Timeline Friday 17 August 1945

Events on Friday 17 August 1945 1

• 1945 Indonesian declaration of independence Sukarno proclaims Indonesia free of colonial rule Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta declared Indonesian independence two days after Japan's surrender, ending Japanese occupation and challenging the return of Dutch colonial rule. The Netherlands did not recognize independence until 1949, following years of armed conflict. Sukarno became Indonesia's first president.