In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Five Day Battle of Semarang, the History Department of Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), in collaboration with Rumah Pohan Gallery, is holding an exhibition titled “When the Fire Burned in Semarang.” The exhibition features a collection of newspapers published before and after the historic event.
Semarang Mayor Agustina Wilujeng Pramestuti, through the Head of the Semarang City Archives and Library Service, F.X. Bambang Suranggono, expressed appreciation for the initiative. “This exhibition is held to commemorate 80 years of the Semarang battle and to raise public awareness of history, encouraging citizens to take part in preserving the city’s collective memory,” Bambang said during the exhibition’s opening ceremony on Thursday (October 9, 2025).
Coordinator of the History Department at UNNES, Mukhamad Shokheh, Ph.D., emphasized the exhibition’s role in preserving intergenerational memory. “This exhibition serves as a medium to safeguard memories of the past—a bridge connecting the older and younger generations,” he stated.
Held at Rumah Po-Han Gallery in the Old Town area of Semarang, the exhibition showcases 18 editions of historical newspapers, including 15 issues of Warta Indonesia and 3 issues of Merdeka.
Open to the public, the exhibition runs for eight days, from October 9 to 17, 2025. Alongside the main display, several supporting activities are also featured. On October 13, a student-produced film from the History Department of UNNES will be screened at 2 p.m., and on October 14, an open class titled “The Five-Day Battle of Semarang” will be delivered by Mukhamad Shokheh, Ph.D.
The exhibition aims to serve as a space for reflection, allowing the public to remember the spirit of Semarang’s citizens in defending independence while reigniting interest in historical archives and local historical sources.
