SEJARAH BANDUNG LAUTAN API 23 MARET 1946

Summary

On 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.