Why was the Dutch East Indies Army size so small?
The Dutch East Indies Army, also known as the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL), was the military force responsible for defending the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) during the colonial period. Despite being a major colonial power, the Netherlands maintained a relatively small military force in the Dutch East Indies due to a number of factors.
First, the Dutch East Indies was generally a peaceful colony, with few major conflicts or uprisings occurring during the time of Dutch rule. As a result, there was not a pressing need for a large military presence to maintain order.
Second, the Dutch government had limited resources and focused on defending the Netherlands itself rather than its overseas territories. This meant that the Dutch East Indies Army was not a priority in terms of funding and support.
Third, the Dutch relied on native troops, known as the "Native Army," to help maintain order in the colony. This further reduced the need for a large Dutch military presence in the region.
In conclusion, the Dutch East Indies Army was small due to the peaceful nature of the colony, limited resources of the Dutch government, and reliance on native troops to maintain order.

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