Japanese occupied Semarang

1942

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Caption Bahasa Indonesia

During the Battle of the Java Sea, bombs dropped from a Japanese aircraft fell all around the Netherlands Cruiser Java.

Source: Wikimedia Commons, 1942

Semarang was occupied by the Japanese. The Japanese military detained Europeans in internment camps that were dispersed throughout Semarang.

Previous sequence of events:

27-28 Februari 1942 – The Battle of the Java Sea occurred; Helfrich, Conrad Emile Lambert a Vice Admiral of the Dutch Navy and High Commander of the ABDA Naval Forces gave orders to the "Combined Striking Force" under the leadership of Admiral K.W.F.M Doorman as war support in the Java Sea. For two days, on 27-28 February 1942, Doorman's troops fought against the Japanese air force, causing the death of Admiral Doorman and the defeat of the Combined Striking Force.

1 Maret 1942 – Japanese troops began to land on Java; Imamura Hitoshi, Lieutenant-General ordered the Japanese 16th military force to land on Java on 1 March 1942. The main force landed near Tanjung Awuran and Merak; the Shoji Detachment landed in the vicinity of Eretan-wetan (now Indramayu Regency); the 48th Division and the Sakaguchi Detachment landed in the vicinity of Kragan. In the evening, the main force was able to take control of the Ciujung River; Shoji's detachment at Kalijati Airport; and Sakaguchi's detachment in the vicinity of Blora. They wiped out other troops who tried to resist in these areas.

7 Maret 1942 – Japanese troops occupied Semarang; Boissevain, the Mayor of Semarang at the time, informed all Semarang residents that the city had been occupied by Japanese troops. At 9 a.m., the Semarang Government met with the commander of the Japanese forces. The city police would not be disarmed, but they would be given white armbands with Japanese lettering to show that they were also recognized by Japanese forces.

8-9 Maret 1942 – After the Japanese invasion of Java, the Dutch Government was ordered to surrender. Imamura Hitoshi as commander of the Japanese 16th Army asked the Governor General of the Dutch East Indies to surrender immediately. Tjarda, as the Governor General, stated that he did not have the authority or capacity to sign the treaty as a representative of the Allied Forces. He suggested Imamura address the Dutch Queen and then proceed to Ter Poorten, as the Dutch East Indies Special Military Forces leader. Then Ter Poorten signed the treaty, and the control of the Dutch East Indies, especially Java, was transferred from the Dutch Government to Japan.

19 Maret 1942 – The Japanese last division troops came to Semarang; all members of the City Guard (Stadswacht) and Semarang City police were gathered at the Societeit de Harmonie at 11 a.m. to attend the official disbandment of the City Guard. After the event, all members of the City Guard and police were interned as prisoners of war. They were taken to Djoernatan prison.

Some of the internees were later transferred and forced to work clearing and rebuilding the Kali Banteng airfield following the March war damage. Furthermore, some prisoners who went on to become Japanese soldiers and police officers were released and returned to the Japanese Department (Japansche Dienst). The remaining internees were forced to work in the internment camp at Djatingaleh.

20 Juli 1942 – The last of the internment in Semarang; On 20 July 1942 and the following days, Lieutenant General Imamura Hitoshi interned Dutch officials and figures throughout Java, the majority of whom were placed in the Djatingaleh camp; one of them was the mayor of Semarang, Boissevain.