Vice Admiral Conrad Emil Lambert Helfrich (October 11, 1886-September 20, 1962) of the Royal Netherlands Navy was a leading Dutch naval figure of World War II. On February 12, 1942, he succeeded Admiral Thomas C. Hart of the United States Navy as commander of the American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA) naval forces in the Pacific. In 1945, he signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the government of the Netherlands. October 11 is the 284th day of the year (285th in Leap years). ... 1886 is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Royal Netherlands Navy Jack The Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy ) is the navy of the Netherlands. ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons like the atom bomb World War II, also known as the Second World War, was by far the bloodiest and most expensive war in history, estimated... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Thomas Charles Hart (12 June 1877 – 4 July 1971) was an admiral of the United States Navy, whose service extended from the Spanish-American War through World War II. Following retirement from the Navy, he served briefly as a U.S. Senator from Connecticut. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... The American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA) Command, code name ABDACOM, was a short-lived, unified command for all Allied forces in South East Asia, during the Pacific War. ... Representatives of Japan stand aboard the USS Missouri prior to signing of the Instrument of Surrender. ...
ConradEmilLambertHelfrich was born in Semarang on October 11, 1886 as a son of a Dutch KNIL doctor and a native woman.
Helfrich was very aware of the Dutch naval traditions of the past centuries and I believe that was one of the reasons he sent the Striking Force to sea in late February (not meant negatively).
To go on with Helfrich, he was given command of all naval forces in August 1945 (apparently including the ships in Europe), was promoted to Luitenant-Admiraal (Full Admiral ??) and was the Dutch government's representative aboard the USS battleship Missouri on September 2 1945.
Between 1919 and 1922 Helfrich was in the service of the marine staff in The Hague where he was involved in the creation of a Fleet plan for the Dutch Indies.
On February 12, 1942, Helfrich succeeded Hart as commander of the American-British-Dutch-Australian naval forces in the Pacific and immediately went on the offensive.
Helfrich spent the remainder of the war in Ceylon preparing the return of Dutch administration to the Dutch East Indies.
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