Korps Speciale Troepen

Korps Speciale Troepen (KST) was a Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) special forces unit that was involved in the Indonesian National Revolution. It was formed in 1948 with Depot Speciale Troepen (DST) as core (1945-1948) and raised together with the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army in 1950.[1] DST consisted about 570 men. Later the 1st Parachute Company (strength about 250 men) integrated into the corps. Both units were established shortly after the end of World War II for deployment against the Indonesian nationalists. They had a precursor in the Korps Insulinde that during World War II conducted secret missions against the Japanese in the occupied Dutch East Indies. The KST, that would become a maximum strength of 1250 men, was composed of Dutch War Volunteers (OVW'ers), and Indo-European and native soldiers, including Moluccans. The formation, which in its aftermath was renamed Regiment Speciale Troepen (RST), and dissolved in 1950 as part of the KNIL.[2] The current Korps Commandotroepen (KCT) or Dutch Special Forces is considered as a continuation of the RST.[1]

The Green and Red berets

The forces wore the green beret, which was the official headdress of the British Commandos of World War II. Under the name No. 2 (Dutch) Troop, the first Dutch commandos were trained in Achnacarry, Scotland, as part of No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando'. After the war, members of No. 2 Dutch troop served in RST (1945–1950). The paratrooper wing of the KST No 1 parachute company wore the Red beret.[1][3]

Campaigns

Troops of the KST, under command of Captain Raymond Westerling were active during the South Sulawesi Campaign, The paratroopers of the KST performed several airborne operations. At the beginning of the Second Police Action, late 1948, they captured the airport of the Republican government center Yogyakarta as an introduction to capture this city and the Indonesian leaders, including Sukarno.[4]

After the transfer of sovereignty, soldiers of the KST took action once again, but not with the consent of their Dutch superiors. Some of them were involved in an attempted coup at the beginning of 1950 against the reign of President Sukarno, led by ex-captain Raymond Westerling.

Commanders

Reference
  1. "Korps Commandotroepen Factbook" (PDF). Royal Netherlands Army Communication Section Korps Commandotroepen. 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  2. Conboy 2003, p. 5.
  3. Conboy 2003, p. 17.
  4. Ministry of Defense: Armed Forces in the Dutch East Indies. 454, Gevechtsrapporten en acties o.a. tegen binnendringende TNI-bendes, "Negla", "Kraai" en parachute-landingsactie van de para gevechtsgroep Korps Speciale Troepen (KST) op het vliegveld Magoewo nabij Jogjakarta. 1948, Series: Inventaris van de collectie archieven Strijdkrachten in Nederlands-Indië,(1938 - 1939) 1941 - 1957 [1960], Box: A.1.1, Geheime stukken, File: A.1, Archief van het Hoofdkwartier van de Generale Staf in Indonesië (HKGS-NI), 1945 - 1950, ID: 454. Den Haag: Nationaal Archief.

Bibliography

Media related to Korps Speciale Troepen at Wikimedia Commons


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