Prof. dr. J. (Jan) Hoffenaar is professor in Military History. He also is Head, Research Department of the Netherlands Institute of Military History in The Hague. He is specialized in the political and military aspects of the Cold War, in 'East' as well as in 'West', and in Dutch military history. He is member of the Executive Board of the International Commission of Military History and member of the editorial board of Militaire geschiedenis van Nederland [Military history of the Netherlands], a series of six volumes about Netherlands' military history in Europe and overseas (since 1500). He is currently Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the NIOD-NIMH-KITLV research program Independence, Decolonization, Violence and War in Indonesia, 1945-1950.