Heiho

were native Indonesian units raised by the Imperial Japanese Army during its occupation of the Dutch East Indies in World War II. Alongside the ''Heiho'', the Japanese organized ''Giyūgun'' (義勇軍, "Volunteer army"), such as the Java-based "Defenders of the Homeland" (PETA; id, Pembela Tanah Air, ja, 郷土防衛義勇軍, Kyōdo Bōei Giyūgun). Indonesian youths who joined the ''Heiho'' were never given high ranks or positions, contrasted by the young people who were members of PETA or other ''Giyūgun'' and often received appointments and promotions. This discrimination carried over into public life, where ''Heiho'' members had to salute any Japanese citizen, both civilians and military.

In addition, there was also a difference in salary, accommodation, and food with the ''heitai'' (兵隊, "soldiers") of the ''Giyūgun'', which were adjusted according to the social status of the individual ''Heiho'' soldier. The monthly salary of a ''Heiho'' was only 30 rupiah for bachelors and 35 rupiah for married members. Still, many youths hoped that recruitment into ''Heiho'' would serve as a stepping stone for a military career to improve their social standing, receive Japanese salaries, and avoid the '' rōmusha'' forced labor system.

History

The auxiliary force was formed by order of the army section of the Imperial General Headquarters on 2 September 1942 and began recruiting members on 22 April 1943. The Japanese ''Sendenbu'' (宣伝部, "Publicity Department") propagated that ''Heiho'' was an opportunity for young people to serve their homeland and people. The requirements to become a member of ''Heiho'' were to be between 18–25 years old, have a minimum height of , an average weight of , be physically and mentally healthy, be well-behaved, and have completed at least primary education. The selected youths were promised to become members of the Imperial Army or Imperial Japanese Navy.

In practice, however, ''Heiho'' were mostly put to work performing menial labor for the Japanese Army; constructing fortifications, digging trenches, and guarding prisoners. As a result, ''Heiho'' quickly became a lightly-armed labor force as the only weapons handed out to the auxiliaries were ''taiken'' (隊剣, "corps sword"). Later, the ''Heiho'' members were given firearms when the Japanese were being pushed back by the Allies. They would also be sent to the front lines with Japanese forces and became involved in combat on several battlefields of the Pacific War, including in the Philippines, Thailand, Morotai (in present-day Indonesia), Rabaul (Papua New Guinea), Balikpapan (Indonesia), and Burma.

Due to lack of training, they were more often than not used as cannon fodder or "martyred" as suicide bombers when a Japanese defeat seemed imminent. After receiving several months of training, the ''Heiho'' troops were considered to have better military capabilities than PETA troops. On that basis, ''Heiho'' members were reassigned to air defence, field artillery, armor, mortar, and logistics units. The recruitment of ''Heiho'' into the Japanese army was followed by their recruitment as ''Kenpeihō'' (憲兵法, "Auxiliary military police") for the ''Kenpeitai'' and ''Kaigun Heiho'' (海軍兵補, "Navy auxiliaries") for the Japanese navy. ''Heiho'' were not led by ethnic Indonesian commanders, but were under the command of Japanese officers. The training given was not related to organizational or military theory, but solely to physical fitness, the concept of ''seishin'' (精神, "spirit"), and the fostering of death-defying courage. By the end of the Japanese occupation of Indonesia, the number of ''Heiho'' troops was estimated to be 42,000 men (24,873 on Java, 2,504 on Timor, and 15,000 in other areas). The ''Heiho'' was dissolved by the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence (PPKI; id, Panitia Persiapan Kemerdekaan Indonesia, ja, 独立準備委員会, Dokuritsu Junbi Iinkai) after the surrender of Japan and a number of auxiliaries went on to become members of the People's Security Agency (BKR; id, Badan Keamanan Rakyat).

See also

* Collaboration with the Axis powers
* Defenders of the Homeland
* Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies

References

{{Reflist

Indonesian collaborators with Imperial Japan
Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies
Military units and formations of Imperial Japan