Korps Speciale Troepen
Encyclopedia
Korps Speciale Troepen was a Dutch
special forces
unit involved in the Indonesian National Revolution
. Two KST companies fought together with the RMS (Republik Maluku Selatan or South Moluccas Republican) forces (considered by some as pro-Dutch).
The Indonesian nationalists who confronted them were amazed with the KST troops' ability and skill, especially their sniping
. This later inspired the Indonesian generals involved to emulate KST and build a special forces
unit for Indonesia, which came to be knowns as Kopassus
.
The first commander of the new unit was Major Rokus Bernadus Visser, who had defected from the Dutch service towards the end of the war. He remained in Indonesia, married an Indonesian woman and was known locally as Mohamad Idjon Djanbi. Eventually he was contacted and recruited by the Indonesian Army, in whose ranks he created the new unit modeled on the KST - which finally named as Kopassus
with the same red beret as with the KST.
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...
special forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
unit involved in the Indonesian National Revolution
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution or Indonesian War of Independence was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between Indonesia and the Dutch Empire, and an internal social revolution...
. Two KST companies fought together with the RMS (Republik Maluku Selatan or South Moluccas Republican) forces (considered by some as pro-Dutch).
The Indonesian nationalists who confronted them were amazed with the KST troops' ability and skill, especially their sniping
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
. This later inspired the Indonesian generals involved to emulate KST and build a special forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
unit for Indonesia, which came to be knowns as Kopassus
Kopassus
Kopassus is an Indonesian Army special forces group that conducts special operations missions for the Indonesian government, such as direct action, unconventional warfare, sabotage, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and intelligence gathering.Kopassus was founded on April 16, 1952...
.
The first commander of the new unit was Major Rokus Bernadus Visser, who had defected from the Dutch service towards the end of the war. He remained in Indonesia, married an Indonesian woman and was known locally as Mohamad Idjon Djanbi. Eventually he was contacted and recruited by the Indonesian Army, in whose ranks he created the new unit modeled on the KST - which finally named as Kopassus
Kopassus
Kopassus is an Indonesian Army special forces group that conducts special operations missions for the Indonesian government, such as direct action, unconventional warfare, sabotage, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and intelligence gathering.Kopassus was founded on April 16, 1952...
with the same red beret as with the KST.