After the Dutch handed over sovereignty to Indonesia on 27 December 1949, there was an attempted coup on 23 January 1950 under the command of Captain Raymond Westerling. The aim was to overthrow the Republican government in Indonesia. This attempt to seize power was carried out by Angkatan Perang Ratu Adil (APRA), a military unit that was formed in secret. It was named after Ratu Adil, a mythical figure in Javanese culture who it was believed would one day release the people of Indonesia from oppression. The coup was soon put down by the Republic. It turned out to be a final convulsion, as it led indirectly to the official establishment on 17 August 1950 of the unitary state the Republic of Indonesia. It is quite surprising to find this particular photo in a Dutch album as it is rare for pictures of Indonesian victims of the Dutch army to end up in such albums.
Body of a TNI soldier in Bandung killed during the attempted coup by Angkatan Perang Ratu Adil (APRA) under the command of Raymond Westerling. Bandung, 1950. Photograph taken by D. Enkelaar. KITLV 42914.