[4] The Allies, who had just liberated Indonesia from its Japanese occupation, arrived at the Port of Belawan on 9 October and proceeded to central Medan under the leadership of Brigadier-General Theodore Edward Dudley Kelly,[5] with the intention of reestablishing Dutch rule over the islands.

On 13 October 1945, one of the Dutch officials following the British to the city centre stole a teenage boy's red-and-white (the flag of Indonesia's colours) badge just outside the Medan Hotel, located at Bali Road, and trampled on it.

Similarly in Berastagi, a town several kilometres away, several British soldiers lowered the flag of Indonesia outside a government building, and the ensuing clashes killed them.

[6] The Indonesian Army launched attacks against troops from the Allies and the NICA in an effort to seize government buildings formerly occupied by the Japanese.

[6] Indonesia's local government established the People's Army Commando Regiment of Medan in order to continue their resistance against the Allies.