On 17 August 1945,Sukarno proclaimed the nation's independence. The republican nationalists needed a force to fight for their independence. Most of the Dutch colony was occupied by Allied forces which liberated most of the archipelago during the Allied offensives, 1943–45The first army force, known as the People's Security People's Safety Body (, or BKR), was formed on 23 August 1945 but tasked with police work. On 5 October of that year the self proclaimed government formed a national military, including provisions for an air force. Allied Dutch and British forces had already landed on the main island of Java by that time, but were mainly concerned with the repatriation of former prisoners of war.