Ambarawa 6
October 4, 2012
Alternate Camp Names
Bunsho III, Camp 6 (per Japanese administration)
Camp Location
Ambarawa was about 45 kilometers south of Semarang. This camp was located in the barracks of an old KNIL encampment in Ambarawa, directly west of Fort Willem I.
Japanese Camp Commanders
Sakai (June 1944 to November 1944), Suzuki (November 1944 to February 1945), Yamada (February 1945 to August 1945)
Dutch Camp Leaders
Mrs. J. H. Schulte-Eckhart (to September 27, 1943), Mrs. G. J. Jilderda-Visser
| Date | Arrived from | Transferred to | Number in Transport | Total Number in Camp | Individual Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 5, 1942 (1) | Surrounding Areas | 184 | w ch om |
||
| Dec. 25, 1942 (2) | Magelang & Surrounding Areas | 787 | w ch |
||
| Dec. 26, 1942 | Djokjakarta & Surrounding Areas | 409 | w ch om |
||
| Feb. 4, 1943 | Salatiga: Djoen Eng | 5 | b |
||
| 11-Jun-43 | Salatiga: Officierskampement | 95 | w ch |
||
| Sep. 1, 1943 | Semarang: Gedangan | 15 | n |
||
| Sep. 27, 1943 | Semarang: Kempeitai | 8 | w |
||
| Jan. 18, 1944 | Salatiga: Djoen Eng | 24 | b |
||
| Jan. 29, 1944 | Magelang: Kempeitai | 1 | w |
||
| Feb. 26, 1944 | Semarang (3) | 9 | w |
||
| Mar. 14, 1944 | Soemowono | 350 | w ch |
||
| 10-May-44 | Buitenzorg, Semarang (4) | 21 | w ch |
||
| 5-Jun-44 | Semarang: Karangpanas | 500 | w ch |
||
| Aug. 9, 1944 | Tjimahi: 4e en 9e Bataljon (5) | 3 | m (6) |
||
| Sep. 17, 1944 | Ambarawa 8 | 160 | b m n (7) |
||
| Sep. 17, 1944 | Ambarawa 8 | 130 | w ch |
||
| Nov. 10, 1944 | Released | 2 | w (8) |
||
| Nov.15 , 1944 | Bangkong | 4 | om |
||
| Nov. 17, 1944 | Bandoeng : Tjihapit | 600 | w ch |
||
| Nov. 21, 1944 | Bandoeng : Tjihapit | 280 | w ch |
||
| Jan. 11, 1945 | Ambarawa 7 | 21 | w ch |
||
| Jan. 16, 1945 | Ambarawa 7 | 85 | b om |
||
| Apr. 17, 1945 | Ambarawa 8 | 1 | b |
||
| 5-May-45 | Ambarawa 9 | 360 | w ch |
||
| May 29, 1945 (9) | Soerakarta: Ziekenzorg/Boemikamp | 650 | w ch |
||
| 5-Jun-45 | Banjoebiroe 10, 11 | 27 | w ch |
||
| 3-Jul-45 | Semarang: Halmaheira | 46 | 4090 | w ch |
|
| Aug. 3, 1945 | Ambarawa 9 | 600 | w ch |
||
| Aug. 5 1945 (10) | Moentilan | 554 | w ch sw |
||
| Aug. 18, 1945 | Ambarawa 7 | 3 | 4050 (11) | n |
Abbreviations / Notes
b=boys, ch=children, m=men, n=nuns, om=old men, w=women, sw=sick women
(1) And subsequent weeks.
(2) Through December 28, 1942.
(3) For forced prostitution.
(4) Buitenzorg: Camp Kota Paris; Semarang: Camp Halmaheira.
(5) Via Camp Gedangan in Semarang.
(6) Physicians.
(7) 128 boys, 15 men and 17 nuns.
(8) Of Indo-European origin.
(9) And May 30, 1945.
(10) And August 6, 1945.
(11) Including deceased. From December 1942 to October 15, 1945: there was a total of 134 deaths.
References
Beekhuis, H. et al – Japanse burgerkampen in Nederlands-Indië, Volume 1, 4th Edition, pp. 58-59
Beekhuis, H. et al – Atlas Bersiapkampen, 2009, pp. 119-120 (events on August 23, 1945)
Bos, Annie – Rode aarde, 2001, pp. 265-292
Broeshart, A.C. et al – Vrede, maar geen bevrijding, 1989 (Bersiap)
Brommer, B. et al – Semarang, Beeld van een stad, 1995 (Bersiap)
Bulem, Mayra – Wees niet bang voor je eigen herinneringen, 1981, p. 7
Dulm, J. van et al – Kampatlas, Volume I, pp. 146-147
Fenton Huie, Shirley – Vergeten (interviews), 1995; The Forgotten Ones, 1992
Helfferich-Koch, Han – Een dal in Ambarawa, 1981
Heijmans-van Bruggen, Mariska – De Japanse bezetting in dagboeken, Vrouwenkamp Ambarawa 6, 2001
Jongh, Wil de – Olie en zweet, een traan, een lach, 1980
Lenderink-Talsma, E. – Vierduizend mensen en een koeiekop, 1995
Otte-Klompe, Mw – Kampinterview, NIOD, IC 033.656
Plantenga-van Noort, Els – Gepeperde toestanden, 2005
Schilling, Rita – Verloren jeugdjaren 1942 – 1946, 1995 (privately published)
Tieleman, H. en R. – Het rattevel, 1995, pp. 223-229
Vervoort, Hans – Vanonder de koperen ploert, 1976
Photographs / Drawings
Dulm, J. van et al – Kampatlas, Volume II, p. 125
Plantenga-van Noort, Els – Gepeperde toestanden, 2005
Rosters
NN – NIOD, IC 081.059 (71 pages, not alphabetized)
NN – NIOD, IC 041.370 (death roll)
NN – NIOD, IC 081.063 (death roll)
Camp Map
Beekhuis, H. et al – Japanse burgerkampen in Nederlands-Indië, Volume 1, 4th Edition, p. 58
Beekhuis, H. et al – Atlas Bersiapkampen, 2009, pp. 119-120 (events on August 23, 1945)
Dulm, J. van et al – Kampatlas, Volume I, p. 146
Bersiap
Aug. 23, 1945 Food portions suddenly doubled.
Aug. 24, 1945 Indo-European women allowed to leave camp.
Aug. 25, 1945 Japanese surrender announced in camp; Wilhelmus (Dutch national anthem) sung at the Lido (see Camp Map); extra food from then on: powdered milk, canned meat, oil, butter; bartering at the gedek; many deaths; more fell sick despite medications; individual cooking on anglos (portable grills); boys returned from Ambarawa 7.
Sep. 25, 1945 RAPWI took all sick to the Militair Ziekenhuis (Military Hospital) in Magelang.
Nov. 20, 1945 Sick returned from Magelang on open trucks (1200 people, including 400 critically ill); camp surrounded by extremists; British and Japanese troops protecting the camp were attacked; water and electricity were cut off
Nov. 28, 1945 Return of mortar fire on the camp (6 deaths)
Dec. 8, 1945 Beginning of the total evacuation of the camp to Semarang
Dec. 10, 1945 Evacuation completed
Dec. 14, 1945 British troops left Ambarawa
