Spira Islands



The Spira Islands are a small archipelago in the Indian Ocean located 920km north-west of Western Australia; or 776km south of Java, Indonesia. Today the islands are an Overseas Territory of the Federal Republic of Neu Westfalen.

Pre-20th Century
After becoming a De facto territory of the Dutch East Indies in 1800, the previously uninhabited islands were then later formally occupied by the German Empire between 1864 to 1914. The Germans primarily used the islands as a resupply outpost for trade ships, with a small contingent of European fisherman also earning a living by selling their catch to passing ships.

Early 20th Century
With the outbreak of World War I Imperial Germany quickly abandoned the islands, seceding full control to the Dutch. The Dutch would then hold the islands until 1942, when the Japanese Empire seized control the islands; following their occupation of Indonesia during World War II.

Indonesian Period
The Islands briefly returned to Dutch control after Japan's defeat in WWII, only to be handed over to Indonesia in 1949; as part of their independence from the Netherlands.

Territory of Neu Westfalen
The islands became an overseas territory of Neu Westfalen in 1951 after being sold by Indonesia's fledgling democratic government for $21 million USD; or approximately $183 million when adjusted for inflation today.