Heiho

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Heiho (兵補, Heiho; "Auxiliaries") were 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; Indonesian: Pembela Tanah Air, Japanese: 郷土防衛義勇軍, romanized: 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. The name was mostly used to point about Indonesian units of the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces, although over time it had become coined as the term to refer to any unit that collaborated with Japan regardless of ethnicity. 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.