The Fight of Semarangese Against the Japanese

NEWS of Indonesia's proclamation of independence sparked euphoria among the youth in Semarang, Central Java. They immediately took control of civilian installations. Mr. Wongsonegoro, a Semarangese official who was later appointed governor of Central Java, tried to bridge the demands of the youth and Badan Keamanan Rakyat (the People's Security Agency or BKR) to disarm the Japanese army.

The negotiations went smoothly after Major General Nakamura Junji, commander of the 16th Army of the Japanese Army in Central Java based in Magelang, received the blessing of the 16th Army Headquarters in Jakarta. He then issued an order to hand over weapons and ammunition.

However, challenges came from Kido Butai, an elite Japanese force in Semarang led by Major Kido Shinishiro, who refused to hand over their weapons and remained on guard at their headquarters in Jatingaleh. Kido even contacted other units, such as those in Sumowono and Ambarawa, to join them in strengthening Semarang's defenses.

The youths refused to give in to their demands. On October 12, 1945, they went to Kido Butai's headquarters, but there was no agreement resulted from the negotiations. Meanwhile, Japanese soldiers strengthened their defenses, and opened fire on the youth fighters at around 9 pm.

“The Japanese also conducted a patrol throughout the city,” said Supriya Priyanto, a historian at Diponegoro University, Semarang.

The youth fought back. Gunfire broke out across the city.

The Death of Dr. Kariadi

On the evening of October 12, 1945, the people of Semarang were anxious by rumors that the Japanese had poisoned the Siranda water reservoir in Candi Baru. Dr. Kariadi, head of the laboratory at Purusara Hospital (now Dr. Kariadi Central General Hospital), wanted to find out the truth. He went to the location to take samples for laboratory research, but while passing Jalan Pandaran, he and his driver were shot by Japanese soldiers. He was immediately rushed to the hospital but didn't survive because his wounds were so severe.

The news of Dr. Kariadi's  murder spread throughout the city. The youth fighters were enraged. On the evening of October 13, 1945, they held a youth conference throughout Central Java and made a decision: they must attack Japan as revenge.

“The easiest way was to take revenge at Bulu Prison,” said Priyanto.

In Bulu Prison and the former Shipping School dormitory on Jalan Pandanaran, there were 300 Japanese civilians who had just been transferred from the Cepiring steel mill in Kendal. Some escaped during the transfer and joined the Kempeitai headquarters in Candi Lama and the Kido Butai headquarters in Jatingaleh.

On the evening of the 14th, the youths stormed Bulu Prison and killed the Japanese prisoners. Meanwhile, at the former Shipping School dormitory, the youths encountered resistance. “Because the guards here were young men, they were pretentious and treated prisoners as they pleased. So the prisoners rebelled,” Priyanto continued.

According to Han Bing Siong, a criminal historian at the University of Indonesia, in “The Secret of Major Kido: The Battle of Semarang, October 15-19, 1945", published in Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde, Deel 152, 3de Afl. (1996), the resistance of the Japanese prisoners was planned. Kido's men had informed them the day before that Kido Butai would attack the city center. Some of the pistols used by some of the prisoners proved that Kido's men had infiltrated.

The Battle

At dawn on October 15, 1945, Kido Butai's troops stormed the city. In less than an hour, they took control of the Candi Baru area. Fighting erupted mainly around where Tugu Muda now stands. The Du Pavillion Hotel (now Dibya Puri Hotel), near the headquarters of the militia Angkatan Muda Republik Indonesia (AMRI), was also the scene of gunfire.

Lacking weapons and experience, the armed forces in Semarang chose to retreat and enter the villages. They consisted of the BKR Land Unit, Sea Unit, and Air Unit; the Tjadangan Ronggolawe troops (student troops under the Ronggolawe Division); and troops such as AMRI under Bambang Soeprapto. Japanese troops, later supported by the Kempeitai and militia, carried out patrol in the villages.

“Youths from regions and villages formed their own resistance when Japanese troops attacked their villages,” wrote Hartono Kasmadi in Monumen Perjuangan Jawa Tengah (Monument of the Struggle of Central Java).

Some troops sneaked in to seize Japanese weapons. After entering the city, battalions Muharto, Erlangga, and Sudaryono split up to Pendrikan and Pandean Lamper to look for targets. Meanwhile, the youths and students targeted, killed, and took the property of the Japanese.

Fighters in other cities immediately sent help. From the south and southeast, help came from Purwodadi, Solo, Magelang, Salatiga, Ambarawa, Banyumas, and Yogyakarta. From Yogyakarta, for example, Yon X Soeharto troops came and fought on the Pandean Lamper front. Meanwhile, troops from Regiment 21 and Regiment 22, which were Special Forces, occupied the southeast part of the city.

The news that Major General Nakamura had been taken prisoner made Kido even more violent. They stormed the governor's office and arrested Wongsonegoro.

Ceasefire negotiations were held, including involving envoys from the central government in Jakarta. However, the fighting continued until October 19, 1945, hence the name, the Five-Day Battle in Semarang.

The fighting only stopped shortly after the arrival of the 3/10th Gurkha Rifles from the 49th Indian Infantry Brigade/23rd Indian Division under Lieutenant Colonel Edwards on October 19, 1945. This battle killed 187 Japanese soldiers and 600 civilians, while casualties on the Indonesian side were approximately 2,000 people.

“It was the bloodiest incident in the early stages of the war of independence and showed Japan's delicate position after their defeat,” wrote Ken'ichi Goto in Tensions of Empire: Japan and Southeast Asia in the Colonial and Postcolonial World.