First Aceh Expedition

First Aceh Expedition
Part of the Aceh War
General J.H.R. Köhler killed in Mesigit
Date 26 March 1873 – 25 April 1873 (4 weeks and 2 days) Location Sultanate of Aceh Result Acehnese Victory
Belligerents
Netherlands	Sultanate of Aceh
Commanders and leaders
J.H.R. Köhler  †	Panglima Polim Sultan Alauddin Mahmud Syah II

The First Aceh Expedition, was a military campaign undertaken by the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) against the sultanate of Aceh in the north of Sumatra in 1873. The expedition was launched as a punitive measure by the Dutch colonial authorities in response to perceived challenges to their control over the region and Aceh's resistance to Dutch interference in its affairs.

The campaign resulted in a Dutch victory. However, it was costly for both sides, with significant loss of life on both sides and extensive destruction of Aceh's infrastructure and economy.

First Capture of Mosque Baiturrahman (1873)

In 1873 the Dutch Forces commanded by Kohler tried to Captured Mosque Baiturrahman at Kutaraja. But the Acehnese Forces succeded to expelled the Dutch Forces in Mosque Baiturrahman.

Battle of Peukan Aceh (1873)

The Dutch Forces also was in peukan aceh and fought the battle against Acehnese but they get heavily losses and make them Withdrawn from Peukan Aceh.

Battle of Lambhuk (1873)

in this battle Dutch Forces met the Acehnese forces in Lambuk and fough the battle and on this battle the Dutch Forces was suffered heavily losses and they commander was Killed in action.

Battle of Lampu'uk (1873)

Acehnese Forces was get contact in Lampu'uk Northern Village in Sumatera and occured Battle the Acehnese easily defeated the Dutch Forces with Guerilla strategy and make the Dutch Forces Withdrawn.

Battle of Peukan Bada (1873)

Acehnese Forces met the Dutch forces in Peukan Banda northen regency in Aceh the Acehnese succeded to defeated the Dutch forces and make them expelled .

Battle of Lambada (1873)

Dutch Forces who in Lambada met the Acehnese and fought the battle but the Acehnese make the Dutch forces was slowed move and defeated the Dutch with Guerilla Strategy.

Battle of Krueng Raya (1873)

The Dutch Forces also was in Krueng Raya and fought the battle against Acehnese but they get heavily losses also the Dutch suffered the cholera and make them withdrawn.

Political Condition

Early in 1873, the American Consul in Singapore had discussions with an Acehnese emissary about a possible Acehnese-American treaty, which the Dutch saw as justification for intervention. In March 1873, the Dutch bombed the Acehnese capital Banda Aceh (Kutaraja) and in April they landed 3,000 troops led by Johan Harmen Rudolf Köhler. Having misjudged their Acehnese opposition, the Dutch were forced to withdraw losing Köhler and eighty men. They then established a blockade and Acehnese troops (estimates of whom range from 10,000 to 100,000) prepared for battle.

This was followed by the Second Aceh Expedition in late 1873.

See also

• History of Indonesia
• Second Aceh Expedition

Sources

• Ricklefs, M. C. (1991). A History of Modern Indonesia Since c. 1300 (2nd ed.). Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-57689-6.