Operation Product

Operatie Product Operation Product
Part of Indonesian National Revolution
Date 21 July – 5 August 1947 Location Java and Sumatra, Indonesia Result Dutch victory Indonesian Republican forces continue to conduct guerrilla operations afterwards despite severe losses Territorial changes Takeover of Sumatra economic centres and Java ports by the Dutch. Rural surroundings in these areas continue to be held by Indonesian Republican forces
Belligerents
Indonesia	Netherlands
Commanders and leaders
Sudirman	Simon Hendrik Spoor Alvin Spoor Hubertus van Mook
Strength
around 200,000	around 120,000
Casualties and losses
about 150,000	about 6,000

Operation Product was the first of two major Dutch military offensives against the Republic of Indonesia during the Indonesian National Revolution. It took place between 21 July and 4 August 1947.

The offensive was launched in violation of the Linggadjati Agreement between the Republic and the Netherlands. The offensive resulted in the Dutch reducing Republican-held areas to smaller areas of Java and Sumatra, split by Dutch-held areas.

Following Dutch assertions that Indonesia cooperated insufficiently in the implementation of the Linggadjati Agreement, which had been ratified on 25 March 1947 by the lower chamber of the Dutch parliament. This police action was also influenced by a Dutch perception that the Republic had failed to curb the influence of Indonesian Chinese, Indonesian Indians and the rising Indonesian Communist Party.

The 100,000 inactive Dutch soldiers in Java was a significant financial burden on the Netherlands after the ravages of World War II. By May 1947, the Dutch had decided they needed to directly attack the Republic to access commodities in Republican-held areas, in particular sugar in Java and oil and rubber in Sumatra. The Dutch military estimated they would need two weeks to secure Republican-held cities and six months for the whole of the Republican territory. The offensive was intended to not include an attack on Yogyakarta, seat of the Republican government, due to high expected costs of fighting there.

On 21 July, the Dutch deployed three divisions in Java and three brigades on the less-densely populated Sumatra. The operation resulted in the occupation of large parts of Java and Sumatra, with the Republican army (TNI) offering only weak resistance.

Nevertheless, the TNI and its allies continued to conduct guerilla operations from the hills in Dutch-controlled territory. The Dutch retaliated with air strikes and a blockade of Republican-held areas. However, the Dutch were held back from full conquest of the Republic because of pressure from the UN Security Council, and by the United States, who were calling for a ceasefire.

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Wikipedia