Korps Commandotroepen

The Korps Commandotroepen (KCT) (English: Commando Corps) is the elite special forces unit of the Royal Netherlands Army. The KCT traces its origins to the Second World War with the founding of No. 2 (Dutch) Troop, and the founding of the Korps Speciale Troepen during the Indonesian War of Independence.

The corps currently consists of four active commando companies, a SOF Support company and a training company. The KCT is based at the Engelbrecht van Nassaukazerne in the city of Roosendaal. KCT missions are planned and coordinated by the Netherlands Special Operations Command (NLD SOCOM), as are the operations of its maritime counterpart NLMARSOF.

Due to the sensitivity of the unit's operations, which includes covert operations, much of the information about the KCT is classified. However, some deployments have been acknowledged and publicised by the Ministry of Defence. Since the end of the Cold War, the unit has seen extensive combat in conflict zones around the world. This includes deployments to the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq and Mali. Moreover, the unit has conducted numerous non-combatant evacuation operations in recent years.

The roots of the KCT go back to World War II. The unit was formed under the name No. 2 (Dutch) Troop, which was part of No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando, on 22 March 1942. This date has lived on as the annual birthday of the present-day KCT. No. 2 (Dutch) Troop was tasked with conducting special operations, which, at the time, were operations that were considered too complex and too dangerous for conventional military units. In March 1942, the first 48 Dutch commandos were voluntarily selected from the Princess Irene Brigade and commenced training in four different British training centres, later rejoining in Achnacarry, Scotland. Of the 48 men, 25 managed to finish the intense commando course and were awarded the coveted green beret. From 1942 to 1943, the unit grew in size and achieved combat readiness.

While the unit was initially supposed to deploy in Malaysia and Sumatra in 1944, this deployment was later called off. However, five Dutch commandos were sent to Burma to fight against the Japanese forces in the Arakan Campaign in 1943. The troop returned to Europe in July 1944; in the ensuing months, multiple commandos were dropped in the German-occupied Netherlands to establish contact with the Dutch resistance forces. In September 1944, Dutch commandos joined the Allied paratrooper force to fight in the failed airborne Operation Market Garden. In addition, the troop fought to free the Dutch island of Walcheren as part of the allied Operation Infatuate in November 1944.

The unit was disbanded shortly after the liberation of the Netherlands, in October 1945. However, its personnel continued fighting in the Dutch East Indies, while others formed the Stormschool training command, located in Bloemendaal. In 1949, the Stormschool was relocated to the Engelbrecht van Nassaukazerne in Roosendaal, which remains the garrison of the present-day KCT.

A contingent of approximately 150 troops of the Princess Irene Brigade was sent to the Dutch East Indies in January 1942, in order to strengthen the Dutch defences on the island. Their journey was aborted following the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, causing the troops to become stuck on the island state of British Ceylon. While the majority of the troops were recalled to Europe, a group of volunteers were selected to attend a special training course for jungle operations. This commando unit, named Korps Insulinde, was tasked with conducting guerrilla warfare, sabotage and intelligence operations on Sumatra, against the Japanese occupiers. Following the Japanese capitulation, Korps Insulinde was tasked with the search and rescue of (Dutch) POWs. In November 1945, the unit was disbanded - many of its members remained in military service and joined sister commando units.

During the Indonesian war of independence, which lasted from 1945 to 1949, the special operations unit Depot Speciale Troepen (DST) was established. The unit was part of the Royal Netherlands Indies Army and saw intense combat throughout the conflict. DST was tasked with conducting counterinsurgency operations and the elimination of Indonesian nationalists, and was commanded by Captain Raymond Westerling. The unit conducted numerous successful contraguerrilla operations, while simultaneously gaining notoriety for its harsh treatment of insurgents during the South Sulawesi campaign. This successful military campaign involved the alleged execution of thousands of Indonesian insurgents. In 1948, the unit, then renamed to Korps Speciale Troepen (KST), participated in Operation Kraai. During this operation, Dutch forces successfully captured Yogyakarta, the temporary capital of the Indonesian Republic. In addition, numerous high-ranking Indonesian leaders, including the Republican President Sukarno, were arrested.