Ambarawa            Banjoebiroe 10           Central-Java

 

                                                                                                                                                                        March 29, 2011

 

Alternate Camp Names

Bunsho III, Camp 10 (per Japanese administration)

 

Camp Location

Ambarawa was about 45 kilometers south of Semarang. Banjoebiroe was approximately 5 kilometers south of Ambarawa. This camp was located in the Prison just east of the town. On August 7, 1945, the camp was enlarged by the addition of some nearby KNIL officer housing and barracks.

 

Japanese Camp Commanders

Sakai (June 1944 to Nov. 1944), Suzuki (Nov. 1944 to Feb. 1945), Yamada (Feb. 1945 to Aug. 1945)

 

Dutch Camp Leaders

Mr. Straatman, Mr. Heilbron (August 1943 to February 1944)

Mr. M. Westers (February 1944 to March 1944), Mr. J. Eichelberg-Koppelaar (March 1944 to August 1945)

 

Transports (source: Atlas Japanse Kampen)

Date

Arrived from

Transferred to

Number

in

transport

Total

number

in camp

Indivi-dual

type

 

MEN’S CAMP

 

 

 

 

Aug. 15, 1943

Kesilir

 

594

 

m

Aug. 20, 1943

Kesilir

 

570

 

m

Aug. 25, 1943

Kesilir

 

506

1670

m

Jan. 25, 1944

 

Band: 15e Bataljon

600

 

m

Jan. 29, 1944

 

Band: 15e Bataljon

550

 

m

Feb. 2, 1944

 

Band: 15e Bataljon

504

0

m

 

WOMEN’S CAMP

 

 

 

 

Feb. 13, 1944

Mal: De Wijk

 

860

 

w,ch

Feb. 18, 1944

Surrounding Area (1)

 

899 (2)

 

w,ch

Mar. 8, 1944 (3)

 

Released

2

 

w (4)

Mar. 12, 1944

 

Kempetai

1

 

w (5)

Mar. 24, 1944

Kediri

 

9

 

sw

Mar. 26, 1944

Kempetai

 

1

 

w (6)

June 10, 1944

 

Amb: Banjoebiroe 11

400

 

w,ch

Aug. 9, 1944

Tjim: 4e en 9e Bat

 

1

 

m (7)

Sep. 18, 1944

 

Amb: Ambarawa 8

217 (8)

 

b,om,n

Sep. 18, 1944

Amb: Ambarawa 8

 

200

 

w,ch

Nov. 15, 1944

 

Sem: Bangkong

3

 

om

Nov. 19, 1944

Band: Kareës

 

600

 

w,ch

Nov. 21, 1944

Band: Tjihapit/Bloem

 

350

 

w,ch

Dec. 5, 1944

 

Mag: Gesticht

1

 

w

Jan. 16, 1945

 

Amb: Ambarawa 7

64 (9)

 

b,om

Apr. 17, 1945

Solo: Ziekenzorg

 

1

 

w (10)

May 3, 1945

Amb: Ambarawa 9

 

600

 

w,ch

May 29, 1945

 

Released

1

 

w (11)

May 31, 1945

 

??

1

 

w (10)

May 31, 1945

??

 

1

 

w (10)

May 31, 1945

Solo: Ziekenzorg

 

450

 

w,ch

June 5, 1945

Amb: Ambarawa 6

 

21

 

w,ch

July 3, 1945

Sem: Halmaheira

 

47

 

w,ch

July 5, 1945

 

Sem: Halmaheira

47

 

w,ch

Aug. 3, 1945

 

Amb: Ambarawa 9

50

 

w,ch

Aug. 7, 1945

Moentilan

 

350

 

w,ch

Aug. 8, 1945

Moentilan

 

347

 

w,ch

Aug. 9, 1945

Moentilan

 

355

 

w,ch

Aug. 10, 1945

Moentilan

 

347

 

w,ch

Aug. 11, 1945

Moentilan

 

358

 

w,ch

Aug. 12, 1945

Moentilan

 

337

5446 (12)

w,ch

Aug. 23, 1945

 

 

 

5300

w,ch

Abbreviations / Notes

b=boys, ch=children, m=men, n=nuns, om=old men, w=women, sw=sick women

Amb=Ambarawa, Band=Bandoeng, Mag=Magelang, Mal=Malang, Sem=Semarang, Solo=Soerakarta,

Tjim=Tjimahi; Bloem=Bloemenkamp, 4e en 9e Bat=4e en 9e Bataljon

(1) From the camps Galoehan, Kawarasan I, Kawarasan II and Kediri-Gevangenis

(2) 340, 560 and 53 persons respectively

(3) Through March 26, 1944

(4) Of Indo-European origin

(5) Camp leader

(6) Camp leader released

(7) Physician

(8) 135 boys, 39 old men, 43 nuns

(9) 54 boys and 11 old men

(10) Interpreter

(11) Of Swedish origin

(12) Total deaths: 1 in the men’s camp; 186 in the women’s camp through October 15, 1945

 

General References

Beekhuis, H. et al – Japanse burgerkampen in Nederlands-Indië, Volume 1, 4th Edition, pg 66-67

Beekhuis, H. et al – Atlas Bersiapkampen, 2009, pg 123-125 (events after August 23, 1945)

Broeshart, A.C. et al – Vrede, maar geen bevrijding, 1989 (Bersiap)

Brommer, B. et al – Semarang, Beeld van een stad, 1995 (Bersiap)

Dulm, J. van et al – Atlas Japanse Kampen, Volume I, 2000, pg 150; Volume II, 2002, pg 121

 

Men’s Camp References

Smit, H. - Ondernemingsleven in Nederlands-Indië, 1977

Smit, H. - Van katjong tot rijksambtenaar, 1982, pg 150-156

Verheem, Rudy - Bevrijding zonder bevrijders, 1979, pg 35-43

 

Women’s Camp References

Blaauw, J.J. - In: Hé, haal die oorlog van mijn schouders, 1991, pg 199

Boer-van Kammen, J.M. de – Dagboek, NIOD, IC-dagboek 119 (diary)

Fenton Huie, Shirley - Vergeten (interviews), 1995, pg 91; The forgotten ones, 1992

Happel, Mw – NIOD, IC 033.583 (sterktestaat)

Hedon, Ludus - Krokkot, 1995 (children in the camps)

Jongh, Wil de - Olie en zweet, een traan, een lach, 1980

Voorneman, Richard N. – Supplement op Banjoebiroe 11, een vrouwenkamp (Bersiap)

 

Photographs / Drawings:

Beekhuis, H. et al – Atlas Bersiapkampen, 2009, pg 124-125 (events after August 23, 1945)

Claassen, Rob en Joke van Grootheest - Getekend, 1995, pg 102

Diessen, J.R. van - Boven Indië, 1993, pg 100

Dulm, J. van et al – Atlas Japanse Kampen, Volume I, 2000, pg 152; Volume II, 2002, pg 128-133

Hedon, Ludus - Krokkot, 1995 (children in the camps)

Velden, D. van – Japanse burgerkampen, 3rd Edition, 1977, between pg 504 and 505

Warmer, Joh.A.G. - Java 1942 - 1945, Kampschetsen, 1984, pg 55-61 (men’s camp)

 

Rosters

Beekhuis, H. – Alphabetical index of NIOD roster IC 033.184

Happel, Mw – NIOD, IC 033.591-033.595 (death roll)

NN – NIOD, IC 033.184

NN – NIOD, IC 033.185 (death roll)

Zr Editha, Zrs van Amersfoort (death roll)

 

Camp Map

Beekhuis, H. et al – Japanse burgerkampen in Nederlands-Indië, Volume 1, 4th Edition, pg 66

Beekhuis, H. et al – Atlas Bersiapkampen, 2009, pg 124

Dulm, J. van et al – Atlas Japanse Kampen, Volume I, 2000, pg 150

 

Bersiap

Oct. 2, 1945           Evacuation of 960 people by train to Soerabaja (former residents of Soerabaja)

Nov. 26, 1945        Partial evacuation (500 people) to Fort Willem I

Dec. 1, 1945           Total evacuation (1500 people) to Ambarawa (later to Semarang)
Dec. 2, 1945           Complete evacuation; British troops left Banjoebiroe

 

 

Banjoebiroe 10 Camp Map

 

 

Index          Camps on Java