From 1945 to 1948, the Dutch re-occupied various regions in Java, the territory of the Republic of Indonesia to Yogyakarta, Surakarta, and surrounding areas.

In December 1948, the Dutch attacked and occupied the cities of Yogyakarta and Surakarta and declared that the Republic was destroyed and "no longer existed".

[2] In response the Indonesian army led by General Soedirman started a guerrilla war from surrounding areas and conducted large-scale raids into the cities of Yogyakarta and Surakarta, called Serangan Oemoem.

The TNI attempted to capture Surakarta in Central Java before the armistice, and succeeded in many places to infiltrate the city.

325 men of the Regiment Speciale Troepen (RST) were hastily flown in to expel the TNI from Surakarta.