Palembang Residential District Z-Sumatra
Reference type
Publication details
Palembang – Residential District – South Sumatra
28 March 2013
Reception Camp
Other name:
RAPWI Camp
Location
This reception camp consisted of part of a large residential district in the west of the city, bounded by Boekit Lama (north side), a long main thoroughfare (east side), Tal. Kranggo (south side), and a curved road (west side).
The entrance gate was on the eastern side at the intersection with the main road leading to the city centre.
The camp was also known as ‘De Concessie’ (‘The Concession’).
Camp Guards
British military personnel, assisted by Japanese soldiers.
Camp Commandant
Lieutenant J. D. N. Fremery.
Camp Administration
A two-person camp administration, assisted by block leaders.
Transports
Date Arrived from Number Number in camp Type
xx-09-45 (1) Loeboek Linggau: Belalau 1,000 1,000 Men, women, children
15-10-45 (2) Bangkinang (3) 214 Men, women, children
20-10-45 (4) Pakanbaroe (5) 90 Former POWs
xx-10-1945 Surrounding area 2,000 Men, women, children
15-11-1945 3,000 Persons
xx-11-45 (6) Palembang: Talangbetoetoe Former POWs (7)
xx-02-1946 5,200 (8) Men, women, children
xx-xx-1946 Evacuation 0 persons
Abbreviations in the original:
ki = children; kr = former prisoners of war; ma = men; vr = women; pers = persons.
L. Ling = Loeboek Linggau; Pal = Palembang; Talangb = Talangbetoetoe.
Notes:
(1) First transport; last transport 7 October 1945.
(2) From this date until 28 October 1945 – eight transports.
(3) By aircraft from Pakanbaroe airfield.
(4) From this date until 28 October 1945.
(5) By aircraft; initially accommodated briefly in Tangsi, then in the MULO school within the residential district.
(6) End of November.
(7) The remaining Dutch people – they were accommodated in the Schwartz Hotel.
(8) Including 3,200 Europeans, 800 IFTUs, and 1,200 Javanese displaced coolies.
Food
Throughout this period (September 1945 – February 1946), food came from the communal kitchen. In November–December there was a food boycott, as a result of which meat, eggs, fresh vegetables and fruit were unavailable.
By January 1946 the boycott had largely ended and the food supply improved: meat, eggs, vegetables and fruit became available in greater quantities. Red Cross parcels also arrived containing butter, cheese, crackers, condensed milk, salmon, sardines, etc.
Clothing
The former internees from the Belalau camps suffered a serious shortage of clothing for a long time. Clothing supplied by the Japanese was unusable. Only much later did a shipment of American clothing, including footwear, become available.
Conditions
In November 1945, the residential district was surrounded with barbed wire. Red and white predominated throughout the city, but no actions were undertaken against the camp.
Residents were not permitted to leave the district because the city was too dangerous.
Education
Primary schooling – five classes – began in December 1945.
Farm
There was a farm within the residential district itself, with 100 head of dairy cattle.
Recreation
The RAPWI Club provided theatrical performances, children's cabaret, dances and lectures. There was also a well-equipped library.
News
RAPWI published the Juliana-bode, which provided summaries of radio news.
Literature
Beekhuis, H. et al. – Geïllustreerde Atlas van de Bersiapkampen in Nederlands-Indië 1945–1947, 2009, pp. 39–40.
Boissevain, Gon and Lennie van Empel – Vrouwenkamp op Java, 2nd ed., 1991, pp. 309, 311, 329.
Folkeringa, Jelle – Eelt, Kind in Japans kamp, 1993, pp. 168–175.
Kwantes, H. – Personal communication.
Man, J. Th. A. de – Opdracht Sumatra, Korps Insulinde, 1987, pp. 143–144.
Ouden-Hille, M. H. den – Ik wou dat ik een vlinder was, 1983, p. 161.
Overzicht werkzaamheden KDP en RAPWI, NIOD, IC 025383.
Schouten, C. – RAPWI Geschiedkundig overzicht, NIOD, IC 081820, pp. 144–147.
28 March 2013
Reception Camp
Other name:
RAPWI Camp
Location
This reception camp consisted of part of a large residential district in the west of the city, bounded by Boekit Lama (north side), a long main thoroughfare (east side), Tal. Kranggo (south side), and a curved road (west side).
The entrance gate was on the eastern side at the intersection with the main road leading to the city centre.
The camp was also known as ‘De Concessie’ (‘The Concession’).
Camp Guards
British military personnel, assisted by Japanese soldiers.
Camp Commandant
Lieutenant J. D. N. Fremery.
Camp Administration
A two-person camp administration, assisted by block leaders.
Transports
Date Arrived from Number Number in camp Type
xx-09-45 (1) Loeboek Linggau: Belalau 1,000 1,000 Men, women, children
15-10-45 (2) Bangkinang (3) 214 Men, women, children
20-10-45 (4) Pakanbaroe (5) 90 Former POWs
xx-10-1945 Surrounding area 2,000 Men, women, children
15-11-1945 3,000 Persons
xx-11-45 (6) Palembang: Talangbetoetoe Former POWs (7)
xx-02-1946 5,200 (8) Men, women, children
xx-xx-1946 Evacuation 0 persons
Abbreviations in the original:
ki = children; kr = former prisoners of war; ma = men; vr = women; pers = persons.
L. Ling = Loeboek Linggau; Pal = Palembang; Talangb = Talangbetoetoe.
Notes:
(1) First transport; last transport 7 October 1945.
(2) From this date until 28 October 1945 – eight transports.
(3) By aircraft from Pakanbaroe airfield.
(4) From this date until 28 October 1945.
(5) By aircraft; initially accommodated briefly in Tangsi, then in the MULO school within the residential district.
(6) End of November.
(7) The remaining Dutch people – they were accommodated in the Schwartz Hotel.
(8) Including 3,200 Europeans, 800 IFTUs, and 1,200 Javanese displaced coolies.
Food
Throughout this period (September 1945 – February 1946), food came from the communal kitchen. In November–December there was a food boycott, as a result of which meat, eggs, fresh vegetables and fruit were unavailable.
By January 1946 the boycott had largely ended and the food supply improved: meat, eggs, vegetables and fruit became available in greater quantities. Red Cross parcels also arrived containing butter, cheese, crackers, condensed milk, salmon, sardines, etc.
Clothing
The former internees from the Belalau camps suffered a serious shortage of clothing for a long time. Clothing supplied by the Japanese was unusable. Only much later did a shipment of American clothing, including footwear, become available.
Conditions
In November 1945, the residential district was surrounded with barbed wire. Red and white predominated throughout the city, but no actions were undertaken against the camp.
Residents were not permitted to leave the district because the city was too dangerous.
Education
Primary schooling – five classes – began in December 1945.
Farm
There was a farm within the residential district itself, with 100 head of dairy cattle.
Recreation
The RAPWI Club provided theatrical performances, children's cabaret, dances and lectures. There was also a well-equipped library.
News
RAPWI published the Juliana-bode, which provided summaries of radio news.
Literature
Beekhuis, H. et al. – Geïllustreerde Atlas van de Bersiapkampen in Nederlands-Indië 1945–1947, 2009, pp. 39–40.
Boissevain, Gon and Lennie van Empel – Vrouwenkamp op Java, 2nd ed., 1991, pp. 309, 311, 329.
Folkeringa, Jelle – Eelt, Kind in Japans kamp, 1993, pp. 168–175.
Kwantes, H. – Personal communication.
Man, J. Th. A. de – Opdracht Sumatra, Korps Insulinde, 1987, pp. 143–144.
Ouden-Hille, M. H. den – Ik wou dat ik een vlinder was, 1983, p. 161.
Overzicht werkzaamheden KDP en RAPWI, NIOD, IC 025383.
Schouten, C. – RAPWI Geschiedkundig overzicht, NIOD, IC 081820, pp. 144–147.
Publication year
2013
Summary
Details of the reception camp for Dutch and Allied civilians and prisoners of war in Palembang at the end of the war.
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