The Struggle for Independence: The Indonesian Revolution and British Intervention, 1945-1946

 

The period following Japan’s surrender to the Allies on August 14, 1945, marked the beginning of a turbulent chapter in Indonesia’s fight for independence. A few days after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Empire of Japan capitulated to the Allied forces, setting the stage for a series of geopolitical shifts in Southeast Asia. As stipulated in the Potsdam Agreement, Japan was required to maintain the status quo in the Dutch East Indies until Allied forces, primarily British troops, arrived to assume control. However, this arrangement automatically denied the Indonesian people’s aspirations for independence.

In the days following Japan’s surrender, the people of the Dutch East Indies took matters into their own hands. On August 17, 1945, just three days after Japan’s surrender, the Indonesian independence movement led by Sukarno and Hatta declared the Republic of Indonesia. The new republic, determined not to be bound by agreements made between Japan and the Allied forces, began to assert its authority, triggering resistance against the Japanese forces who still occupied parts of the archipelago.

Resistance against the 16th Imperial Japanese Army, which had ruled Indonesia, flared up in key cities such as Bandung, Semarang, Ambarawa, Magelang, Yogyakarta, and Surabaya. The primary aim of these actions was to seize weapons and bolster the organizations that supported Indonesian independence. Historian Rushdy Hoesein notes that this momentum largely went unnoticed by the Allies, who were preoccupied with the situation in Singapore and Australia.

The first wave of British soldiers arrived in Indonesia on September 15, 1945, when thousands of troops disembarked from the HMS Cumberland at Tanjung Priok Port. The British had little suspicion about the scale of the emerging conflict. They had received intelligence from the Dutch-in-exile, who had been working with the British military in Australia. This information was disseminated by British officers such as Major A.G. Greenhalgh, who had conducted reconnaissance missions in Jakarta in early September.

Greenhalgh’s report to Lord Mountbatten stated that Indonesian nationalists were disorganized and in disarray following Japan’s surrender. This was a stark contrast to the intelligence provided by Lieutenant Colonel Laurens van der Post and Major General Yamamoto Moishiro, who had a clearer understanding of the nationalist sentiment in Indonesia. Yamamoto, who had been interned by the Japanese, warned the British that a failure to recognize the newly declared Republic of Indonesia could lead to severe violence on Java.

Despite these warnings, the British military ignored the advice and proceeded with their landing. They assumed the role of stabilizing Indonesia, which, to the Dutch, meant reasserting colonial control. This move was met with resistance from Indonesian nationalist groups who began targeting European, Chinese, and Indo civilians in cities like Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Semarang. These violent outbreaks were a clear indication of the escalating tensions between the Indonesian people and the returning colonial powers.

In November 1945, the political landscape shifted with the formation of a parliamentary cabinet under Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir. This change was initially welcomed by the Dutch and the British, as they saw Sjahrir as a figure who might be more malleable in negotiations than the fiercely independent Sukarno and Hatta. The British, in particular, hoped to use Sjahrir’s position to mediate between the Dutch and the Republic of Indonesia.

Sjahrir, who had a deep understanding of the international political landscape, recognized the importance of maintaining good relations with the British, who had significant influence over the Dutch. He believed that diplomatic engagement with the British was critical to Indonesia’s future independence. This political pragmatism led to a series of negotiations, beginning with the British, the Dutch, and the Indonesian government on November 17, 1945.

The outcome of these negotiations resulted in a compromise: British forces would oversee the security of several key Indonesian cities, including Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, and Surabaya, temporarily. Sjahrir agreed to this arrangement in the hope that it would avoid further bloodshed and stabilize the situation. However, the decision to disarm Indonesian forces in these cities, particularly Jakarta, was met with mixed reactions from within the Republic.

Despite Sjahrir’s diplomatic efforts, the situation on the ground was far from peaceful. Nationalist youth groups, particularly those aligned with the Indonesian National Army (TKR), strongly opposed the British presence and the government’s decision to evacuate military forces from key areas. On November 21, 1945, TKR forces under Lieutenant Priyatna ambushed a British supply convoy in Bandung, seizing its contents and killing several Gurkha soldiers in the process.

This attack highlighted the deepening mistrust between the Indonesian military and the British forces. The Indonesian military, while divided on the issue, maintained a strong resistance against British attempts to control their movements. The conflict escalated further in December 1945, with additional ambushes and clashes between Indonesian forces and British troops, particularly along critical transportation routes.

In March 1946, tensions reached a boiling point when British Supreme Commander Lieutenant General Montagu George Nort Stopford issued an ultimatum to Prime Minister Sjahrir, demanding that nationalist groups be expelled from southern Bandung. Sjahrir, recognizing the imbalance of power between the Indonesian forces and the British, agreed to the request, albeit reluctantly.

The decision to comply with the British demand for disarmament came after a strategic discussion between Sjahrir and his military commanders, including Major General Didi Kartasasmita and Colonel A.H. Nasution. Sjahrir believed that preserving the strength of the Indonesian forces was paramount for the larger struggle against the Dutch, which he viewed as the true enemy of Indonesian independence.

One of the most defining moments of the Indonesian Revolution came when Major General Didi Kartasasmita refused to comply with a British order to withdraw Indonesian forces from Bandung. In a conversation with British officers, Didi made it clear that the Indonesian military could not afford to lose face by retreating. He argued that such an act would undermine the morale of the troops and weaken the Republic’s standing in the eyes of the world.

Didi’s stance aligned with the wishes of the Indonesian leadership in Yogyakarta, who sent a telegram to the Division III Headquarters, instructing them to resist compromise. The telegram read, “Every inch of blood spilled must be defended,” a sentiment that reflected the growing determination of the Indonesian people to fight for their independence at all costs.

The period following Japan’s surrender was a pivotal time in Indonesia’s struggle for independence. While the British sought to reassert Dutch colonial control, Indonesian nationalists led by Sukarno, Hatta, and Sjahrir continued to resist. The internal divisions within the Republic, as well as the tactical decisions made by key military leaders like Didi Kartasasmita, played a crucial role in shaping the future of Indonesia.

The refusal to submit to British authority, despite the challenges, marked a key moment in the eventual success of Indonesia’s fight for independence. By 1949, after years of political and military struggles, Indonesia would achieve its independence from the Dutch. The resistance, the negotiation processes, and the actions of the Indonesian leadership during this turbulent period helped lay the foundation for the sovereign nation of Indonesia.