SEJARAH BANDUNG LAUTAN API 23 MARET 1946

JIBRIL ART

24 Mar 202107:48

Summary

TLDROn March 23, 1946, Bandung, West Java, witnessed a significant event in Indonesia's struggle for independence. Known as 'Bandung Lautan Api', approximately 200,000 residents set their homes ablaze to prevent Allied and Dutch forces from using the city as a military base. This act of defiance was strategized by General Ahmad Nasution and other military leaders after receiving an ultimatum from the British. The term 'Bandung Lautan Api' was popularized by journalist Atje Bastaman, who reported on the fiery scene. The event led to guerrilla warfare and is remembered as a symbol of resistance, inspiring the song 'Halo-halo Bandung', reflecting the emotions of freedom fighters awaiting their return to the beloved city turned into a sea of fire.

Takeaways

🔥 'Bandung Lautan Api' refers to a significant historical event where the city of Bandung was set ablaze on March 23, 1946.
🏠 Approximately 200,000 residents burned their homes and fled to the mountains to prevent Allied and Dutch forces from using Bandung as a military base.
🗣️ The term 'Bandung Lautan Api' became widely known after the incident, which was a strategic decision made by General Ahmad Nasution and others during a meeting in Bandung.
📰 The phrase was first used by young journalist Atje Bastaman in the newspaper Suara Merdeka in March 1946, after witnessing the burning city from a hilltop.
🛡️ Tensions escalated when the British forces demanded all weapons from the Indonesian population and began actions that disturbed security, leading to armed conflicts.
💥 A fierce battle ensued after the British issued an ultimatum for the evacuation of North Bandung, which was strategically burned to prevent its use by foreign forces.
👥 The decision to burn Bandung was made collectively by the Majelis Persatuan Perjuangan Priangan (MPP), representing the Republic of Indonesia's fighting forces.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The evacuation was a massive operation involving the local population and the military, leaving the city intentionally in flames.
🎵 The event inspired the creation of the song 'Halo-halo Bandung,' which became a symbol of the emotions experienced by the freedom fighters during the Indonesian War of Independence.
🏙️ The burning of Bandung is considered a correct strategic move in the context of the war for independence, given the disparity in forces between the Indonesian militia and the Allied and Dutch forces.

Q & A

What is the 'Bandung Lautan Api' event?
-Bandung Lautan Api refers to a significant historical event where a large fire was intentionally set in the city of Bandung, West Java, on March 23, 1946, to prevent Allied and Dutch forces from using the city as a military base during the Indonesian War of Independence.
Why did the residents of Bandung set fire to their homes?
-The residents of Bandung set fire to their homes to prevent the Allied and Dutch forces from using the city as a strategic military base, thus sacrificing their homes for the cause of Indonesian independence.
Who was General Ahmad Nasution and what was his role in the Bandung Lautan Api?
-General Ahmad Nasution was a key military figure who played a strategic role in the Bandung Lautan Api. He decided on the scorched-earth policy after receiving an ultimatum from the British forces, aiming to deny the enemy the use of Bandung.
What was the term 'Bandung Lautan Api' originally coined by?
-The term 'Bandung Lautan Api' was originally coined by a young journalist, Atje Bastaman, who witnessed the burning of Bandung from a hill and reported it in the newspaper Suara Merdeka.
How did the British forces respond to the situation in Bandung?
-The British forces, particularly the brigade led by Brigadier McDonald, arrived in Bandung and demanded that all weapons be handed over to them. This led to tensions and eventually armed conflict between the British and the Indonesian forces.
What was the ultimatum given by Brigadier McDonald to the Governor of West Java?
-Brigadier McDonald issued an ultimatum demanding that the northern part of Bandung be evacuated by the Indonesian population and armed forces, including the TKR (Indonesian National Army).
Who were Muhammad Toha and Ramdan, and what did they do during the Bandung Lautan Api?
-Muhammad Toha and Ramdan were members of the Indonesian people's militia (BRI) who carried out a mission to destroy a large ammunition depot owned by the Allied forces. Muhammad Toha successfully detonated the depot, resulting in a massive explosion and fire that consumed both of them.
What was the outcome of the Bandung Lautan Api for the city and its residents?
-The Bandung Lautan Api resulted in the city being largely abandoned by its residents, with significant parts of it being burned to the ground. The residents were forced to evacuate, and the city was left in ruins, but the event is considered a strategic move in the Indonesian struggle for independence.
How did the Bandung Lautan Api influence the Indonesian War of Independence?
-The Bandung Lautan Api was a symbolic act of defiance and a strategic move that denied the enemy a significant base of operations. It also galvanized the Indonesian forces to continue their guerrilla resistance from outside the city, contributing to the eventual success of the Indonesian War of Independence.
What is the significance of the 'Halo-halo Bandung' song in relation to the Bandung Lautan Api?
-The 'Halo-halo Bandung' song was officially written as a tribute to the emotions experienced by the freedom fighters of the Republic of Indonesia during the Bandung Lautan Api, as they waited to return to their beloved city that had become a sea of fire.

Outlines

00:00

🔥 The Bandung Sea of Fire Incident

The 'Bandung Lautan Api' incident refers to a significant event on March 23, 1946, where approximately 200,000 residents of Bandung, West Java, set fire to their homes and fled to the mountains in South Bandung. This drastic measure was taken to prevent the Allied and Dutch forces from using Bandung as a strategic military base during the Indonesian War of Independence. The term 'Bandung Lautan Api' became widely known after this event. General Ahmad Nasution, during a meeting on Jalan Dewi Sartika, decided on the strategy to be taken against Bandung after receiving an ultimatum from the British. The term was also used in the newspaper 'Suara Merdeka' in March 1946, where a young journalist, Atje Bastaman, witnessed the burning of Bandung from Mount Leutik and reported it, although the title was shortened due to space constraints. The British forces, particularly the McDonald Brigade, had a tense relationship with the Republic of Indonesia's government, demanding the surrender of all weapons except for the TKR. This led to armed conflicts, and the British issued an ultimatum for the evacuation of North Bandung by the Indonesian forces and population. The decision to burn Bandung was made through a consensus by the Priangan Struggle Union Council (MP3), and Colonel Abdul Haris Nasution announced the results of this meeting.

05:01

🏃‍♂️ The Evacuation and Burning of Bandung

Following the consensus reached during the musyawarah, a large group of Bandung residents began to evacuate the city on the same day, leaving it to be deliberately burned by the TNI and local people to prevent its use as a strategic military base by the Allies. The burning resulted in a massive smoke cloud, plunging the city into darkness as all electricity was lost. The British forces began their attack, leading to intense battles, particularly in Dayah Kolot, South Bandung, where a large ammunition depot owned by the Allied forces was located. Two members of the Indonesian militia, Muhammad Toha and Ramdan, embarked on a mission to destroy the depot. Muhammad Toha successfully detonated the depot with dynamite, resulting in a massive explosion and fire that consumed both of them. The Bandung government staff initially planned to stay within the city but eventually joined the evacuation for safety reasons. By midnight, South Bandung was largely empty of residents, yet the fires continued to burn, turning the city into a sea of fire. This act of burning was considered a correct strategy in the Indonesian War of Independence, given the disparity in forces between the Indonesian militia and the Allies. After the incident, the Indonesian forces continued their resistance through guerrilla warfare outside Bandung. The 'halo-halo Bandung' song was later created to commemorate the emotions experienced by the freedom fighters of the Republic of Indonesia as they awaited their return to their beloved city, which had become a sea of fire.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Bandung Lautan Api

Bandung Lautan Api refers to the historical event on March 23, 1946, where approximately 200,000 residents of Bandung, a city in West Java, Indonesia, burned their homes and left the city to prevent Allied and Dutch forces from using Bandung as a military base during the Indonesian War of Independence. This act of setting the city ablaze is a central theme of the video, illustrating the determination and sacrifice of the Indonesian people in their fight for independence.

💡Indonesian War of Independence

The Indonesian War of Independence was a conflict that occurred between the Republic of Indonesia and the Dutch from 1945 to 1949. The war was fought to secure Indonesia's independence after the end of Dutch colonial rule. In the video, this war serves as the backdrop for the Bandung Lautan Api event, showcasing the struggle and the strategic decisions made by the Indonesian forces.

💡Ahmad Nasution

Ahmad Nasution was a prominent Indonesian military figure who played a significant role during the Indonesian War of Independence. In the video, he is mentioned as the one who decided on the strategy to turn Bandung into a 'sea of fire' after receiving an ultimatum from the British. His decision is a key element in the narrative, demonstrating the leadership and strategic thinking during the war.

💡Brigade McDonald

Brigade McDonald refers to a unit of the British forces that arrived in Bandung during the Indonesian War of Independence. In the video, their arrival and subsequent demands for the disarmament of the Indonesian population are depicted as a catalyst for the events leading to the Bandung Lautan Api. The brigade's actions are crucial in understanding the context of the conflict within the city.

💡Gudang Amunisi

Gudang Amunisi, or the ammunition warehouse, is mentioned in the video as a significant target during the Bandung Lautan Api. The warehouse was owned by the Allied forces, and its destruction by Indonesian militia members, Muhammad Toha and Ramdan, is highlighted as a critical act of resistance. This event symbolizes the determination of the Indonesian forces to deny the enemy strategic resources.

💡Muhammad Toha and Ramdan

Muhammad Toha and Ramdan were members of the Indonesian militia who played a heroic role in the Bandung Lautan Api by destroying the Allied ammunition warehouse. Their actions, which led to their own deaths, are portrayed in the video as a testament to the bravery and self-sacrifice of the Indonesian fighters during the war.

💡Tentara Republik Indonesia (TRI)

The Tentara Republik Indonesia, or the Indonesian Republican Army, was the military arm of the Republic of Indonesia during its struggle for independence. In the video, TRI is depicted as the force that, along with local civilians, carried out the strategic burning of Bandung to prevent its use by the Allied forces. The involvement of TRI is central to understanding the military aspect of the event.

💡Pembumihangusan

Pembumihangusan, or the act of scorched earth, refers to the deliberate burning of one's own land to deny the enemy its use. In the context of the video, this term describes the strategy employed by the Indonesian forces and civilians to burn Bandung, ensuring that the city could not be utilized by the Allied and Dutch forces. This tactic is a significant part of the narrative, illustrating the extreme measures taken to achieve independence.

💡Gerilya

Gerilya refers to guerrilla warfare, a type of irregular warfare where small groups engage in hit-and-run tactics against larger and less-mobile forces. After the Bandung Lautan Api, the Indonesian forces continued their resistance through guerrilla warfare, as mentioned in the video. This form of resistance highlights the resourcefulness and adaptability of the Indonesian fighters in the face of a more powerful enemy.

💡Halo-halo Bandung

Halo-halo Bandung is a song that was inspired by the events of the Bandung Lautan Api. The video mentions that this song was officially written to commemorate the emotions experienced by the Indonesian freedom fighters during the war. The song serves as a cultural artifact that encapsulates the spirit of resistance and longing for the city that was once burned to the ground.

Highlights

The Bandung Sea of Fire was a significant event where around 200,000 residents burned their homes to prevent Allied and Dutch forces from using Bandung as a military base during the Indonesian War of Independence.

The term 'Bandung Sea of Fire' became widely known after the event, which was a strategic decision made by General Ahmad Nasution and others during a meeting in Bandung.

A journalist named Atje Bastaman witnessed the burning of Bandung from a hill and later wrote a news article that helped popularize the term 'Bandung Sea of Fire'.

The British forces, part of the McDonald brigade, arrived in Bandung and demanded the surrender of all weapons held by the Indonesian people, leading to tensions and eventual armed conflict.

The British issued an ultimatum to the Governor of West Java, requiring the evacuation of North Bandung by the Indonesian population and armed forces.

The decision to burn Bandung was made collectively by the Majelis Persatuan Perjuangan Priangan (MPP), representing the fighting forces of the Republic of Indonesia.

Colonel Abdul Haris Nasution announced the decision to evacuate and burn Bandung, leading to a mass exodus of its residents.

The intentional burning of Bandung by the TNI and local people was a strategic move to deny the Allied forces the use of the city as a strategic military base.

The burning resulted in a massive black smoke cloud, power outages, and the beginning of a fierce battle between the British forces and the Indonesian fighters.

Two militia members, Muhammad Toha and Ramdan, played a crucial role in destroying a large ammunition warehouse owned by the Allied forces.

The government staff of Bandung initially stayed in the city but later joined the evacuation for safety reasons.

The burning of Bandung is considered a correct strategy in the Indonesian War of Independence, given the disparity in forces between the Indonesian fighters and the Allied and Dutch forces.

After the event, the Indonesian fighters continued their resistance through guerrilla warfare outside of Bandung.

The 'Halo-halo Bandung' song was later officially written to commemorate the emotions experienced by the Indonesian freedom fighters during the Sea of Fire event.

The Sea of Fire event and the subsequent guerrilla warfare are seen as significant parts of Indonesia's struggle for independence.