Resistance Star East Asia
Encyclopedia
The Resistance Star East Asia was created by royal decree on 26 October 1948 by Queen Juliana
to honor those the Dutch subjects in the Netherlands East Indies who showed strength of mind, determination, or solidarity, and performed praiseworthily help for Dutchmen that were made prisoner of war or interned by the enemy during World War II
. Also those of the Dutch resistance
in Southeast Asia
are honored.
The star commemorates the resistance against the Japanese occupation of Indonesia
, that went go underground after the capitulation of the Royal Dutch East Indies Army. This resistance suffered tremendous losses in live.
The bronze six-pointed star with a flaming sun and the words "de geest overwint" (English: the spirit triumphs) was designed by Frans Smits. The star is attached to a purple ribbon which has two golden lanes in the middle. The colours are symbolic: the gold-yellow remembers the custom in Southeast Asia to wrap a valuable gift in a gold-coloured cloth. at the reverse side the text "maart 1942 - O.Azië - augustus 1945" (English: "March 1942 - East Asia - Augustus 1945") is inscribed.
Due to the loss of the archive of the Resistance Star a lot of historiography about this award is lost.
Since 1948 the Resistance Star is awarded in total of 471 times. The star is a high award and has precedence just after the Bronze Lion
.
Juliana of the Netherlands
Juliana was the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands between 1948 and 1980. She was the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry...
to honor those the Dutch subjects in the Netherlands East Indies who showed strength of mind, determination, or solidarity, and performed praiseworthily help for Dutchmen that were made prisoner of war or interned by the enemy during World War II
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...
. Also those of the Dutch resistance
Dutch resistance
Dutch resistance to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II can be mainly characterized by its prominent non-violence, summitting in over 300,000 people in hiding in the autumn of 1944, tended to by some 60,000 to 200,000 illegal landlords and caretakers and tolerated knowingly...
in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
are honored.
The star commemorates the resistance against the Japanese occupation of Indonesia
Japanese Occupation of Indonesia
The Japanese Empire occupied Indonesia, known then as the Dutch East Indies, during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945...
, that went go underground after the capitulation of the Royal Dutch East Indies Army. This resistance suffered tremendous losses in live.
The bronze six-pointed star with a flaming sun and the words "de geest overwint" (English: the spirit triumphs) was designed by Frans Smits. The star is attached to a purple ribbon which has two golden lanes in the middle. The colours are symbolic: the gold-yellow remembers the custom in Southeast Asia to wrap a valuable gift in a gold-coloured cloth. at the reverse side the text "maart 1942 - O.Azië - augustus 1945" (English: "March 1942 - East Asia - Augustus 1945") is inscribed.
Due to the loss of the archive of the Resistance Star a lot of historiography about this award is lost.
Since 1948 the Resistance Star is awarded in total of 471 times. The star is a high award and has precedence just after the Bronze Lion
Bronze Lion
The Bronze Lion is a high Royal Dutch award, intended for servicemen who have shown extreme bravery and leadership in battle favouring The Netherlands; in some special cases it can however be awarded to Dutch or foreign civilians. It was first created in 1944 and has since been issued 1210 times...
.