Battle of Medan

Battle of Medan
Part of the Indonesian National Revolution
Date 13 October 1945 – April 1946 (6 months) Location Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia Result Allied victory Withdrawal of Indonesian forces to Pemantangsiantar
Belligerents
Indonesia	Allies:  United Kingdom  British Raj  Netherlands Dutch East Indies
Commanders and leaders
Achmad Tahir	Ted Kelly
Units involved
Indonesian Army	British Army KNIL NICA

The Battle of Medan (Indonesian: Pertempuran Medan) was a battle between Allied forces and the Indonesian Army in Medan, North Sumatra, and its surrounding area during the Indonesian National Revolution.^[1] The conflict is also known in Indonesia as The Battlefield, due to the similarity of the Indonesian words for Medan and field.

Prelude

On 27 August 1945, Indonesia proclaimed its independence to the people of Medan through Teuku Mohammad Hassan, who was acting as Governor of Sumatra in Sukarno's Presidential Cabinet. The Allies, who had just liberated Indonesia from its Japanese occupation, landed in Medan on 9 October 1945 under the leadership of Ted Kelly, with the intention of reestablishing Dutch rule over the islands. Allied troops from British Raj and the Netherlands were soon joined by the NICA, in preparation for a Dutch takeover. The arrival of the Allies and the NICA angered many local Indonesians, who saw this as an attack on their country's new sovereignty. On 13 October 1945, the Indonesian Army launched attacks against troops from the Allies and the NICA in an effort to seize government buildings formerly occupied by the Japanese. The British delegation issued an ultimatum to the Indonesian people to disarm and hand over their weapons to the Allies, which was promptly ignored.

Battle

On 1 December 1945, the Allies attempted to create a buffer zone and planted signs inscribed with the message "Fixed Medan Area Boundaries" in the outskirts of Medan. Nine days later, on 10 December 1945, the Allies and the NICA launched a massive attack against Indonesian troops stationed in Medan. The attack caused many casualties on both sides. In April 1946, the Allies succeeded in occupying Medan, and Indonesian forces retreated to Pemantangsiantar.

Aftermath

Indonesia's local government established the People's Army Commando Regiment of Medan in order to continue their resistance against the Allies. Commander Initerus led troops in an insurgency against the Allies in Medan until the end of Dutch rule in Indonesia in 1949.

References