The undeclared war

by Harold James

It was known as the 'Confrontation' but it was bitter and hard-fought battle in which British, Gurkha and Commonwealth troops met, and defeated incessant Indonesian guerilla attacks along a thousand-mile frontier.It was masterly counter-action to Sukarno's attempt to destroy Malaysia and create a pan Indonesian Empire that could have become another Vietnam but, because of brilliant leadership and the high standard of the troops, it was ended after four years.A confrontation it might have been, but it represented Britain's most vital victory since the Second World War.

171 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 1971

About the author

Harold James is Claude and Lore Kelly Professor in European Studies and Professor of History and International Affairs at Princeton University.