Battle of Surabaya

Common card · No. 275714

The Battle of Surabaya (Javanese: ꦦꦺꦂꦠꦺꦩ꧀ꦥꦸꦫꦤ꧀ ꦯꦸꦫꦧꦪ; Indonesian: Pertempuran Surabaya) was a major battle in the Indonesian National Revolution fought between regular infantry and militia of the Indonesian nationalist movement and British and British Indian troops against the re-imposition of Dutch colonial rule. The peak of the battle was in November 1945, and was the largest single battle of the revolution and became a national symbol of Indonesian resistance. Considered a heroic effort by Indonesians, the battle helped galvanise Indonesian and international support for Indonesian independence. 10 November is celebrated annually as Heroes' Day (Hari Pahlawan). By the time British forces arrived at the end of October 1945, the Pemuda ("youth") foothold in Surabaya was described as "a strong unified fortress". Fighting broke out on 30 October after the British commander, Brigadier A. W. S. Mallaby was killed in a skirmish. The British retaliated with a coordinated sweep that began on 10...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Sergeant Desmond Davis, No. 9 Army Film and Photographic Unit, Public domain