LONG MARCH SILIWANGI

 

The Siliwangi troops formed in the Siliwangi Division became the vanguard of the TNI's combat area of the defense area of Banten Province and West Java. The Long March from Central Java to West Java was led by Lieutenant Colonel Siliwangi Daan Yahya in 1948.

The journey of the troops is full of danger and the obstacles are recorded in the memory of Colonel TB Simatupang. He accidentally participated in the Long March Siliwangi with the Daeng Battalion, under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Daan Yahya.

General Sudirman played a key role in this situation. Because President Soekarno and Moh.Hatta have been kidnapped and dumped to Ende. Having predicted that this event would occur, General Soedirman ordered the Siliwangi fighters to move to West Java to form resistance to make the island of Java a large guerrilla union.

The journey begins with sweat and blood. The Siliwangi fighters had to take such an extraordinary journey. They have to walk 600 km through dark forests, rivers and often dealing with wild animals.

During the trip, not many supplies of food and survival tools were brought. Until they have to endure hunger and keep walking to the destination. Even in the journey of children, wives and relatives often become victims and eventually die. Some died of illness, hunger and were killed by bombs sent by enemy planes.