Five Days of War in Semarang

Peperangan Lima Hari di Semarang

The news of the Proclamation that had been announced in Jakarta, finally came to
the news about Semarang. As has happened the disarmament of Japanese soldiers in
several cities in Indonesia. The Semarang youth also followed the same steps by disarming
Japanese soldiers led by Major Kido, who at that time was based in Jatingaleh.
On October 13, 1945, the atmosphere became increasingly tense and the Japanese
army felt even more urged. On October 14, 1945 Major Kido carried out a reckless
campaign, expressly rejecting the surrender of weapons. The action taken by Major Kido
turned out to ignite the anger of Semarang Youth, they immediately moved to make the hall
of Purusara hospital as the headquarters of the fighters, it turned out that the Semarang
youth movement received a response from the youths in the hospital. The young men
shoulder to shoulder with the army Japan using guerrilla warfare tactics.
On October 14, 1945 at exactly 6:30 a.m. WIB, the hospital youths got instructions to
intercept all Japanese Army vehicles passing through the Purusara Hospital area. The young
man managed to confiscate a competing sedan car and disarm. In the afternoon, the young
people actively sought out Japanese soldiers and hacked them into Bulu Prison. Around
18:00 the Japanese army carried out a sudden counterattack and disarmed eight members
of the Special Police who were guarding the drinking water source of Semarang Siranda
reservoir. The Japanese army also arrested the eight members of the special police and
tortured them by taking him to Kido Butai Headquarters in Jatingaleh. At the same time the
news of the Japanese army spreading poison spread in the Siranda Reservoir water source.
After Maghrib, Dr. Kariadi got a call from the head of the Purusara Hospital, ordered
him to examine Siranda Reservoir. Because it was rumored that the water source was
poisoned by the Japanese Army, Dr. Kariadi rushed to the source of drinking water for the
Semarang residents, without ignoring his safety, because at the same time the Japanese
army was vigorously carrying out attacks in several places in Semarang and one of them was
the place for the Reservoir to be studied by Dr. Kariadi. Dr. Kariadi’s wife named drg. Sunarti
tried to hold him back because of the situation that was urgent outside. But Dr. Kariadi was
determined to check Siranda's Reservoir, because it involved the lives of many people.
Hearing this reason Drg. Sunarti can't do anything.
In the end, Dr. Kariadi left for Siranda Reservoir to ascertain the news that the
Japanese army had overrun the drinking water source, not yet arrived at the location,
precisely on Pandanaran Street, the car that Dr. Kariadi was intercepted by Japanese
soldiers and brutally shoted by the Japanese. Even though he had been taken to hospital,
Dr. Kariadi was not helped, because his wound was too machete. Dr. Kariadi death event,
who was killed by Japanese soldiers, became the trigger for Semarang's youth anger.
 On October 15, 2045 at around 3:00 a.m. WIB, Major Kido ordered 1,000 Japanese
troops to attack Semarang city center. Meanwhile the news of the death of Dr. Kariadi that
circulated quickly so that ignited the anger of all the citizens of Semarang, the following day
the war was even more widespread throughout the city. On October 17, 1945, Japanese
soldiers announced truce, but secretly they attacked various villages. On October 19, 1945,
fierce fighting continued throughout the city of Semarang. This battle itself lasted for 5 days
which claimed 2,000 lives in Semarang and 850 Japanese soldiers.
To commemorate the spirit of struggle of the youth and city warriors of Semarang, a
monument called "Tugu Muda" was built. The monument was built on November 10, 1950
and was inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Ir. Sukarno on May 20,
1953.
Berita Proklamasi yang telah dikumandangkan di Jakarta, akhirnya terdengar juga sampai
kora Semarang. Sebagaimana telah terjadi pelucutan senjata tentara Jepang di beberapa
kota di Indonesia. Pemuda Semarang pun mengikuti langkah yang sama dengan melakukan
pelucutan senjata tentara Jepang yang dipimpin Mayor Kido yang kala itu bermarkas di
Jatingaleh.

Padatanggal 13 Oktober 1945, suasana semakin mencekam dan tentara Jepang pun merasa
semakin terdesak. Pada tanggal 14 Oktober 1945 Mayor Kido melakukan tendakan yang
nekat, dengan menolak secara tegas penyerahan senjata.

Tindakan yang dilakukan Mayor Kido ini ternyata menyulut amarah Pemuda Semarang,
mereka pun langsung bergerak menjadikan aula rumah sakit Purusara sebagai markas
pejuang, ternyata pergerakan pemuda Semarang mendapat sambutan dari para pemuda
yang ada di rumah sakit tersebut.. Para pemuda saling bahu-membahu menghadapi tentara
Jepang dengan menggunakan taktik perang gerilya.

Pada tanggal 14 Oktober 1945 tepatnya jam 06.30 WIB, Para pemuda rumah sakit mendapat
intruksi guna mencegat semua kendaraan Tentara Jepang yang melewati area Rumah Sakit
Purusara. Pemuda berhasil menyita Mobil Sedan milik Kompetai dan melucuti senjata. Pada
sore harinya, tanpa mengenal lelah para pemuda pun aktif mencari tentara Jepang dan
menjeblokan mereka ke Penjara Bulu.Sekitar pukul 18.00 tentara Jepang melakukan
serangan balasan secara mendadak dan melucuti delapan anggota Polisi Istimewa yang
waktu itu menjaga sumber air minum warga semarang "reservoir Siranda".

Tentara Jepang pun menangkap kedelapan anggota Polisi Istimewa dan melakukan
penyiksaan dengan membawanya ke Markas Kido Butai di Jatingaleh. Pada waktu yang sama
tersiar kabar tentara jepang telah menebar racun di Sumber air "Reservoir Siranda".

Selepas Maghrib, Dr Kariadi mendapat telepon dari Pimpinan RS. Purusara yang
memerintahkan agar beliau memeriksa Reservoir Siranda. Karena sudah tersiar kabar
sumber air tersebut diracuni Tentara Jepang. Dr. Kariadi pun bergegas pergi menuju ke
sumber air minum warga Semarang tersebut, tanpai menghiraukan keselamatannya, karena
pada waktu yang sama tentara Jepang gencar melakukan serangan dibeberapa tempat di
Semarang dan salah satunya tempat menuju Reservoir yang akan di teliti Dr Kariadi.

Isteri Dr. Kariada yang bernama drg. Sunarti mencoba menahan beliau karena keadaan yang
sedang genting diluar. Akan tetapi Dr. Kariadi bertekat bulat guna memeriksa Reservoir
Siranda, karena menyangkut nyawa banyak orang. Mendengar alasan ini drg Sunarti tidak
bisa berbuat apa-apa.

Akhirna Dr. Kariadi berangkat menuju Reservoir Siranda guna memastikan berita bahwa
tentara Jepang telah merauni sumber air minum tersebut, belum sampai di lokasi, tepatnya
di jalan Pandanaran, mobil yang ditumpangi Dr. Kariadi dihadang tentara Jepang, dan bilau
ditembaki secara keci oleh Jepang, walau sempat dibawa ke rumah sakit, nyawa Dr. Kariadi
tidak tertolong, karena lukanya yang terlalu parang.

Kejadian kematian Dr. Kariadi yang dibunuh tentara jepang inilah yang menjadi penyulut
amarah Pemuda Semarang.

Pada tanggal 15 Oktober 2045 sekitar pukul 03.00 WIB, Mayor Kido memerintahkan 1.000
tentara Jepang untuk melakukan penyerangan ke Pusat Kota Semarang. Sementara itu
berita Gugurnya Dr. Kariadi yang beredar dengan cepat sehingga menyulut amarah seluruh
warga Semarang, hari berikutnya peperangan pun semakin meluas ke penjuru kota.

Pada tanggal 17 Oktober 1945, tentara Jepang mengumumkan Genjatan Senjata, namun
diam-diam mereka melakukan serangan ke berbagai kampung.

Pada tanggal 19 Oktober 1945, pertempuran sengit terus terjadi di seluruh penjuru kota
Semarang. Pertempuran ini sendiri berlangsung Hingga 5 hari yang memakan korban 2.000
jiwa warga Semarang dan 850 tentara Jepang.

Untuk memperingati Semangat Perjuangan Para Pemuda dan Pejuang kota Semaang maka
dibangunlah sebuah Monumen bernama "Tugu Muda". Monumen tugu ini dibangun pada
tanggal 10 November 1950 dan diresmikan oleh Presiden RI Ir. Sukarno pada tanggal 20 Mei
1953.