Hein ter Poorten
Encyclopedia
Hein ter Poorten was the commander of the Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger (Royal Netherlands Indies Army; KNIL) in World War II
. Ter Poorten was also Allied
land forces commander in the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
, during early 1942.
), Java, which was then part of the Netherlands East Indies. After having been sworn in as an artillery officer in 1911, Ter Poorten helped to found the army air force, and in 1919 began a course at the Hogere Krijgsschool staff college in the Netherlands
.
's death in a flying accident in October 1941 saw Ter Poorten, by now a Lieutenant General, promoted to Commander in Chief of the KNIL.
Ter Poorten was regarded by his contemporaries in the army as a skilled commander with a firm understanding of military affairs in the East Indies, and thus was able to get on well with his subordinates and fellow officers; his relations with the civilian administration were less successful.
In January 1942, following the outbreak of war with Japan
, Ter Poorten was appointed commander of land forces in the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
, a short-lived unified command of all Allied forces in South East Asia.
By March, Ter Poorten became the de facto
head of all Allied forces on Java, following rapid Japanese advances and the break-up of ABDACOM. It was left to him to unconditionally surrender the island to the Japanese. He spent the rest of the war in various prisoner of war camps, and in 1945 returned to the Netherlands
.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Ter Poorten was also Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
land forces commander in the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
The American-British-Dutch-Australian Command, or ABDACOM, was a short-lived, supreme command for all Allied forces in South East Asia, in early 1942, during the Pacific War in World War II...
, during early 1942.
Early
He was born in Buitenzorg (now BogorBogor
Bogor is a city on the island of Java in the West Java province of Indonesia. The city is located in the center of the Bogor Regency , 60 kilometers south of the Indonesian capital Jakarta...
), Java, which was then part of the Netherlands East Indies. After having been sworn in as an artillery officer in 1911, Ter Poorten helped to found the army air force, and in 1919 began a course at the Hogere Krijgsschool staff college in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
World War II
He steadily rose up the ranks upon his return to the East Indies, and by July 1939 was the Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger (Royal Netherlands Indies Army; KNIL) Chief of the General Staff. Lt Gen. Gerardus Johannes BerenschotGerardus Johannes Berenschot
Lieutenant General Gerardus Johannes Berenschot was an Indo born in the Dutch East Indies. Son of Gerrit Hendrik Berenschot, a Dutch KNIL officer, and Florence Mildred Rappa, Berenschot was sent to the Netherlands at the age of 15, where he attended a cadet school at Alkmaar...
's death in a flying accident in October 1941 saw Ter Poorten, by now a Lieutenant General, promoted to Commander in Chief of the KNIL.
Ter Poorten was regarded by his contemporaries in the army as a skilled commander with a firm understanding of military affairs in the East Indies, and thus was able to get on well with his subordinates and fellow officers; his relations with the civilian administration were less successful.
In January 1942, following the outbreak of war with Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Ter Poorten was appointed commander of land forces in the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
The American-British-Dutch-Australian Command, or ABDACOM, was a short-lived, supreme command for all Allied forces in South East Asia, in early 1942, during the Pacific War in World War II...
, a short-lived unified command of all Allied forces in South East Asia.
By March, Ter Poorten became the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
head of all Allied forces on Java, following rapid Japanese advances and the break-up of ABDACOM. It was left to him to unconditionally surrender the island to the Japanese. He spent the rest of the war in various prisoner of war camps, and in 1945 returned to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.