Defenders of the Homeland

Summary

The Defenders of the Homeland (Japanese: 郷土防衛義勇軍, romanizedKyōdo Bōei Giyūgun; Indonesian: (Tentara Sukarela) Pembela Tanah Air, PETA) was a volunteer army established on 3 October 1943 in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) by the occupying Japanese. The Japanese intended PETA to assist their forces in opposing a possible invasion by the Allies. By the end of World War II, there were a total of 69 battalions (daidan) in Java (around 37,000 men) and Sumatra (approximately 20,000 men). On 17 August 1945, the day after the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, the Japanese ordered the PETA daidan to surrender and hand over their weapons, which most of them did. Indonesia's inaugural President, Sukarno, supported the dissolution rather than turn the organisation into a national army as he feared allegations of collaboration had he allowed a Japanese-created militia to continue to exist.[3][4][5]

Defenders of the Homeland
郷土防衛義勇軍
(Tentara Sukarela) Pembela Tanah Air
Colour used by PETA battalions
Active3 October 1943 – 15 August 1945
CountryDutch East Indies and British Malaya[1]
AllegianceEmpire of Japan Imperial Japanese Army
TypeInfantry
RoleDefending the Japanese-occupied Dutch East Indies and British Malaya from Allied invasion
Size66 Battalions in Java, 3 Battalions in Bali, c. 20,000 men in Sumatra, c. 2,000 men in Malaya
Nickname(s)PETA
Colors  Purple,   Green,   Red, &   White
MarchMars Tentara Pembela[2]
Engagements1945 PETA revolt in Blitar

During the Indonesian War of Independence, former PETA officers and troops, such as Suharto and Sudirman, formed the core of the fledgling Indonesian National Armed Forces.

Structure of PETA edit

Battalion Battalion commander
(daidancho)
Notes Officers of other ranks
(chūdanchō, shōdanchó)
I Labuan, Banten Tubagus Ahmad Chatib al-Bantani [id] Muslim cleric Suhadisastra
II Malingping, Banten E. Ojong Temaja Muslim cleric M.B. Sutman
III Serang, Banten Syam'un Muslim cleric Zainul Falah
IV Pandeglang, Banten Uding Sujatmadja Mustaram
I Harmoni, Djakarta Kasman Singodimedjo Graduate of RHS
Former leader of JIB and MIAI
Moeffreni Moe'min [id]
Latief Hendraningrat [id]
II Purwakarta, Djakarta Surjodipuro Mursid
I Djampang Kulon, Bogor Abdullah bin Nuh [id] Muslim cleric Husen Aleksah
II Pelabuan Ratu, Bogor M. Basuni Muslim cleric Mulja
III Sukabumi, Bogor Kafrawi Machmud
IV Tjibeber, Tjiandjur, Bogor R. Gunawan Resmiputro Ishak Djuarsa [id]
I Tasikmalaja, Priangan K.H. Sutalaksana Muslim cleric Abdullah Saleh
II Pangandaran, Priangan K.H. Pardjaman Muslim cleric K. Hamid
III Bandung, Priangan Iljas Sasmita Permana
Umar Wirahadikusumah
IV Tjimahi, Priangan Arudji Kartawinata Graduate of MULO
Former executive of PSII
Soeparjadi
Poniman [id]
Supardi (Indonesia) [id]
V Garut, Priangan R. Sofjan Iskandar Katamsi Sutisna
I Tjirebon Abdulgani Surjokusumo Rukman
II Madjalengka, Tjirebon R. Zaenal Asikin Judibrata Suarman
I Pekalongan Iskandar Idris Muslim cleric Ajub
II Tegal, Pekalongan K.H. Durjatman Muslim cleric Sumardjono
I Tjilatjap, Banjumas R. Sutirto R. Hartojo
II Sumpiuh, Banjumas Susalit Joyoadiningrat [id] Zaelan Asikin
III Kroja, Banjumas Sudirman Graduate of Muhammadiyah teachers' training school
Muhammadiyah schoolteacher
Supardjo Rustam
IV Banjumas Isdiman Suryokusumo [id]
Gatot Subroto
Sarengat
I Gombong, Kedu Abdul Kadir (born 1906) [id]
Bambang Sugeng
R. Sutrisno
II Magelang, Kedu Muhammad Susman Sugiardjo
Supangkat
III Gombong, Kedu Djoko Kusumo Slamet
Ahmad Yani
Sarwo Edhie Wibowo
IV Purworedjo, Kedu Mukahar Ronohadikusumo Tjiptoroso
I Mrican, Semarang R. Usman
Sutrisno Sudomo
Sujadi
II Weleri, Kendal, Semarang R. Sudijono Taruno Kusumo Suparman Sumahamidjaja
I Pati Kusmoro Hadidewo
II Rembang, Pati Holan Iskandar Sukardi
III Djepara, Pati Prawiro Atmodjo Sukardji
I Wates, Jogjakarta D. Martojomeno Sudjiono
II Bantul, Jogjakarta Mohammed Saleh Graduate of higher teachers' training school
Muhammadiyah schoolteacher
Sugiono
III Pingit, Jogjakarta Sundjojo Purbokusumo Daryatmo
Suharto
IV Wonosari, Jogjakarta Muridan Noto Nudi
I Manahan, Surakarta R.M. Muljadi Djojomartono Muslim cleric Suprapto Sukawati
Djatikoesoemo
II Wonogiri, Surakarta K.H. Idris Muslim cleric Budiman
I Babat, Bodjonegoro K.H. Masjkur
Sudirman
Muslim cleric Utojo Utomo
II Bodjonegoro Masri R. Rachmat
III Tuban-Bodjonegoro Sumadi Sastroatmodjo Sumardjo
I Madiun Agus Tojib Mumardjo
II Patjitan, Madiun Akub Gulangge R. Subagijo
III Ponorogo, Madiun M. Sudjono Sudijat
I Tulungagung, Kediri Sudiro Tulus
II Blitar, Kediri Surachmad [id] Sukandar
Suprijadi
III Kediri A. Judodiprodjo
Sujoto Djojopurnomo
Mashudi Sudjono
I Gunung Sari, Surabaja Mustopo Graduate of STOVIT
Dentist
Masduki Abudardja
II Sidoardjo, Surabaja R. Muhammad Mangundiprodjo Bambang Juwono
III Modjokerto, Surabaja Katamhadi Usman
IV Gresik, Surabaja K.H. Cholik Hasjim Muslim cleric Jondat Modjo
I Gondanglegi, Malang K. Iskandar Sulaeman Muslim cleric Sumarto
II Lumadjang, Malang M. Sujo Adikusumo S. Hardjo Hudojo
III Pasuruan, Malang Arsjid Kromodihardjo Slamet
IV Malang Imam Sudja'i Sukardani
V Probolinggo, Malang Sudarsono Sumitro
I Kentjong, Djember, Besuki Suwito
Sudiro
Sukarto
II Bondowoso, Besuki K.H. Tahirruddin Tjokro Atmodjo Muslim cleric Rosadi
III Bentjuluk, Banjuwangi, Besuki Sukotjo Imam Sukarto
IV Rambipundji, Djember-Besuki Surodjo
Astiklah
Subandi
V Sukowidi, Banjuwangi, Besuki R. Usman Sumodinoto Sudarmin
I Pamekasan, Madura K.H. R. Amin Dja'far Muslim cleric R. Mohammad Saleh
II Bangkalan, Madura Ruslan Tjakraningrat Hafiludin
III Batang-batang, Madura Abdul Madjid Achmad Basuni
IV Ambunten, Sumenep, Madura Abdul Hamid Mudhari Muslim cleric Suroso
V Ketapang, Madura Trunodjojo Mochamad Sabirin
I Negara, Bali I Made Putu I Wayan Mudana
II Tabanan, Bali I Gusti Ngurah Gede Pugeng Ida Bagus Tongka
III Klungkung, Bali Anak Agung Made Agung I Made Geria

Malayan Volunteer Army edit

By April 1944, a Malayan Defenders of the Homeland Association (Ikatan Pembela Tanah Ayer Malaya),[1] formally the Malayan Volunteer Army (Japanese: マライ義勇軍, romanizedMarai Giyūgun), was stationed in Johor Bahru in Japanese-occupied Malaya. It was staffed by some 2,000 Malays and Indians and modeled on the organization of the Indonesian PETA, intending to create a local pro-Japanese reserve force for the defense of Malaya and Singapore. It was reinforced by the part-time Malayan Volunteer Corps (Japanese: マライ義勇隊, romanizedMarai Giyūtai) and recruitment of local Heiho started in January 1945.[6]

The commander of the Malayan PETA was Ibrahim Yaacob,[6] who had been the founder and leader of the pro-independence Young Malays Union, which the Japanese had shut down over its ties to the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) and Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army.[1] In his post-war autobiography, Yaacob claimed to have secretly continued communications with the CPM during the Japanese occupation.

After the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945, the Malayan Volunteer Army began marching towards Kuala Lumpur before disbanding in northern Johor.[6]

Notable members edit

See also edit

References edit

  • Bachtiar, Harsja W. (1988), Siapa Dia?: Perwira Tinggi Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat (Who is S/He?: Senior Officers of the Indonesian Army), Penerbit Djambatan, Jakarta, ISBN 979-428-100-X
  • Sunhaussen, Ulf (1982) The Road to Power: Indonesian Military Politics 1945-1967 Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-582521-7
  • Ricklefs, M.C. (1981) A History of Modern Indonesia, c. 1300 to the present. MacMillan, ISBN 0-333-24380-3

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c Sani, Rustam (2008). Social Roots of the Malay Left. SIRD. p. 26. ISBN 978-9833782444.
  2. ^ "Mars Tentara Pembela". YouTube. 瑞鶴の海鷲. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  3. ^ Ricklefs (1981), p. 194
  4. ^ Sunhaussen (1982), pp. 2–4
  5. ^ Bachtiar(1988), p. 12
  6. ^ a b c 明石陽至; 原不二夫; 舛谷銳; マラヤ日本占領期史料フォーラム (2007). マラヤ日本占領期文献目錄 (1941-45年): 付戦前期日本マラヤ関係文献目錄 (in Japanese). 龍溪書舎. ISBN 978-4844794806.