfather was a crewmember on the SadSack. They flew outta Fenton Australia (Long field). The ships in the harbor still had their lights on, my grandpa told me. Total surprise achieved!

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  18. I'm Indonesian and I really appreciate and thank you for covering a history about our country.

    Fun fact:
    one of the most important key for japanese that makes their conquest so fast and easier than their anticipate was because the rise of Indonesia nasionalism in indonesian archipelago. In that time, almost in all teritory, rise the "JONG" (Indonesian Radical party that want to revolt against DEI and promote liberte, egalite, fraternite). They claim that all area that under the colony of DEI was Indonesian (no matter in which island they are), and they all brother.

    Japan knew this and they sent a lot of spies to spread rumor that japan was Asia long lost big brother (including Indonesia), and Japan goal was to liberate all Asian country from europe yoke and lead them under one Asian Empire (with japan as their leader).

    The rumor was effective and before the japanese landing, in fact, all indonesian area already rise a rebellion and help japanese from inside (stealing weapon, sabotage military base and vehicle, etc).

    DEI can't even amount a proper defensive strategy due to the fact that they don't have enough amount of resource for it. Japan capitalise it by launch a bliztkrieg to show to all indonesian that they are really want to help.

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  22. Thank you for this nice video. My late grandfather served in the KNIL (Royal Dutch Indies Army, aka Colonial Army). He fought against the Japanese on the Island of Java. After the Dutch surrender he was a POW and was transported by a "Hell-ship" to Birma to work on the Birma-Siam Railway. Very bitter was the fact that after Japan surrended he again faced a 4 year war but then in the Indonesian war of independence. Again serving as a KNIL sergeant. He never spoke about it unfortuanatly. RIP grandfather, I love you!

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  29. Propaganda, but NOT History, has led us to believe that the Empire of Japan began its territorial expansion in the 1930’s, invading China, creating the puppet State of Manchukuo and “Provoking” the war with the Western Powers. But, Was this really, how events happened? Did Japan invade China and South East Asia? It seems so. However, the Propaganda does NOT say that for centuries, all Asia was invaded by Western Powers. England occupied India, Burma (Myanmar); Borneo, Sumatra, Singapore, Malaysia and China (Hong Kong, Nanking, Shanghai, etc). France dominated all Indochina. The Netherlands intervened by the Force of its Arms, to all of Indonesia. And Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Spain, and of course, also the United States were in South East Asia cuz, for example this country, the US, occupied the Philippines since 1898. (Spanish-American War). Thus the panorama in the 30's, the Empire of Japan, when defeating to the Tsarist Russian Empire, it also decided to "Grow" by invading its neighbors. In those years, all European nations had colonies in Africa, India, the Middle East, Australia, Asia and America. (England came to occupy almost ¼ part of the planet). For its part, the US, in 113 years of existence as a nation in those years, had "Grown" 711 the size of its territory from its original 13 colonies. Now is the picture clear? Japan for its part, had fought on the side of the winners in World War I (1914-1918), and they, the Japanese, not awarded any "Gain". The western victors of WWI divided the world. Japan was excluded. Thus, Japan's motives for attacking and expanding as the Europeans and the US did seem clearer, right? Then they, the Japanese, attacked China in 1931, which was occupied by 6 Western Powers for almost a century. None of the Western Powers occupying China at this time, OPPOSED or fought Japan for Invading China. NONE! Then, 11 years later after having occupied the territory of China and coexisted without any problem with the Western Powers within China, they, the Japanese, attacked Hawaii, which in turn, this Island had been occupied and annexed by the US in 1898. (In 1900-01, Hawaii became US territory and Hawaii ceased to be an independent nation after more than 630 years of sovereignty. By the time Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the United States had just completed the 40th anniversary of the military occupation and annexation of Hawaii). They, the Japanese, attacked Singapore, which was then a Colony of England. They, the Japanese, attacked the Philippines, which were occupied by the US and whose Gov’r, Douglas MacArthur reined as Emperor. Yup… Truly like an Absolute Autocrat. Therefore, the Japanese did NOT attack (In the 40’s), Singapore, Burma, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Borneo, Timor, the Philippines, etc. In reality, the Japanese attacked England, France, Holland, the US, etc. That is, the Japanese attacked the Western Powers invading all of Asia. That is the verifiable truth. The Empire of Japan didn’t invade. Japan fought against the Invaders. The Japanese didn't start the War. The War in, and for, Asia had begun in 1847. And here are some other facts to consider: The US has taken advantage of and intervened without justification in the Marquesas Island. (Massacre. 1813). US Forces seize Nuku Hiva Island (French Polynesia 1813), and establish here «The First US Naval Base», in the Pacific. This historical fact is important, cuz in 1813, the US had NO Territorial Land nor Maritime Rights in the Pacific Ocean, until 1848, when the US seized California and other Mexican territories facing the Pacific. Oh, yes! The Wars to dominate Asia are not over yet. The last one was in Vietnam and the most recent will be on the Island of Taiwan. But, Propaganda has made us believe that the good guys were us, the US. And of course… Nanking was a horrendous Genocide committed by Japan, but, it was no more horrendous than the 12 Genocides committed by the United States in his History and all over the world. Nor was it less horrendous than the Genocide committed by King Leopold II of Belgium, in Central Africa. Nor was Nanking more or less horrendous than the Genocides that the British Empire committed in America, Africa, Australia, Middle East, India and also in China too. In the Philippines (1898-1902), the US Army produced a Genocide of One Million people dead. Yup: ONE MILLION. And now, the Japanese are our friends and allies. But, to fight against China, AGAIN!!! Well… No More. No More British Malaya nor British Borneo nor British wherever. No More French Indochina. No more Dutch Indies. No More Portugese Domains. No More US Domain here. Asia is for Asians and “The China Sea” belongs to CHINA. Westerns powers have nothing to do in Asia. NOTHING!!!

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  34. The US and the other allies lacked experience compare to the Japanese who had been fighting the Chinese for many years. It took a few years and a large loss of life to obtain the fighting experience to eventually defeat the Japanese. The US economy was ten times the size of the Japanese economy so it was just a matter of time. When Prime Minister Churchill of England heard that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour he said " we have won ".

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  35. Sadly the wrecks of all these ships have been plundered by Chinese and Indonesian scrap metal dealers – and the world watched on and did …..nothing!! War graves deliberately desecrated!

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  40. Excellent video. The sad thing is that if this battle was fought just 9 months later, the Dutch would win because they would of had RADAR to see at night with. Lots of brave men died trying to defend the undefendable…. RIP.

    Reply

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