Tugu Pahlawan (Heroes Monument) is a 41.5 metre high phallus-like monument commemorating the people who died during the Battle of Surabaya on November 10th 1945.

Situated on a 2.5 hectare region of land in the centre of Surabaya city the monument stands in front of a large field (where battle re-enactments and commemorative events are staged every 10th November) with a museum situated immediately behind and to the side of the monument.

Statues of notable Surabayans - from military and political backgrounds - are located in the grounds surrounding the museum/monument and there are plenty of shaded/covered places to sit, relax and escape, even if only briefly, from the heat of the South-east Asian sun (and believe me, the sun is intense here - even in winter).

Upon entering the grounds of the monument, from the car park, the visitor is greeted by the sight of a statue featuring the first Indonesian President Sukarno and vice-president Hatta situated in front of a semi-circular, damaged colonnade covered with anti-colonial messages.

Symbolising the struggle against allied invaders during the 10th November Battle for Surabaya the grounds of the monument provide many sights, features and opportunities for visitors to learn more about that particular event in Indonesian history.

10th November 1945

Up until visiting Surabaya I had absolutely no knowledge nor awareness that the British military had ever been present, let alone fought, on Indonesian soil.

This was evident when learning about the Battle of Surabaya, fought as part of the Indonesian National Revolution, which took place between Indonesian soldiers and associated militias against the British and British Indian troops. The peak of the battle occurred on the 10th November 1945 with half of the city conquered in 3 days and fighting concluded by November 29th. The Battle of Surabaya culminated in the deaths of between 6,300 - 15,000 Indonesians with an estimated 200,000 citizens fleeing the city.

Further details concerning the battle and the presence of the British army in Indonesia can be found here.

As always the history you don’t get taught through the mainstream education system is nothing short of incredible…and this never fails to leave me wondering just how much of the past has been lost down the memory hole of history. How much don’t we know and what insights and understanding could that lend to our current situation in the 21st Century - regardless of our national/ethnic origins?

The monument

As a result of the Indonesian deaths during the Battle for Surabaya and the importance of the event as a turning point in the struggle for National Independence a monument - Tugu Pahlawan (Heroes monument) - was subsequently erected 7 years later on the 10th November 1952.

The first design for the monument incorporated human statues and this was rejected by President Sukarno as he explained that humans were temporal but the monument should reflect the strength of the human spirit which is itself eternal.

He then proceeded to take a steel nail, turn it upside down and placed that on the desk in front of the architect stating that this should be the shape of Tugu Pahlawan.

Interestingly the construction of the monument reflects the date of the Battle of Surabaya with 10 curves around the base, consisting of 11 parts and standing at 45 yards in height.

Location

Situated at Jalan Pahlawan, 60174, Surabaya, East Java the Heroes Monument is accessible by all forms of public transport or by foot.

Fee

There is no cost to visit the Heroes monument although there is a fee (5,000 IDR at the time of writing) for visiting the Sepuluh Nopember museum (10th November museum), situated behind Tugu Pahlawan (heroes monument).