The Defenders of the Homeland (; , PETA) was a volunteer army established on 3 October 1943 in the

Dutch East Indies The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies (; ), was a Dutch Empire, Dutch colony with territory mostly comprising the modern state of Indonesia, which Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, declared independence on 17 Au ...

(present-day

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

) by the occupying Japanese. The Japanese intended PETA to assist their forces in opposing a possible invasion by the

Allies An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not an explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are calle ...

. By the end of World War II, there were a total of 69 battalions () in

Java Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...

Madura is an list of islands of Indonesia, Indonesian island off the northeastern coast of Java. The island comprises an area of approximately (administratively including various smaller islands to the east, southeast and north that are administratively ...

, and

Bali Bali (English:; Balinese language, Balinese: ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller o ...

(around 37,000 men) and

Sumatra Sumatra () is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the list of islands by area, sixth-largest island in the world at 482,286.55 km2 (182,812 mi. ...

(approximately 20,000 men). On 17 August 1945, the day after the

Proclamation of Indonesian Independence The Proclamation of Indonesian Independence (, or simply ''Proklamasi'') was read at 10:00 Tokyo Standard Time on Friday 17 August 1945 in Jakarta. The declaration marked the start of the diplomatic and armed resistance of the Indonesian Nati ...

, the Japanese ordered the PETA to surrender and hand over their weapons, which most of them did. Indonesia's inaugural President,

Sukarno Sukarno (6 June 1901 – 21 June 1970) was an Indonesian statesman, orator, revolutionary, and nationalist who was the first president of Indonesia, serving from 1945 to 1967. Sukarno was the leader of the Indonesian struggle for independenc ...

, supported the dissolution rather than turning the organisation into a national army as he feared allegations of collaboration had he allowed a Japanese-created militia to continue to exist.Ricklefs (1981), p. 194Sunhaussen (1982), pp. 2–4Bachtiar(1988), p. 12 During the

Indonesian War of Independence The Indonesian National Revolution (), also known as the Indonesian War of Independence (, ), was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between the Republic of Indonesia and the Dutch Empire and an internal social revolution during ...

, former PETA officers and troops, such as

Suharto Suharto (8 June 1921 – 27 January 2008) was an Indonesian Officer (armed forces), military officer and politician, and dictator, who was the second and longest serving president of Indonesia, serving from 1967 to 1998. His 32 years rule, cha ...

and

Sudirman Sudirman (; 24 January 1916 – 29 January 1950) was an Indonesian military officer and revolutionary during the Indonesian National Revolution and the first commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. Born in Purbalingga, Dutch East Ind ...

, formed the core of the fledgling

Indonesian National Armed Forces The Indonesian National Armed Forces (; abbreviated as TNI) are the military forces of the Republic of Indonesia. It consists of the Indonesian Army, Army (''TNI-AD''), Indonesian Navy, Navy (''TNI-AL''), and Indonesian Air Force, Air Force ('' ...

PETA units in Java and Bali

Malayan Volunteer Army

By April 1944, a Malayan Defenders of the Homeland Association (), formally the Malayan Volunteer Army (), was stationed in

Johor Bahru Johor Bahru, abbreviated as JB, is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Johor. It is the core city of Johor Bahru District, Malaysia's second-largest district by population and the second-largest district economy. Covering an area of ...

in Japanese-occupied Malaya. It was staffed by some 2,000 Malays and

Indians Indian or Indians may refer to: Associated with India * of or related to India ** Indian people ** Indian diaspora ** Languages of India ** Indian English, a dialect of the English language ** Indian cuisine Associated with indigenous peoples o ...

and modeled on the organization of the Indonesian PETA, intending to create a local pro-Japanese reserve force for the defense of Malaya and

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

. It was reinforced by the part-time Malayan Volunteer Corps () and recruitment of local started in January 1945. The commander of the Malayan PETA was Ibrahim Yaacob, who had been the founder and leader of the pro-independence Young Malays Union, which the Japanese had shut down over its ties to the

Communist Party of Malaya The Malayan Communist Party (MCP), officially the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM), was a Marxist–Leninist and anti-imperialist communist party which was active in British Malaya and later, the modern states of Malaysia and Singapore fro ...

(CPM) and

Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army The Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) was a communist guerrilla army that resisted the Japanese occupation of Malaya from 1941 to 1945 in World War II. Composed mainly of ethnic Chinese guerrilla fighters, the MPAJA was the largest ...

. In his post-war autobiography, Yaacob claimed to have secretly continued communications with the CPM during the Japanese occupation. After the

surrender of Japan The surrender of the Empire of Japan in World War II was Hirohito surrender broadcast, announced by Emperor Hirohito on 15 August and formally Japanese Instrument of Surrender, signed on 2 September 1945, End of World War II in Asia, ending ...

on 15 August 1945, the Malayan Volunteer Army began marching towards

Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...

before disbanding in northern

Johor Johor, also spelled Johore,'' is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia in the south of the Malay Peninsula. It borders with Pahang, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan to the north. Johor has maritime borders with Singapore ...

Notable members

* R. Bintoro * Daryatmo *

Djatikoesoemo List of Surakarta and Yogyakarta nobility titles, Goesti Pangeran Harjo Djatikoesoemo (1 July 1917 – 4 July 1992) was an Indonesian Army, Indonesian army officer and diplomat who served as the first Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army (1948� ...

Muljadi Djojomartono Muljadi Djojomartono ( EYD: Mulyadi Joyomartono; 3 May 189823 October 1967) was an Indonesian politician and military officer who served as Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare between 1960 and 1966 and Minister of Social Affairs between 1 ...

* Djamin Ginting *

Daan Jahja Brigadier general, Brig. Gen. Daan Jahja or Daan Yahya (5 January 1925 – 20 June 1985) was an Indonesian military officer who was the Chief of Staff of the Siliwangi Division in 1948 and the Military Governor of Jakarta from 1949 to 1950. Born ...

Arudji Kartawinata Arudji Kartawinata (5 May 1905 – 13 July 1970) was an Indonesian politician and military officer. During the Indonesian National Revolution, he was the first commander of the 3rd Division, predecessor to the modern Siliwangi Division. Political ...

Soetardjo Kartohadikusumo Soetardjo Kartohadikusumo (22 October 1890 – 20 December 1976) was an Indonesian politician who served as the first Governor of West Java in 1945. A former member of the Volksraad, he was also renowned for the 1936 Soetardjo Petition. Early ...

* Zulkifli Lubis *

Amir Machmud General ( Ret.) Amir Machmud (21 February 1923 – 21 April 1995) was an Indonesian military general who was an eyewitness to the signing of the Supersemar document transferring power from President Sukarno to General Suharto. Early life Am ...

* Gatot Mangkoepradja * Muhammad Mangundiprojo * Masjkur * Moestopo *

Daan Mogot Major Daniel Elias Mogot (28 December 1928 – 25 January 1946) was a military officer involved in the Indonesian National Revolution The Indonesian National Revolution (), also known as the Indonesian War of Independence (, ), wa ...

* Imam Munandar *

Maraden Panggabean Maraden Saur Halomoan Panggabean (29 June 1922 – 28 May 2000) was a prominent Indonesian general during the early years of General Suharto's New Order regime. Early life Panggabean was born in Tarutung, North Sumatra, on 29 June 1922. He was ...

Basuki Rahmat Major General (Retired, Ret) Basuki Rahmat (4 November 1921 – 8 January 1969) was an Indonesian general, National Hero of Indonesia, National Hero and a witness to the signing of the Supersemar document transferring power from President Sukarno ...

* Soekotjo Sastrodinoto *

Kasman Singodimedjo Kasman Singodimedjo (25 February 1904 – 25 October 1982) was an Indonesian nationalist, politician, and National Hero of Indonesia, National Hero who served as the second Attorney General's Office of Indonesia, Attorney General of Indonesia bet ...

Gatot Soebroto General Gatot Soebroto ( Enhanced Spelling: Gatot Subroto, 10 October 1907 – 11 June 1962) was an Indonesian general who began his military career with the Royal Dutch East Indies Army (KNIL) and rose to be deputy Army chief-of-staff. Early ...

* Bambang Soegeng * Widjojo Soejono * G. M. Soeparmin *

Soetran Soetran (5 April 19211 July 1987) was an Indonesian military officer and politician who served as the Regent of Trenggalek Regency, Trenggalek from 1968 until 1975 and as the Governor of Western New Guinea, Irian Jaya from 1975 to 1981. Born i ...

Sumitro Sumitro or Soemitro (13 January 1927 – 10 May 1998) was a prominent Indonesian general in the early years of General Suharto's New Order (Indonesia), New Order before suddenly falling from grace in January 1974 after the Malari incident. E ...

* Supriyadi * Syam'un *

Tjokropranolo Tjokropranolo (21 May 1924 – 22 July 1998) was an Indonesian politician and former military officer who was the 8th Governor of Jakarta, serving between 1977 and 1982. During the Indonesian National Revolution, he was the assistant to Sudirman, ...

Wahono Wahono (25 March 1925 – 8 November 2004) was an Indonesian politician who served as Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly during the New Order regime of president Suharto. Prior to that, he served as the Governor of East Java from 19 ...

Sarwo Edhie Wibowo Sarwo Edhie Wibowo (25 July 1925 – 9 November 1989) was an Indonesian military leader and the father of Kristiani Herrawati, the former first lady of Indonesia, and the wife of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and also the father of Chief of ...

Umar Wirahadikusumah Umar Wirahadikusumah (; 10 October 1924 – 21 March 2003) was an Indonesian people, Indonesian politician and former Indonesian Army, army general, who served as the fourth vice president of Indonesia, serving from 1983 until 1988. Previously, ...

* Ibrahim Yaacob *

Ahmad Yani Ahmad Yani (19 June 1922 – 1 October 1965) was the Commander of the Indonesian Army, and was killed by members of the 30 September Movement during an attempt to kidnap him from his house. Early life Ahmad Yani was born in Jenar, Purwore ...

References

* Bachtiar, Harsja W. (1988), ''Siapa Dia?: Perwira Tinggi Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat (Who is S/He?: Senior Officers of the Indonesian Army)'', Penerbit Djambatan, Jakarta, * Sunhaussen, Ulf (1982) ''The Road to Power: Indonesian Military Politics 1945-1967'' Oxford University Press, * Ricklefs, M.C. (1981) ''A History of Modern Indonesia, c. 1300 to the present.'' MacMillan,

Notes

{{Collaboration with Axis Powers Indonesian collaborators with Imperial Japan Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies Malayan collaborators with Imperial Japan Pembela Tanah Air

PETA units in Java and Bali

Malayan Volunteer Army

Notable members

See also

References

Notes