ABSTRACT
Large parts of the archipelago beyond Java and Sumatra had already been captured by American and Australian troops during the Second World War. In the other parts of Eastern Indonesia, with the exception of Bali, the Australians had arrived relatively soon after the Japanese surrender, although the occupation was initially limited to the larger towns. On New Guinea, the Japanese occupation had not extended beyond a few places on the north and west coasts, whilst parts of the south and the interior had remained in Allied hands. On 22 April 1944, the Americans captured Hollandia, followed by several other places on New Guinea. On 15 September 1944, the Australians occupied the island of Morotai in the northern Moluccas, and in May and July 1945 this was followed by Tarakan, Balikpapan and other parts of Eastern Kalimantan. 1
