Battle of Semarang

Battle of Semarang
Part of the Indonesian National Revolution
Tugu Muda in Semarang commemorating the battle
Date 15–19 October 1945[a] Location Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia Result Ceasefire
Belligerents
Indonesia	Japan
Commanders and leaders
	Kido Shinichirō
Units involved
Indonesian pemuda BKR Police	5th Special Infantry Battalion (Kido Butai), Yagi Butai (battalion of 42nd Infantry Regiment, 5th Division, 2nd Army), and smaller units
Strength
7,000	441[2]–949[3]
Casualties and losses
2,000 dead (including civilians)[4][5][6]	150[7]–850 dead[6] 61 wounded[7] 231 missing[7][b]

The Battle of Semarang (Indonesian: Pertempuran Semarang), in Indonesia also known as Pertempuran Lima Hari (Five Days' Battle)^[8] was a clash between Japanese forces of the Sixteenth Army and Indonesian forces consisting of People's Security Agency personnel and pemuda in October 1945 at the city of Semarang, Central Java. The battle is considered as the first major clash involving the Indonesian military.

With the Japanese surrender, Indonesian authorities attempted to seize Japanese arms in anticipation for a Dutch return. Tensions rose after the Semarang garrison refused to hand over their weapons, and after an incident sparked a massacre of Japanese civilians, fighting broke out between the Japanese and Indonesian forces.

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