Maj. Gen. Sungkono In The Memory Of The Nation's Collective Who Wants To Grow Big

Illustration of Major General Sungkono (Ilham Amin / VOI)

Major General (Mayjen) Sungkono's name is not as famous as Bung Tomo. However, his role is clearly not small. Maj. Gen. Sungkono is a war strategist who fought directly in the battle of Surabaya, November 1945. This story of Maj. Gen. Sungkono is the opening article of a typical VOI Writing Series. Here it is, "Becoming a National Hero". Remember, a great nation is a nation that appreciates the services of its heroes. So, let's become a great nation!

November 1945, Surabaya was burning. The 20 days of raw weapons were recorded as one of the most heroic battles for the Indonesian nation. A day that became the climax of the battle was even designated as Heroes' Day: November 10, 1945.

A few months before the November 1945 battles began, Japan surrendered unconditionally to the allies. This condition was used by the Indonesian people to declare independence. This independence was followed by the disarmament of the Japanese army. Disarmament that became battle lighters.

In the midst of this condition, to be precise in October 1945, British troops who were members of the Allied Forces Netherlands East Indies (AFNEI) came to Indonesia. They collaborated with the Netherlands Indies Civil Administration (NICA).

The arrival of AFNEI and NICA at that time was said to be equipped with a mission to participate in disarming the Japanese army. In addition, they are said to have also carried out a mission to free prisoners of war held by the Japanese and to repatriate Japanese troops to their land.

Allied forces in the battle of Surabaya (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

However, in fact there is a hidden mission behind the return of the Dutch to Indonesia. NICA apparently has an interest in returning Indonesia to the bosom of the Dutch government. This then fueled the turmoil of the Indonesian people.

A resistance movement was formed. One of the resistance movements that took place in Surabaya in November 1945. The peak of the Surabaya war took place on November 10, one day after Major General Sungkono was appointed Commander of the Surabaya Defense Forces.

The role of Major General Sungkono

Major General Sungkono's vital role in the "battle of Surabaya" was played from the position of Commander of the Surabaya Defense Forces. In this war, Sungkono took the position as battle commander. He explored the battlefield with a passionate struggle.

Not only was he an accomplished commander or strategist, Major General Sungkono had also succeeded in positioning himself as an inspiration for battle. In the midst of the Surabaya battle, the nation's fighters - soldiers and society - had experienced pressure when the allied soldiers held the Indonesian ultimatum, especially Surabaya.

In the midst of these conditions, Major General Sungkono decided to take the pulpit. In his speech, Sungkono exclaimed in front of the fighters, that he would fight the allied army even though he was alone. It was this speech that inspired the enthusiasm of thousands of Surabaya arek and soldiers who are members of Unit 66.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I want to defend the city of Surabaya ... We cannot escape Surabaya from this danger. If you want to leave the city, I will not hold back either. But, I will defend my own city,"

Major General Sungkono

In his speech above, Major General Sungkono's appeal was written by Frank Palmos in Surabaya 1945: Sakral Tanahku (2016).

All of the tactics of war and the leadership of Major General Sungkono succeeded in re-strengthening the ranks of the struggle that had been slack. It was the line of struggle that succeeded in repelling the allied troops who had bombarded Surabaya from various lines.

After the Surabaya Battle, Major General Sungkono became one of the founding figures of the People's Security Agency (BKR) and the People's Security Army (TKR), the organizations that became the forerunners of the Indonesian National Army (TNI). Major General Sungkono's name is also immortalized as one of the main street names in the city of Surabaya.

Drowned by the name Bung Tomo

The Battle of 10 November 1945 was a major battle. In fact, it is too large to be described by only one name: Bung Tomo. It doesn't diminish the role of Bung Tomo. However, Bung Tomo's fame seemed to have drowned out other names such as Major General Sungkono.

Bung Tomo was a radio announcer and journalist at that time. His name is famous through a speech that managed to burn the spirit of the people of Surabaya during the battle. After the Surabaya war, Bung Tomo was pulled to the Headquarters of the People's Security Army. He was also given the military rank of Major General.

It doesn't stop there. Bung Tomo was also appointed as High Staff at the General Headquarters and was appointed Head of Equipment at the Ministry of Defense. In another strategic position, Bung Tomo was recently appointed as a joint staff member of the Indonesian Repbulik Armed Forces.

Bung Tomo died on October 7, 1981. Years since his departure, the Ansor Youth Movement (GP) and the Golkar Party (FPG) faction pushed for the title of National Hero to the late Bung Tomo. The government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) granted the title on November 9, 2007.

Then, what about Major General Sungkono and other figures? Major General Sungkono is definitely not the only hero who has escaped the collective memory of this nation that is trying to make it big, right?

Next article: "The Dies of Two British Generals and Another Undocumented Epic"