Ambarawa            Banjoebiroe 11        Central-Java

 

                                                                                                                                                                    March 29, 2011

Alternate Camp Names

Bunsho III, Camp 11 (per Japanese administration)

 

Camp Location

Ambarawa was about 45 kilometers south of Semarang. The village of Banjoebiroe was approximately 5 kilo­meters south of Ambarawa. This camp was located in a military encampment, just east of the village.

 

Japanese Camp Commanders

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

 

Dutch Camp Leaders

Mrs. van Riessen (Dec. 1942 to Feb. 3, 1945), Mrs. Sybrandi, Mrs. Prins (Feb. 3, 1945 to Aug. 1945)

 

Transports (source: Atlas Japanse Kampen)

Date

Arrived from

Transferred to

Number

in

transport

Total

number

in camp

Individual

type

Dec. 26, 1942

Djokjakarta (?)

 

110

 

w,ch

Dec. 27, 1942

Djokjakarta

 

380

 

w,ch

Feb. 1, 1943

 

Sala: Djoen Eng

5

 

b

Feb. 2, 1943

Surrounding Area (1)

 

120 (2)

 

w,ch,om

June 11, 1943

Ambarawa

 

15

 

w,ch n

June 30, 1943

 

Sala: Djoen Eng

1

 

B

Aug. 13, 1943

 

??

13

 

w,ch

Aug. 13, 1943

??

 

13

 

w,ch

Sep. 1, 1943

Sem: Gedangan

 

14

 

n

Dec. 21, 1943

 

Semarang

2

 

w

Jan. 18, 1944

 

Sala: Djoen Eng

2

 

b

June 10, 1944

Amb: Banjoebiroe 10

 

400

 

w,ch

Aug. 6, 1944

Mal: De Wijk

 

100

 

w,ch

Aug. 9, 1944

 

Amb: Ambarawa 8

66 (3)

 

w,ch,m

Sep. 17, 1944

 

Amb: Ambarawa 8

106 (4)

 

b, m,n

Sep 17 1944 (5)

Amb: Ambarawa 8

 

120

 

w,ch

Nov. 21, 1944

Band: Tjihapit

 

250

 

w,ch

Nov. 22, 1944

Band: Tjihapit

 

110

 

w,ch

Nov. 23, 1944

Band: Tjihapit

 

500

 

w,ch

Jan. 16, 1945

 

Amb: Ambarawa 7

60 (6)

 

b,om

Feb. 3, 1945

Amb: Ambarawa 9

 

2

 

w

May 4, 1945

Amb: Ambarawa 9

 

298

 

w,ch

June 1, 1945

Solo: Ziekenzorg

 

200

 

w,ch

June 5, 1945

Amb: Ambarawa 6

 

6

 

w,ch

July 3, 1945

Sem: Halmaheira

 

33

2440

w,ch

July 27, 1945

Surrounding Areas

 

2

 

w (7)

July 27, 1945

 

Released

3 (8)

 

w,ch (9)

Aug. xx, 1945

Moentilan

 

xxx

?? (10)

w,ch

Aug. 23, 1945

 

 

 

2300

w,ch

Abbreviations / Notes

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

Amb=Ambarawa, Band=Bandoeng, Mal=Malang, Sal=Salatiga, Sem=Semarang, Solo=Soerakarta,

Ziekenzorg=Ziekenzorg/Boemikamp

(1) Salatiga, Ambarawa, Bandoengan, Kopeng

(2) 70 women and children, 50 old men

(3) 65 women and children, 1 man (physician)

(4) 36 boys, 45 men, 25 nuns

(5) Through September 19, 1945

(6) 40 boys and 20 old men

(7) Of Indo-European origin

(8) A woman and 2 children

(9) Of Swedish origin

(10) All deceased: a total of 104 deaths throughout the period

 

References

Beekhuis, H. et al – Japanse burgerkampen in Nederlands-Indië, Volume 1, 4th Edition, pg 68-69

Beekhuis, H. et al – Atlas Bersiapkampen, 2009, pg 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 150-151; Volume II, 2002, pg 121

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

Hooykaas-van Leeuwen Boomkamp, J.H. - Vrouwenkamp op Java, 1946

Kramer, Diet - Thuisvaart, 1965

Lenderink-Talsma, E. - Vierduizend mensen en een koeiekop, 1995, pg 81-91

Paardekooper, Sonja - Achter het gedek, 1995

Voorneman, Richard N. - Banjoebiroe 11, een vrouwenkamp op Java, 1995

Voorneman, Richard N. - Supplement op Banjoebiroe 11, een vrouwenkamp op Java (3 diaries)

Zwaan, D.W. (Ventje Sowan) – Dagboek van 27.12.42 t/m 19.9.44 (diary - privately published)

 

Photographs / Drawings:

Diessen, J.R. van - Boven Indië, 1993, pg 151 (aerial photo)

Mobach, Jan - Gaan, Moesson magazine 34/2 (August 15, 1989), pg 11

 

Rosters

NN – NIOD, IC 041.357 (death rolls)

Voorneman, Richard N. - Banjoebiroe 11, een vrouwenkamp op Java, 1995, pg 194 (death rolls)

 

Camp Map

Beekhuis, H. et al – Japanse burgerkampen in Nederlands-Indië, Volume 1, 4th Edition, pg 46

Beekhuis, H. et al – Atlas Bersiapkampen, 2009, pg 125

Dulm, J. van et al – Atlas Japanse Kampen, Volume I, 2000, pg 115

 

Bersiap

Aug. 20, 1945        double portions of rice

Aug. 21, 1945        change of guards: Japanese instead of heihos (indigenous auxiliary soldiers)
Aug. 23, 1945        Indo-European women and children allowed to leave camp

Aug. 24, 1945        Japanese surrender announced; intense bartering at the gedek fence (clothes for food)

Aug. xx, 1945         several women visited other camps

Aug. xx, 1945         sick taken to the Ziekenhuis (hospital) in Ambarawa

Aug. 31, 1945        pamphlets dropped into camp warning not to leave

Sep. xx, 1945          air-drops of food and medicines, firewood and food trucked in
Sep. xx, 1945          four RAPWI employees arrived to assist camp management (advice and security)

Sep. xx, 1945          many women and children left the camp; in early October, 1200 people were still in the camp
Sep. 22, 1945         sick taken to the Militair Ziekenhuis (military hospital) in Magelang

Nov. 23, 1945        extremists attack the camp, repelled by British troops
Nov. 24, 1945        renewed attack on the camp, repelled by British troops with difficulty
Nov. 25, 1945        evacuation to Fort Willem I completed, camp vacated

Dec. 2, 1945           British troops left Banjoebiroe

 

 

Banjoebiroe 11 Camp Map

 

 

Index           Camps on Java