Kesilir Kesilir East-Java
|
The Kesilir experimental agricultural colony was
situated on the south coast, almost at
the easternmost tip of Java. The
entire colony was
spread over a
very large area (approximately 40 square kilometers),
completely surrounded by barbed wire. The
camp was housed in homemade shelters and
barracks. The intent of
the Japanese occupiers (General Imamura) was
to establish a large-scale,
self-sustaining agricultural settlement
for 70,000 persons (men, women and children). About 3,000 men
worked here for 15 months. The
project failed due to a lack of farming know-how and tools with which to work. The men were about
70% European and
30% Indo-European.
They cultivated corn, soybeans, green peas
and other vegetables. |
Japanese
Takahashi
Dutch
Mr. J. G. Wackwitz
Transports (source: Atlas Japanse Kampen)
|
Date |
Arrived from |
Transferred to |
Number in transport |
Total number in camp |
Individual type |
|
July xx, 1942 |
Solo |
|
153 |
|
b,m |
|
July xx, ‘42 (1) |
East-Java (2) |
|
1250 |
|
m |
|
|
|
|
120 |
|
m |
|
|
Solo: Ziekenzorg |
|
70 |
|
m |
|
|
Sem: Djatingaleh |
|
805 |
|
m (3) |
|
|
Sem: Kalibanteng |
|
100 |
|
m |
|
Nov. xx, ‘42 (4) |
Bond: |
|
119 |
|
m |
|
Apr. xx, 1943 |
|
Released |
62 |
|
b,m |
|
Apr. xx, 1943 |
|
Bond: Kempetai (5) |
38 |
|
b,m |
|
|
Soer: Werfstraat |
|
544 |
3050 |
b,m |
|
|
|
Amb: Banjoebiroe 10 |
1670 |
|
b,m (7) |
|
|
|
Tang: LOG |
1340 |
0 (9) |
b,m (10) |
Abbreviations
/ Notes
b=boys, m=men
Amb=Ambarawa, Bond=Bondowoso, Sem=
(1) During July and August 1942
(2) From all over East-Java, “assembled” in Boeboetan and Werfstraat
(Soerabaja)
(3) Missionaries (Brothers of Maastricht, among others)
(4) During November and December 1942
(5) Later executed
(6) And on
(7) “Totoks” (Dutch
nationals born in the
(8) And on
(9) Total of 82 deaths
(10) Indo-Europeans
References
Beekhuis, H. et al - Japanse burgerkampen in
Nederlands-Indië, Volume 2, pp 113-114
Br J. van
der Linden FIC (Brs van Maastricht) - Donum Desursum, privately published,
1981, pp 74-77
Brugmans,
I.J. - Nederlands-Indië onder Japanse bezetting, p 462 (Pagi-groep)
Dulm, J. van et al - Atlas Japanse Kampen, Volume I,
2000, p 181
Jong, L.
de - Het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden in WOII, Volume 11B, 1985, p 341, p 821
Jong, L. de - The Collapse of a Colonial Society, 2002 (Engelse vertaling
van Deel 11B)
Marsman,
Harryet - Klapperolie voor Kesilir, Moesson magazine 14/3 (July/August 1996), pp
40-41
Moscou-de Ruyter, M. - Vogelvrij, 1984, pp 30-115 (visiting women from
Smit, H.
- Onderbemingsleven in Nederlands-Indië, 1977
Smit, H.
- Van katjong tot rijksambtenaar, Moesson magazine, 1982, pp 85-150
Soesman,
J. - Verslag Rode Kruis-afdeling Malang, July 6, 1946, NIOD, IC-004397
Stutterheim, John K, - The Diary of Prisoner 17326, 2010, Chapter 7
(“Kesilir”), pg 41-48
Veldhuijzen,
Han - De trein van Kesilir naar Tangerang, Moesson magazine 41/4 (Oct. 15, 1996),
pp 22-23
Verslag
“Belevenissen en gebeurtenissen in Indië tijdens de oorlog”, 1945 (Archive of the
Broeders van Dongen)
Wackwitz, J.G. - Kesilir, July 1942 - September 1943, Moesson magazine,
1988
Willems,
Wim en Jaap de Moor - Het einde van Indië, 1995, pp 113-126 (Huub de Jonge text)
Wolff-Werner,
Helga - Bezoek aan Kesilir, Moesson magazine 35/2 (August 15, 1990), p 9
Photographs
/ Drawings
Claassen,
Rob en Joke van Grootheest - Getekend, 1995, pp 108-110
Warmer, Joh.A.G.
- Java 1942 - 1945, Kampschetsen, 1984, pp 7-53
Camp Map
Beekhuis, H. et al - Japanse burgerkampen in
Nederlands-Indië, Volume 2, p 114
Dulm, J. van et al - Atlas Japanse Kampen, Volume I,
2000, p 181, Volume II, 2002, p 151