25 Facts About Bambang Soegeng

Bambang Soegeng was the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army between 1952 and 1955, and was later ambassador to the Holy See, Japan and Brazil.

Bambang Soegeng worked as a civil servant for some time, and joined the PETA military organization during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, rising to become a battalion commander.

Bambang Soegeng became the military commander for East Java before becoming Army Chief of Staff in 1952, during a period of tension between the civilian government and the army.

Bambang Soegeng resigned in 1955, and during his ensuing diplomatic career attempted to garner support for Indonesia in the West New Guinea dispute.

Bambang Soegeng was born on 31 October 1913 in the village of Tegalrejo, Magelang, as the eldest of six children.

Bambang Soegeng attended a Hollandsch-Inlandsche School in Purwakarta and later a MULO in Purwokerto.

Bambang Soegeng later graduated from an AMS in Yogyakarta, where he had studied western literature.

Bambang Soegeng enrolled at Batavia's Rechts Hogeschool, but did not complete his education due to financial pressures.

Bambang Soegeng was promoted to battalion commander and reassigned to Gombong.

Bambang Soegeng was appointed a lieutenant colonel, and he managed to disarm the Japanese garrison without significant incident and took the Japanese soldiers as prisoners of war with little issue.

Bambang Soegeng undertook a guerilla campaign in Central Java and West Java, and led operations against criminal militia groups.

Bambang Soegeng assisted Gatot Soebroto in maintaining order in Surakarta during a period of disturbance in 1948, and by the time of the Madiun Affair, Bambang Soegeng was the military governor of the Yogyakarta-Kedu-Wonosobo region.

Bambang Soegeng was the superior officer of Suharto at the time, and Soegeng gave approval to the General Offensive of 1 March 1949, which resulted in a significant Indonesian political victory.

Bambang Soegeng, who was at the time still inactive yet considered a politically moderate and competent officer, was appointed acting Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army on 15 December 1952 replacing Abdul Haris Nasution.

Bambang Soegeng was a Major General at the time of his appointment.

Sadikin, but this was countered by Bambang Soegeng threatening to resign.

Bambang Soegeng's resignation was rejected, and Sadikin did not indicate readiness for this appointment, resulting in Warouw maintaining his post without immediate further resignations.

Bambang Soegeng was considered a sympathizer of the Indonesian National Party.

Bambang Soegeng threatened to resign in December 1953, when the Defense Minister at the time, Iwa Kusumasumantri, made several controversial appointments to the Army General Staff.

In February 1955, Bambang Soegeng attended a large conference of Army leaders and signed off the "Yogyakarta Charter", which called for unity in the Army in response to the split following the 17 October affair.

Bambang Soegeng had felt that he was unable to implement the resolutions in the charter, furthered by the lack of government response to the demands.

Between 15 August 1956 and 1959, Bambang Soegeng was assigned as the Indonesian Ambassador to the Holy See.

Bambang Soegeng then became the Ambassador to Japan starting in October 1960.

Bambang Soegeng died on 22 June 1977, due to a lung illness.

Bambang Soegeng has been proposed as a National Hero of Indonesia.