On 20 October 1945, Allied troops under the command of Brigadier Bethell landed in Semarang to disarm Japanese troops and liberate POWs still detained in concentration camps in Central Java. Initially, the troops were welcomed in the area, with Central Java's governor Wongsonegoro agreeing to provide them with food and other necessities in return for the Allies' promise to respect Indonesia's sovereignty and independence. The Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA) were also in Semarang, and welcomed the British presence.
However, when Allied and NICA troops began freeing and arming freed Dutch POWs in Ambarawa and Magelang, many locals were angered. Relations were further ruined when the Allies began disarming members of the Indonesian Army. Indonesian troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel M. Sarbini began besieging Allied troops stationed in Magelang in reprisal for their attempted disarmament. Indonesian presidentSukarno intervened in the situation to calm tensions, and the Allies secretly left Magelang to their stronghold in Ambarawa. Sarbini's regiment followed the Allies in pursuit, and was later joined by other Indonesian troops from Ambarawa, Suruh, and Surakarta. Allied troops were later driven out of the nearby village of Jambu by the combined force of the Indonesian Army.
At the village of Ngipik, Allied troops were once again forced to retreat by the Indonesian Army, after attempting to establish control over two villages around Ambarawa. Indonesian troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Isdiman tried to free the two villages, but Isdiman was killed in action before reinforcements arrived. Commander of the 5th Banyumas Division, Colonel Soedirman, vowed to avenge Isdiman's death and called in reinforcements to besiege Allied positions in Central Java. Unknown to his servicemen, he had been elected Commander of the Armed Forces on 12 November in absentia, as he was still with his division.
Battle
On the morning of 23 November 1945, Indonesian troops began firing on Allied troops stationed in Ambarawa. A counterattack by the Allies forced the Indonesian Army to retreat to the village of Bedono.
On 11 December 1945, Soedirman held a meeting with various commanders of the Indonesian Army. The next day at 4:30 AM, the Indonesian Army launched an assault on the Allies in Ambarawa. Indonesian artillery pounded Allied positions, which were later overrun by infantry. When the Semarang-Ambarawa highway was captured by Indonesian troops, Soedirman immediately ordered his forces to cut off the supply routes of the remaining Allied troops by using a pincer maneuver.[2] The battle ended four days later on 15 December 1945, when Indonesia succeeded in regaining control over Ambarawa and the Allies retreated to Semarang.
Aftermath
Just three days after the victory, Soedirman was promoted to Major General and his election as Commander of the Armed Forces, retroactive to 12 November, was confirmed, succeeding Oerip Soemohardjo, the ad interim chief for the forces, who was appointed chief of staff.
The Palagan Ambarawa Monument in Ambarawa was erected in memory of the battle. The battle's anniversary is also celebrated nationwide as Indonesian Army Day (Hari Juang Kartika TNI Angkatan Darat), a day of celebration of the first ever victory of the young army in the Indonesian National Revolution.
References
^Matanasi, Petrik (15 December 2017). "Pertempuran Ambarawa, Kemenangan yang Memakan Banyak Korban". Tirto.id. from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
^G., Dwipayana (1989). Soeharto : Pikiran, Ucapan dan Tindakan Saya. Jakarta: Citra Kharisma Bunda. ISBN979-8085-01-9.
Bibliography
Anderson, Benedict R. O'G (1972). Java in a time of revolution: occupation and resistance,1944-1946. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press.
MacMillan, Richard (2006). The British Occupation of Indonesia 1945-1946: Britain, The Netherlands and the Indonesian Revolution. New York: Routledge. ISBN0-415-35551-6.
G., Dwipayana (1989). Soeharto : Pikiran, Ucapan dan Tindakan Saya. Jakarta: Citra Kharisma Bunda. ISBN979-8085-01-9.
February 13, 2023
battle, ambarawa, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Battle of Ambarawa news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Battle of Ambarawa Indonesian Palagan Ambarawa was a battle between the recently created Indonesian Army and the British Army that occurred between 20 October and 15 December 1945 in Ambarawa Indonesia Battle of AmbarawaPart of the Indonesian National RevolutionMonument in Ambarawa commemorating the battle Date20 October 15 December 1945 1 month 3 weeks and 4 days LocationAmbarawa IndonesiaResultIndonesian victory Withdrawal of Allied forces from Ambarawa and MagelangTerritorialchangesAmbarawa is recaptured by Indonesian forces Belligerents Indonesia United KingdomSupported by NICACommanders and leadersCol Soedirman Leader of People s Security Army Division V Banyumas Lt Col Isdiman Lt Col Gatot Subroto Division V Purwokerto Lt Col M Sarbini Central Kedu Regiment Maj Sarjono Battalion VIII Division III Surabaya Maj Soeharto Battalion X Division IX Yogyakarta Brigadier R G BethellUnits involvedIndonesian Army 5th Division Banyumas Civilian Militias Laskar laskar Rakyat British Army 23rd Infantry Division India 23rd Artillery BrigadeStrength10 000 Peak UnknownCasualties and losses2 000 killed 1 100 killed Contents 1 Prelude 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 References 5 BibliographyPrelude EditOn 20 October 1945 Allied troops under the command of Brigadier Bethell landed in Semarang to disarm Japanese troops and liberate POWs still detained in concentration camps in Central Java Initially the troops were welcomed in the area with Central Java s governor Wongsonegoro agreeing to provide them with food and other necessities in return for the Allies promise to respect Indonesia s sovereignty and independence The Netherlands Indies Civil Administration NICA were also in Semarang and welcomed the British presence However when Allied and NICA troops began freeing and arming freed Dutch POWs in Ambarawa and Magelang many locals were angered Relations were further ruined when the Allies began disarming members of the Indonesian Army Indonesian troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel M Sarbini began besieging Allied troops stationed in Magelang in reprisal for their attempted disarmament Indonesian president Sukarno intervened in the situation to calm tensions and the Allies secretly left Magelang to their stronghold in Ambarawa Sarbini s regiment followed the Allies in pursuit and was later joined by other Indonesian troops from Ambarawa Suruh and Surakarta Allied troops were later driven out of the nearby village of Jambu by the combined force of the Indonesian Army At the village of Ngipik Allied troops were once again forced to retreat by the Indonesian Army after attempting to establish control over two villages around Ambarawa Indonesian troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Isdiman tried to free the two villages but Isdiman was killed in action before reinforcements arrived Commander of the 5th Banyumas Division Colonel Soedirman vowed to avenge Isdiman s death and called in reinforcements to besiege Allied positions in Central Java Unknown to his servicemen he had been elected Commander of the Armed Forces on 12 November in absentia as he was still with his division Battle EditOn the morning of 23 November 1945 Indonesian troops began firing on Allied troops stationed in Ambarawa A counterattack by the Allies forced the Indonesian Army to retreat to the village of Bedono On 11 December 1945 Soedirman held a meeting with various commanders of the Indonesian Army The next day at 4 30 AM the Indonesian Army launched an assault on the Allies in Ambarawa Indonesian artillery pounded Allied positions which were later overrun by infantry When the Semarang Ambarawa highway was captured by Indonesian troops Soedirman immediately ordered his forces to cut off the supply routes of the remaining Allied troops by using a pincer maneuver 2 The battle ended four days later on 15 December 1945 when Indonesia succeeded in regaining control over Ambarawa and the Allies retreated to Semarang Aftermath EditJust three days after the victory Soedirman was promoted to Major General and his election as Commander of the Armed Forces retroactive to 12 November was confirmed succeeding Oerip Soemohardjo the ad interim chief for the forces who was appointed chief of staff The Palagan Ambarawa Monument in Ambarawa was erected in memory of the battle The battle s anniversary is also celebrated nationwide as Indonesian Army Day Hari Juang Kartika TNI Angkatan Darat a day of celebration of the first ever victory of the young army in the Indonesian National Revolution References Edit Matanasi Petrik 15 December 2017 Pertempuran Ambarawa Kemenangan yang Memakan Banyak Korban Tirto id Archived from the original on 2021 04 18 Retrieved 10 November 2021 G Dwipayana 1989 Soeharto Pikiran Ucapan dan Tindakan Saya Jakarta Citra Kharisma Bunda ISBN 979 8085 01 9 Bibliography EditAnderson Benedict R O G 1972 Java in a time of revolution occupation and resistance 1944 1946 Ithaca N Y Cornell University Press MacMillan Richard 2006 The British Occupation of Indonesia 1945 1946 Britain The Netherlands and the Indonesian Revolution New York Routledge ISBN 0 415 35551 6 G Dwipayana 1989 Soeharto Pikiran Ucapan dan Tindakan Saya Jakarta Citra Kharisma Bunda ISBN 979 8085 01 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Ambarawa amp oldid 1138509887, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
