Postage stamps and postal history of Singapore British colonial rule, Singapore grew in importance rapidly becoming a major port city. During World War II, Singapore was occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. After the war, Singapore reverted to British control, with increasing levels of self-government being granted, culminating in Singapore's merger with the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia in 1963. Singapore became an independent republic on 9 August 1965. Singapore was originally part of the Straits Settlements and used the colony's stamps. During World War II, Singapore was occupied by the Japanese between 1942 and 1945. After the surrender of the Japanese Occupation forces at
Germany–Indonesia relations Indonesia. The German painter Walter Spies (1895-1942) settled on the island of Bali and his works influenced local art. President B.J. Habibie studied and spent most of his life in Germany. The bilateral diplomatic relations officially established in 1952 when Indonesia opened a representative office in Bonn for Federal Republic of Germany, and an embassy in 1976 in East Berlin for German Democratic Republic. During official visit to Indonesia in December 1, 2011, Federal President Christian Wulff and his counterpart, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, identified five key sectors of strategic partnership between Germany and Indonesia; trade and investments, health,