Max Desfor (1913-2018) - Malang

This is a historically very important image from the decolonization war. The photographer of this particular photo is Max Desfor. He was a very well-known American press photographer at the time, who worked for the news agency Associated Press (AP). Desfor later gained worldwide fame (and won a Pulitzer Prize) with his photographs of the Korean War. Below you will find the historical background and details about the photo: Background and Context The Location and Date: The photo was taken on or just after July 31, 1947 in the city of Malang on East Java. This was during the First Police Action (the Dutch army called it Operation Product). What happens: Dutch soldiers ride in an armored vehicle (a so-called M-track or half-track) through a nearly deserted street in Malang. On the left in the frame are two Indonesian fighters (as described by the international press at the time as Indonesian soldiers) with their hands in the air. They have just surrendered to this Dutch patrol. The Scorched Earth Tactic: On the back of the photo (your second image) the English text states that they are entering the burning city of Malang. The withdrawing Indonesian Republican troops set strategic buildings and infrastructure on fire to prevent them from falling into Dutch hands. Is this a famous photo? Yes, this is internationally a very well-known and iconic photo. Because the photo was taken by an American AP photographer, the image was immediately distributed worldwide at the time (as indicated by the stamp AUG 12 1947 on the back). Unlike the photos from the Dutch Service of Army Contacts (DLC), which were subject to strict censorship and largely aimed to show a 'friendly' and constructive image of the actions, this Desfor photo shows the raw, military reality: heavily armed soldiers with Bren machine guns ready to fire and submachine guns aimed at Indonesians who have surrendered. In historical books and documentaries about the decolonization of Indonesia, this photo is still frequently used to illustrate the combat actions and the tension during the First Police Action. Will be shipped well packed and registered and insured.

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