History of the Netherlands Nassau. The Netherlands was neutral during the First World War, but during the Second World War, it was invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany. The Nazis, including many collaborators, rounded up and killed almost all of the country's Jewish population. When the Dutch resistance increased, the Nazis cut off food supplies to much of the country, causing severe starvation in 1944–45. In 1942, the Dutch East Indies were conquered by Japan, but prior to this; the Dutch destroyed the oil wells for which Japan was desperate. Indonesia proclaimed its independence from the Netherlands in 1945, followed by Suriname in 1975.
Constitution of Indonesia powers. The governmental system has been described as "presidential with parliamentary characteristics." Following the Indonesian 1998 Upheaval and the resignation of President Suharto, several political reforms were set in motion, via amendments to the Constitution of Indonesia, which resulted in changes to all branches of government as well as additional human rights provisions. The Japanese invaded the Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia) in 1942, defeated the Dutch colonial regime, and occupied it for the duration of the Second World War. Indonesia then fell under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Southern Expeditionary Army ("Nanpo Gun"), based in Saigon, Vietnam. The Japanese divided