The Eerste Divisie "7 December" or "First Division 7 December" was a division of the Royal Netherlands Army, active from at least 1946 to 2004. It was sent to the Dutch East Indies to restore "peace, order and security" in 1946. The Netherlands planned to gradually give the East Indies greater autonomy, but the proclamation of the independent Republic of Indonesia two days after Japan's capitulation accelerated these events.
The division was named after the speech of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands in London on 7 December 1942: "I imagine, without prejudice to the government conference's advice, that they will focus on a National Association, which the Netherlands, Indonesia, Suriname and Curaçao will have participated together, while each in itself, its own autonomy in internal affairs and drawing on their own, but together with the will to assist, will represent. It will be difference of treatment based on race or national character have no place, but will only have the personal ability of citizens and the needs of different populations for the decisive policy of the Government."
The division was withdrawn from the East Indies in 1949–1950 and spent the remainder of the Cold War as part of NATO Northern Army Group's I (Netherlands) Corps deterring a Soviet attack on West Germany. In 1985, it had its headquarters at Schaarsbergen, and divisional troops included the 102nd Reconnaissance Battalion (maintained through the Dutch mobilisation system RIM) at Hoogland. The 11th Mechanised Brigade included the 12th and 48th Mechanised Battalions, the 101st Tank Battalion, and the 11th Field Artillery Battalion. The 12th Mechanised Brigade was headquartered at Nunspeet and the 13th Armoured Brigade was at Oirschot.
After the end of the Cold War, it became part of the I. German/Dutch Corps for a period. The division was disbanded on 1 January 2004 and the '7 December' title was transferred to the 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade (11th Airmobile Brigade).
1e Divisie "7 December" (Mechanized), Arnhem, NL
Staff and Staff Company, Arnhem
102nd Reconnaissance Battalion "Huzaren van Boreel", Hoogland (18 x Leopard 1V, 48 x M113-Command & Reconnaissance)
11e Pantserinfanteriebrigade, Arnhem, NL
Staff and Staff Company, Arnhem
101st Pantser Battalion "Regiment Huzaren Prins Alexander", Soesterberg (61 x Leopard 1V, 12 x YPR-765)
12th Pantserinfanterie Battalion "Garde Regiment Jagers", Arnhem (70 x YPR-765, 16 x YPR-765 PRAT)
48th Pantserinfanterie Battalion "Regiment van Heutsz", 's-Hertogenbosch (70 x YPR-765, 16 x YPR-765 PRAT)
11th Horse Artillery Battalion "Gele Rijders", Arnhem (20 x M109A3)
11th Armored Anti-Tank Company, Ermelo (AIFV|YPR-765 PRAT)
11th Armored Engineer Company, Ermelo
11th Brigade Supply Company, Stroe
11th Brigade Maintenance Company, Arnhem
11th Brigade Medical Company, Stroe
12e Pantserinfanteriebrigade, Vierhouten, NL
Staff and Staff Company, Vierhouten
59th Pantser Battalion "Regiment Huzaren Prins Oranje", 't Harde (61 x Leopard 1V, 12 x YPR-765)
11th Pantserinfanterie Battalion "Garde Regiment Grenadiers", Arnhem (70 x YPR-765, 16 x YPR-765 PRAT)
13th Pantserinfanterie Battalion "Garde Fusiliers Princess Irene", Schalkhaar (70 x YPR-765, 16 x YPR-765 PRAT)
14th Field Artillery Battalion (Reserve), Vierhouten (20 x M109A3)
12th Armored Anti-Tank Company, Vierhouten (YPR-765 PRAT)
12th Armored Engineer Company, Vierhouten
13th Brigade Supply Company, Vierhouten
12th Brigade Maintenance Company, Uddel
12th Brigade Medical Company, Vierhouten
13e Pantserbrigade, Oirschot, NL
Staff and Staff Company, Oirschot
11th Pantser Battalion "Huzaren van Sytzama", Oirschot (52 x Leopard 1V, 12 YPR-765)
49th Pantser Battalion (Reserve) "Huzaren van Sytzama", Oirschot (52 x Leopard 1V, 12 x YPR-765)
17th Pantserinfanterie Battalion "Regiment Infanterie Chasse", Oirschot (70 x YPR-765, 16 x YPR-765 PRAT)
12th Field Artillery Battalion, Oirschot (20 x M109A3)
13th Armored Engineer Company, Oirschot
12th Brigade Supply Company, Oirschot
13th Brigade Maintenance Company, Oirschot
13th Brigade Medical Company, Oirschot
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