De Opdracht. Tijdschrift Gewijd Aan Het Nieuwe Indië 1944 -1947

. [Den Haag], 1944-1947. Near complete collection of this periodical, consisting of the following nrs.: No. 1 (aug.44), 2 (sept.44), 3 (oct. 44), extra-nr.2 (nov.44), extra-nr.3 (dec.44), 7 (jan.45), 8 (mei 45), 10 (Vrijheidsnr.), 11.Informatienr. (mei 45), 12. Informatienr. (juni 45), Bijzonder nr.voor de academische appèls voor Indonesië, 13. Informatienr. (juni 45), Informatienr. 4 (juni 45), Informatienr. 5 (juli 45), 14. (juli 45) + illustratiebijlage, 15 (aug. 45), 16 (sept. 45), 17 (oct.45), 18 (nov. 45), 19 (dec.45), 20 (jan. 46), 21 (jan. 46), 22 (feb.46), 23/24 (feb./mrt. 46), 25 (mrt. 46), 26 (april 46), 27 (april 46), 28 (mei 46), 29 (mei 46), 39/31 (mei 46), 32/33 (juli 46), 34/35 (aug. 46), 36 (sept. 46), 37/38 (sept.46), 39 (oct.46), 40 (nov.46), 41 (nov. 46), 42/43 (dec. 46), 44 (jan. 47), 45/46 (jan/feb. 47) [= last issue published]. Alltogether 40 issues in a modern portfolio, c. 400 pp. total. 4to. Very rare. Important periodical rendering dutch views on Indonesia and its future status as a colony on the way to independence. Interesting to note is that the first number appeared in august 1944, while Holland was still under German occupation and the Indies were still held by the Japanese (nrs. 1-9 were published illegally under german occupation). The magazine represented mildly progressive views on Indonesia with bigger autonomy preceding an eventual status of independence, but could not keep up with the pace of actual events in Indonesia which proclaimed its own independence on August 17, 1945. In that respect the magazine is very representative for the diverging views in Holland and Indonesia concerning independence during the period 1945 - 1950 and that would only end in December 1949 when the Netherlands officially abandonedits sovereignty over the colony.