17 Facts About Julius Tahija

Julius Tahija was an Indonesian businessman, politician and soldier.

Julius Tahija was a recipient of the Military Order of William for his actions in the Dutch East Indies campaign while serving in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army and was the only Indonesian in the war to receive a highest military honor from an allied country during World War II.

Julius Tahija briefly held various cabinet posts in the State of East Indonesia during the Indonesian National Revolution in 1947 and later worked for and established the Indrapura conglomerate which became one of the largest in the country.

In 1937, Julius Tahija joined the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army.

Julius Tahija saw action in Aceh before World War II.

Julius Tahija was later bestowed with a Military Order of William, fourth class award in August 1942 for the Saumlaki action, the only Indonesian to receive the highest military decoration from an allied nation during WWII.

Julius Tahija was one of the candidates for chair of the state's first provisional legislature, though he was defeated in the leadership vote by Tadjoeddin Noor.

Julius Tahija served in the Cabinet of the State of East Indonesia, where he initially was made Minister of Social Affairs under Nadjamuddin Daeng Malewa's first cabinet, and later taking up the post of Minister of Information in Malewa's second cabinet between 2 June and 11 October 1947.

Julius Tahija then became head of NIT's representative office in Jakarta.

Journalist Rosihan Anwar wrote that Julius Tahija approved of the 1947 Dutch offensive against the Indonesian nationalist forces, but disapproved of the second, 1948 offensive.

Julius Tahija himself noted that he "learned to be a manager" at the company, and he eventually became the managing director of the Indonesian branch of the company on 1971, a position he held for six years.

Julius Tahija's companies operated under a conglomerate, known as the Indrapura group.

In 1955, Julius Tahija founded Bank Niaga in a partnership with Soedarpo Sastrosatomo.

Julius Tahija was made an honorary member of the Order of Australia in February 2002 for "service to Australian-Indonesian business relations".

Anwar wrote that in their last encounter, Julius Tahija had said to Anwar:.

Julius Tahija died in Jakarta on 30 July 2002, at the age of 86.

Julius Tahija was buried next to his wife in Puncak, West Java.