Gevangenis Cheribon

October 2, 2012

 

Alternate Camp Names

Oude Gevangenis (Old Prison), Boei Lama

Camp Location

This old prison (dating from circa 1800) was in the city center, near the harbor (not to be confused with the new prison, which was located in the south of the city, on the road to Koeningan).

This prison was used for internment shortly after the Dutch capitulated. Those needed to run businesses (e.g., factories) were released. They were later re-interned; some not until the end of 1943.

In this prison (according to Annemie MacGillavry) were 40 Caucasians (separated, with men on one side, women and children on the other) and 3000 Indonesian prisoners. The Caucasians were initially housed in small groups in small cells; then later in larger groups in larger cells. This lasted until the Japanese surrendered. Only 600 of the 3000 Indonesian prisoners survived the war.

Prison Warden

Onoga

Kempeitai Subhead

Tadashi

Transports (source: Atlas Japanse Kampen)
DateArrived fromTransferred toNumber in TransportTotal Number in CampIndividual Type
xx.xx 1942Surrounding Areas
m
(1)
7-Jul-42Surrounding Areas
m
(2)
Sept xx, 1942Pekalongan: Gevangenis
m
Oct. xx, 1942Surrounding Areas
(3)
w
ch
Dec. xx, 1942Bandoeng: Kareës
w
ch
xx.xx 1943Surrounding Areas
(4)
w
ch
June xx, 1943Batavia: Kramat
w
ch
xx.xx 1943Surrounding Areas40
m
w
(5)
Aug. xx, 1945Released
m
w

Abbreviations / Notes

ch=children, m=men, w=women
(1) Senior officials and police officers.
(2) Remaining Dutch.
(3) Cheribon and southeastern Preanger.
(4) Including the north coast of Central-Java.
(5) Prisoners of the PID (Politieke Inlichtingen-Dienst – Political Intelligence Service) and native and Chinese political prisoners.

References

Beekhuis, H. et al – Atlas Bersiapkampen, 2009, p. 84 (events during the Bersiap period)
Dulm, J. van et al – Atlas Japanse Kampen, Volume I, 2000, p. 127
Jong, L. de – Het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden in WOII, Volume 11B, 1985, p. 485
Jong, L. de – The Collapse of a Colonial Society, 2002 (English translation of Volume 11B)
Liesker, H.A.M. – Je denk, ken niet maar ken!!, 1997, p. 28 (January 1945 to August 1945)
MacGillavry, Annemie – Je kunt niet altijd huilen, 1978, pp. 79-134

Photographs / Drawings

Beekhuis, H. et al – Atlas Bersiapkampen, 2009, p. 84 (photo of front façade, 2007)