The Japanese invasion of Atjèh was the amphibious assault launched by the Imperial Japanese Army against the northern tip of Sumatra in the night of 11 to 12 March 1942, comprising four simultaneous landings — at Sabang, at Ujong Batëë north-east of Koetaradja, at Kuala Bughah (Koeala Boega’) north of Langsa, and at Tandjong Tiram south of Medan — which, meeting only nominal resistance, brought an end to Dutch authority in Atjèh within a fortnight. Piekaar’s Atjèh and the War with Japan treats the invasion as the denouement of three months of strategic deterioration and of the pre-invasion insurgent movement which had paralysed the colonial administration from within.
The four landings
“On Sabang the Japanese encountered only two infantry brigades.” These had been relieved of their defensive task by telephone consultation with Koetaradja that same night, and were instead “assigned to field police services.” The Aceh aircraft watch on Balóhan reported “the appearance of the Japanese fleet in the Balóhanbaai on the southern side of the island Wè.” “No resistance was therefore offered. The airfield, harbor, oil and gasoline supplies fell undamaged into the hands of the enemy.” On the mainland, Colonel G. J. Bekkers, the Koetaradja troop commander, decided upon receiving news of the Sabang landing “to evacuate Koetaradja that same night.” The main force retreated along the North Coast towards Sigli; the garrison of the Lhó’ Nga airfield, sixteen brigades under Captain Steinhorst, withdrew along the West Coast towards Meulabóh.
Collapse of the defence
“The next day, March 13th, the Japanese vanguard reached Sigli.” Lam Meuló was occupied on 16 March, Bireuën and Lhó’ Seumawè on 14 March. The defence line at the Peusangan bridge at Teupin Blang Mané was outflanked, and the retreat to Takéngón became a rout. By 18 March Japanese assault troops had broken through the resin factory at Lampahan at km 78 of the Gajóweg, forcing the capitulation of the demoralised North-Coast force at Tangsé that same day. On the West Coast the Lhó’ Nga and West Coast troops under Captain Kloprogge retreated 600 km southwards to the Lae Boetar enterprise, where they surrendered on 28 March 1942.
Significance
The invasion ended 39 years of Dutch rule in Atjèh and installed the Masubuchi military administration. The pre-invasion Fujiwara-kikan network now stepped forward openly: Said Aboe Bakar and Said Doellah entered with the first troops at Meulabóh to displace the loyal oelèëbalangs. The capitulation of the highland forces on 28 March 1942 opened the three-and-a-half-year occupation that would last until the Japanese capitulation of 15 August 1945.
See Also
- Sabang
- Koetaradja
- Ujong Batëë
- Kuala Bughah
- Tandjong Tiram
- Colonel Gosenson
- Resident J. Pauw
- Fujiwara-kikan
- Said Aboe Bakar
- Said Doellah
- Sumatra capitulation (28 March 1942)
- 11 March 1942
- 12 March 1942
Source
Atjèh and the War with Japan, by Dr. A. J. Piekaar, translated from the Dutch original Atjèh en de oorlog met Japan (1949) (‘s-Gravenhage/Bandung: N.V. Uitgeverij W. van Hoeve; English edition), Chapter IV, Chapter V §§ 1–4.