Korps Speciale Troepen

Korps Speciale Troepen (KST) was a Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) special forces unit who was involved in the Indonesian National Revolution. formed in 1948 from the DST (1945-1948) and raised together with the Royal Netherlands East Indies army in 1950. It consisted about 570 men. Later the 1st Parachute Company (strength about 250 men) integrated into the Corps. Both units were established shortly after the end of World War II for deployment against the Indonesian nationalists. They had a precursor in the Corps Insulinde that during WWII conducted secret missions against the Japanese in the occupied Dutch East Indies. The KST, that would become a maximum strength of 1250 men, was composed of Dutch War Volunteers (OVW'ers), and Indo-European and native soldiers, including Moluccans. The formation, which in its aftermath was renamed Special Forces Regiment (RST) was succeed by the present KCT ( Dutch Special Forces )

Campaigns
Troops of the KST, under command of Captain Raymond Westerling were active during the South Sulawesi Campaign, The paratroopers of the KST performed several airborne operations. At the beginning of the Second Police Action, late 1948, they captured the airport of the Republican government center Yogyakarta as an introduction to capture this city and the the Indonesian leaders, including Sukarno.

The Green en Red beret
The forces wore the Green beret, which was the official headdress of the British Commandos of World War II. Under the name No. 2 (Dutch) Troop, the first Dutch commandos were trained in Achnacarry, Scotland, as part of No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando'. After the war, members of No. 2 Dutch troop served in Regiment Speciale Troepen (1945–1950). The paramilitary wing of the KST No 1 parachute company wore the Red beret.

Commanders

 * Captain Scheepens 1946-1946 (wounded)
 * Captain Raymond Westerling 1946-1948 (Military discharge)
 * Lieutenant Colonel van Beek 1948-1949
 * Lieutenant Colonel Borghouts 1949-1950