Portal:Biography/Selected biography military/15

General Oerip Soemohardjo (22 February 1893 – 17 November 1948) was an Indonesian general and the first chief of staff of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. Born in Purworejo, Dutch East Indies, he left school to undertake military training in Meester Cornelis after the death of his mother. After graduating in 1914, he became a lieutenant in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army, the army of the Dutch colonial government. During almost 25 years of service he was stationed on three different islands and promoted several times, eventually becoming the highest-ranking native officer in the country. Oerip resigned from his position in about 1938, but was recalled to duty after Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands. During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia, Oerip was detained in a prisoner-of-war camp. Following the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, Oerip was declared the chief of staff and interim leader of the newly formed army, but after two deadlocked votes the position of commander-in-chief went to Sudirman. Oerip remained as chief of staff under Sudirman until 1948.