The landing of the Allied forces under the command of Brig-Gen. A.W.S. Mallaby in Surabaya on October 25, 1945 formally was intended to disarm the Japanese military. However, it became a dishonor upon the Indonesian sovereignty since there were the Dutch NICA forces behind the Allied forces. This enraged the people of Surabaya, sparking a series of minor uprisings that persisted until November 3, 1945.
The situation escalated further when Brigadier General Mallaby, the Allied forces commander, was killed in an incident near Jembatan Merah (the Red Bridge) on October 30, 1945. In response, the Allied command, without consulting President Soekarno, issued an ultimatum demanding that the people of Surabaya hand over their weapons at designated locations by 6:00 PM on November 9, 1945. Failure to comply would result in Surabaya being bombarded from the air, sea, and land.
After consultations with the central government leaders in Jakarta, the decision was entrusted to the leaders in Surabaya. East Java Governor Suryo then formally announced the refusal to surrender, which was welcomed by all layers of the fighters and people of Surabaya with the independence yell: Merdeka!
Independent or Dead
In the early hours of November 10, the historic Battle of Surabaya erupted. British forces, bolstered by two additional brigades (the 9th and 123rd Indian Brigades) of the 5th Indian Division under the command of Major General Robert Mansergh, launched a coordinated offensive. Equipped with Sherman and Stuart tanks, they advanced systematically through the city, supported by relentless naval and aerial bombardment. The assault came from all directions, with two cruisers and three destroyers, including HMS Cavalier, providing reinforcement. From the seaside at Tanjung Perak harbor, their gunfire was directed at the center of the city, while Allied bombers were sweeping from the air.
The Allied forces, led by British (Gurkha) troops and armed with modern weaponry, faced fierce resistance from approximately 20,000 troops of the newly-formed People's Security Army (Tentara Keamanan Rakyat) and over 100,000 irregular fighters. United by their unwavering determination for Indonesian independence, these fighters put up a tenacious defense against the well-equipped invaders.
The battle was fierce. Ktut Tantri, in her book Revolution on Peace Island, attempted to depict the battle in a poetic manner, carrying a tone of both tragedy and heroism.
"... Surabaya was continuously bombarded by the Allied for three nights. Hundreds of victims fell down. The streets were moisted by blood. Women and children died in the drains. Campongs became seas of fire, and the people ran bewildered to the ricefields to save their lives. But the Indonesian people refused to capitulate ...."
The Republicans fought fearlessly in defending Surabaya, with only two words in their mind, "Independent or Dead". Lieut.-Col. A.J.F Doulton described the bravery in his book "The Fighting Cock":
The Indonesian people in Surabaya did not care the victims. If one fell, another one came forward. Bren firing continued. The heaps of dead bodies piled up, but the Indonesian people continued to arrive in greater numbers, pushing on and on ....
The Battle of Surabaya highlighted the intensity of the Indonesian resistance. General Mansergh’s request for additional military reinforcements, including 8 Thunderbolts, 4 Mosquitoes, 21 Sherman tanks, and numerous carriers, reflected the scale of the conflict.
After three days of relentless fighting, the city’s hospitals and streets were overwhelmed with casualties. More than 6,000 Indonesian troops lost their lives, and 200,000 civilians fled the devastated city. On the Allied side, British and Indian forces suffered approximately 600 casualties. The Allied forces also mourned the loss of Brig. Gen. Robert Guy Loder Symond, who was injured on November 10, 1945, and succumbed to his wounds the following day.
The battle, marked by its brutality, became the bloodiest single engagement of the war and symbolized the Indonesian nationalists’ unwavering determination. Their sacrifice served as an inspiration for the revolution, making Britain hesitant to engage in further conflicts. Britain even supported the Indonesian Republic in the United Nations. For the Dutch, the battle was a stark reminder that the Republic had widespread support and was no longer under colonial domination.
The "Heroes of November 10th" monument in Surabaya honors this historic battle. Today, November 10 is celebrated across Indonesia as "Heroes' Day," commemorating the sacrifices and heroism of those who fought.
Reference:- Wikipedia. The Battle of Surabaya. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Surabaya, accessed November 8, 2011. 3:00pm.
- Public Relation Bureau East Java Province. 1992. Battle of Surabaya. Panorama, Jawa Timur.
