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Semarang offensive | |||||||||
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Part of the Indonesian National Revolution | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
Indonesia |
Supported by: NICA | ||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Col. 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. Bethell | ||||||||
Units involved | |||||||||
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Strength | |||||||||
10,000+ (Battle of Ambarawa) | <7,000 (Battle of Ambarawa) | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
2,000 killed[1] (Battle of Ambarawa, including civillians) | 100 killed (in Ambarawa only) |
The Semarang offensive is composite of the Battle of Ambarawa (20 October--15 December 1945; 55 days), Magelang offensive(26 October--15 December 1945; 49 days) [2], Battle of Ungaran or Ungaran offensive, and Semarang offensive proper (15 December 1945--2 March 1946; 87 days) (Indonesian: Palagan Ambarawa). This major battle took place between the recently created Indonesian Army and the British Army with the Dutch forces that occurred between 20 October 1945 and 2 March 1946 in Semarang city, Semarang Regency, and Magelang Regency in Central Java, Indonesia. Perhaps the most successful Indonesian offensive of the Indonesian Revolution, this offensive burned up all British and Dutch forces in the Semarang Metropolitan area, turning them into ashes. In modern times, 15 December is celebrated as the Indonesian National Infantry Day.