Biography of General Soedirman

General Soedirman's real name is Raden Soedirman who

was born on January 24, 1916 in Purbalingga, Central
Java Province.
General Soedirman's parents were Mr. Karsid
Kartawiraji, a sugar factory worker in Kalibagor,
Banyumas and Mrs. Siyem who was a descendant of the
Rembang Wedana. He has one brother namely
Muhammad Samingan. His wife is Alifah and he has 7
children.
General Soedirman was not lived by his parents, he was raised by his uncle named
Raden Cokrosunaryo who was a sub-district head in Rembang Purbalingga so he
could live a more decent and established life. At that time Raden Cokrosunaryo did
not have children so he adopted General Soedirman as his son. Together with his
uncle, since childhood, the General did get a proper education.
At the age of 7 years, he attended Hollandsch Inlandsche School (HIS) which then
continued to Taman Siswa when he was 8 years old. Then he was transferred again to
the Wirotomo School because Taman Siswa was considered by the Dutch to be an
illegal institution the following year.
Young Soedirman was known as a child who was obedient in worship, diligent in
studying, and diligent in understanding Islam from Raden Muhammad. He later
earned the nickname Hajj because of his religious knowledge and often lectured in
front of Muslims at that time.
After his uncle died, General was devastated by the departure of his adoptive parents.
He also had to experience very poor economic problems. Luckily, he was still allowed
to go to school in Wirotomo without paying.
Thanks to his intelligence he survived and continued to hone his skills. General
Soedirman finally started co-founding Islamic organizations when he was still a
teenager, namely Hizbul Wathan, which belongs to the Muhammadiyah Organization.
Because of his dedication from an early age, in the end, General Soedirman was
entrusted with leading the organization at the Cilacap branch.
General Soedirman's leadership spirit had emerged since he was young, so that the
people respected and respected the General. He also continued his studies at
Kweekschool (a special school for teacher candidates) although in the end it was not
completed due to financial problems. General Soedirman returned to Cilacap and
taught Muhammadiyah elementary school teachers there.
His personal teacher named Muhammad Kholil was the one who appointed the
general to become a teacher at the Hollandsch Inlandsche School (HIS).
It was also in Cilacap that the General met his beloved, Alifah, the wife who is the
daughter of a wealthy batik entrepreneur, namely Raden Sosro Atmojo.
During the Dutch era, General Soedirman was not known as a fighter. According to
Hatta, the general was known by the people as a teacher. Grameds can also learn the
life story of General Soedirman through Soedirman's book which contains the history
of life, struggles, and love.

Organizations Followed by General Soedirman

he was active in organizing youth Muhammadiyah. During the Japanese occupation in

1942, his teaching activities were restricted by the Japanese and the school where he
taught was made into a Japanese military post.
General Soedirman managed to negotiate with the Japanese government so that he
could still teach native children there, even with makeshift and limited learning
equipment. During the Japanese colonial period it also worsened the economy and
welfare of the Indonesian people at that time.
Due to his active involvement, the General was finally appointed as chairman of the
Japanese Residency Council in 1944. Since then, General Soedirman began to be
active in the military world and joined PETA, where he later went to study military
education in Bogor. After graduating from this military education, General Soedirman
became the Kroya battalion.
His activity in the military brought General Soedirman to meet Soekarno and Hatta
and was assigned to oversee the process of surrendering Japanese soldiers in
Banyumas, to be precise after he established the local division of the Indonesian
People's Security Agency at that time.
Since that incident, General Soedirman's troops were made the V division by Oerip
Soemohardjo, who was the interim commander at the time. While General Soedirman
became commander in chief for division V or the Banyumas area with the rank of
Colonel right after the formation of the People's Security Army (TKR) or BKR.

General Soedirman's Military Career

A leader who is smart in negotiating is the right name for General Soedirman. Before
being ruled by the Japanese, General Soedirman had already been entrusted by the
Dutch government to provide military training for native soldiers.
During the Japanese colonial period, the General was then entrusted with leading an
organization formed by the Japanese called Syu Sangi Kai to maintain the security of
the Indonesian people from allied attacks. These organizations include Defenders of
the Homeland (PETA).
Becoming a member of PETA was the beginning of the story of General Soedirman in
his involvement in the military struggle and the formation of the Indonesian army. The
General then attended training in Bogor as Batch II.

Because of his qualified potential in the military training, General Soedirman was
eventually appointed commander assigned to the Kroya Banyumas Battalion, Central
Java Province, with complete weapons and equipment.

Thanks to his responsibilities, General Soedirman became chairman of the People's

Security Agency (BKR) and Lieutenant Colonel Commander of the Regiment I
Division I of the People's Security Army (TKR) for the Banyumas Residency.
On November 12, 1945, General Soedirman was appointed General of the Supreme
Commander of the TKR and Commander of the TKR on December 18, 1945. His
military career continued brilliantly until he earned the rank of General Commander in
Chief of the Indonesian People's Army (TRI) on May 25, 1946 until he became
General Commander of the National Armed Forces Indonesian first. The greatness of
the General was recognized by the Indonesian people at that time until now.

Some of General Soedirman's military career:

 PETA Batch II in Bogor

 Daidanco Kroya, Banyumas, Central Java Province
 Chairman of the People's Security Agency for the Residency of Banyumas,
Central Java Province
 Lieutenant Colonel Commander Regiment I Division I People's Security Army
(TKR)
 Colonel Commander of Division V TKR Banyumas, Central Java Province
 General Commander-in-Chief of TKR on November 12, 1945
 General Commander of the TRI on May 25, 1946
 General Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces