Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Why the Aceh War in Indonesia Lasted so Long

 

Dutch East India Company Indonesia Aceh genocide colonialism Lutheranism Islam brutality barbarism courage bravery defiance resistance

The Aceh War was a long and bloody conflict that lasted from 1873 to 1913 between the Sultanate of Aceh, located in what is now the Indonesian province of Aceh, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Dutch had been trying to establish control over the lucrative Acehnese pepper trade, but faced fierce resistance from the Acehnese.

   The war was characterized by brutal fighting on both sides, with the Dutch using modern military technology such as machine guns, artillery, and warships to overwhelm the Acehnese guerrilla forces. The Acehnese, for their part, employed hit-and-run tactics and made extensive use of fortifications and trenches to resist the Dutch advance. They Dutch used a new formation: Korps Marechaussee te voet.

   The war finally came to an end in 1913, when the Dutch managed to kill the main Acehnese leader. However, violence never stopped. The conflict had a profound impact on both the Acehnese and the Dutch, with many Acehnese seeing it as a struggle for independence and a symbol of resistance against colonialism, while the Dutch faced criticism both at home and abroad for their brutal tactics and the high cost of the war.



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