The Banner at the Point of a Bayonet: The Story of the Battle of Surabaya
The echo of Takbir pierced the Surabaya sky, which was choked with ash and gunpowder smoke. At a corner on Tunjungan Street, Bram tightened the red-and-white cloth tied around his forehead. His trembling hands tightly gripped a bamboo spear—its tip sharpened and hardened over fire. Around him, thousands of arek-arek Suroboyo (the youths of Surabaya)—from Islamic students and laborers to former PETA soldiers—stood with eyes blazing.
On that day, November 10, 1945, Surabaya was no longer just a city. It had transformed into the ultimate battlefield, deciding the life or death of a nation that had proclaimed its independence just months prior.
An Ultimatum That Ignited Fury
Three days earlier, the death of Brigadier General Mallaby near the Red Bridge (Jembatan Merah) had incited British fury. Major General Robert Mansergh issued a tyrannical ultimatum:
"All Indonesian leaders and armed regulars must surrender with their hands above their heads no later than 6:00 AM on November 10th. Failure to do so will result in Surabaya being crushed by land, sea, and air."
Hearing the threat, the blood of Surabaya’s youth boiled. Surrender was simply not an option.
Through the radio airwaves, Bung Tomo’s voice boomed, igniting every ounce of courage left in the people's hearts:
"Freedom or death! For we know, God is on the side of the righteous..."
Dawn of the Devastation
The moment the ultimatum expired, the skies of Surabaya erupted. The British naval fleet bombarded the city from the Madura Strait, while Thunderbolt fighter jets ruthlessly dropped bombs onto the heart of the city. Buildings collapsed; streets tore open.
Bram was thrown to the ground as an explosion landed near his position. His ears rang, and thick dust blinded him. Yet, through the fog of smoke, he saw the British infantry—the notoriously fierce Gurkha soldiers—beginning to advance with modern automatic rifles.
"Forward! Charge!" shouted a company commander near Bram.
Without fear, thousands of Surabaya’s youths poured out of their defensive trenches. Their weapons were no match; most held only machetes, daggers, and bamboo spears. However, the sheer, massive wave of people caught the Allied forces completely off guard.
The Bloody Stand at the Red Bridge
The fiercest and bloodiest clash broke out around the Red Bridge and the Internatio Building. Bram ran through a hail of bullets. Beside him, a young man collapsed, struck by hot lead—but another youth immediately scooped up the fallen comrade's rifle and kept firing.
Bram found himself face-to-face with an enemy soldier in a narrow alley corner. Driven by pure adrenaline, he lunged, dodging the thrust of the soldier's bayonet, and swung his bamboo spear. The struggle was brutal, swift, and terrifying. As the soldier fell, Bram slumped against the wall, breathless, realizing that on this battlefield, the choice was simply to kill or be killed.
Surabaya had become a living hell. Every inch of land, every alleyway corner, and every ruined building was fiercely defended by the people. Women operated in the rear, tearing fabric for bandages and cooking rice packs in mobile soup kitchens to keep the fighters fed.
Three Weeks That Changed History
The British had expected Surabaya to fall within three days. In reality, it took them three whole weeks of relentless fighting to secure a city that had been reduced to rubble. The city was practically empty; the citizens chose to evacuate to the countryside rather than bow to a foreign flag.
More than 20,000 people of Surabaya laid down their lives to defend the honor of the red-and-white flag. Yet, their sacrifice was not in vain. The sheer defiance of arek-arek Suroboyo shocked the international community and sent a crystal-clear message to the world:
Indonesia is free, and its people are ready to die to keep it that way.
From the distance of an evacuation camp, Bram watched the burning silhouette of Surabaya. A tear rolled down his cheek—not of regret, but of profound pride. Atop the ruins of the shattered city, the spirit of the Republic stood firmer and more immortal than ever.
( Sorry for my bad English, I used Google Translate, hehe. I hope this story can entertain you all. )