Jakob Schladenberg

Jakob Schladenberg (born 3 April 2008) is a British former resistance fighter who co-founded The Squad with Eymen Kuşkan on Tanoa in 2022. After becoming stranded on the island at the age of 14, Schladenberg began fighting the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen and led The Squad in armed attacks against its patrols. He remained on Tanoa after separating from Kuşkan in early 2024 and returned to Britain following the regime's collapse on 30 November 2024.

Jakob Schladenberg
Born	(2008-04-03) 3 April 2008 Bath, England
Occupation	Resistance fighter
Era	Vriend Era
Known for	Co-founder of The Squad
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Father	Christopher Schladenberg
Relatives	Kenzi Schladenberg (brother) Dean Schladenberg (uncle) Victor Schladenberg (grandfather)

Early life

Schladenberg was born on 3 April 2008 in Bath, England, and grew up in Chippenham, Wiltshire. His father, Christopher Schladenberg, served as an SS-Sturmbannführer in the Kriminalpolizei of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen.

He met Eymen Kuşkan, who lived in the Netherlands, online. They became friends and eventually met in person. In 2022, when both were 14, they travelled to Fiji with their parents' permission.

The Squad

Schladenberg and Kuşkan had read about abuses committed by the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen and wanted to photograph evidence of the regime's treatment of civilians. From Fiji, they took a private boat to Tanoa without telling their families. The boat operator had heard that Tanoan patrols were inspecting vessels and left earlier than arranged. When the boys returned, they found that the boat had gone, leaving them stranded on the island.

Near Vagalala, they witnessed Tanoan soldiers beating a detainee at a checkpoint. They fled without taking photographs and abandoned their original plan. While hiding in an abandoned weapons warehouse, they found firearms left inside. Schladenberg wanted to use them against the regime, and Kuşkan agreed. They founded The Squad in 2022, with Schladenberg taking leadership. Neither had received combat training, and the group consisted only of the two boys. The Tanoa Einsatzgruppen designated The Squad a terrorist organization.

A Tanoan patrol later discovered them carrying firearms near Vagalala and opened fire. Schladenberg and Kuşkan escaped into the rainforest and took shelter in an abandoned hut. A contact from the Fish Collective found them there and brought food and drinking water. Mark Hugerinus Paap arranged to evacuate them, but the boys left the hut without informing the Fish Collective before the evacuation could take place.

They subsequently found an abandoned agricultural property in the rainforest and stayed in one of its buildings, surviving on food left there. During another armed encounter, Schladenberg and Kuşkan shot two Tanoan patrol officers before fleeing.

In early 2024, Kuşkan wanted to return home, but Schladenberg wanted to continue fighting the regime. During a storm in the rainforest, they lost sight of each other. Kuşkan lost his firearm while trying to find Schladenberg. Schladenberg feared encountering another Tanoan patrol and continued alone without searching the area for his friend.

With Kuşkan gone, Schladenberg occasionally fought Tanoan patrols on his own. As his ammunition ran low, he increasingly avoided them. Kuşkan managed to leave Tanoa and returned to the Netherlands later in 2024.

The Tanoa Einsatzgruppen collapsed on 30 November 2024. Schladenberg subsequently approached a Fish Collective checkpoint near Vagalala while carrying his firearm. The guards disarmed him and confirmed his identity before taking him into protective custody. The Fish Collective arranged his return to Britain, and The Squad disbanded.

Return to Britain

Schladenberg returned to his family's home in Chippenham, where he lived alone. After regaining access to his old online messages, he contacted Kuşkan. Neither had known whether the other survived their separation in the rainforest. They resumed contact after learning that both had returned home.

Following Christopher Schladenberg's arrest, Jakob's paternal uncle, Dean Schladenberg, became his legal guardian. Dean visited the house regularly to bring groceries and help with household tasks. Jakob continued living there and studied independently using textbooks and online resources.

While Christopher was in prison, Jakob exchanged letters with him about his service in the Kriminalpolizei. Christopher defended his former work in his replies. Their correspondence ended after a few exchanges.

See also

• Resistance against the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen