Subject: East Indies - Indonesia, World War II
Period: 1945 (circa)
Publication:
Color: Printed Color
Size:
23.3 x 33.3 inches
59.2 x 84.6 cm
This striking propaganda poster was created by Dutch artist Nico Broekman to recruit troops to help in the "liberation" of the East Indies at the end of World War II. In early 1942, the Japanese successfully defeated the Dutch and their allies and took control of the East Indies, which had been part of Dutch colonial rule for over three centuries. The Japanese maintained control until their surrender in August 1945. When the Dutch re-entered the East Indies after the war, they were met with Indonesian nationalists who sought independence from colonial rule. Although the Indonesian independence movement had begun at the beginning of the 20th century, the Japanese encouraged nationalist sentiment during their three and a half years of occupation, and also actively destroyed Dutch economic and political infrastructure. Shortly after Japan's surrender, Indonesian nationalists declared independence from future Dutch rule. Thus began the Indonesian National Revolution, which ended in 1949 with Indonesia officially gaining independence from colonial rule.
This poster depicts a Dutch boot kicking a Japanese soldier from Java, breaking the Japanese flag, with the caption: "Get Out! The Indies Must Be Liberated." Published in Amsterdam, the poster was intended to help in the recruitment of soldiers to regain control of the East Indies at a time when the Dutch military was weakened from its efforts during World War II.
References:
Condition: A
Bold color with minor foxing and archival repairs to two short tears at top and a minor crease at bottom left.