The Ordeals of a Survivor

By Rev. Dr. Georg F.W. Gerritsen

My personal experiences before, during and after WW II in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia); some information about my family, and their ages in 1943; a map of the island of Java plus the locations of the concentration camps; afterthoughts; remarks; some drawings; a diagram of a camp; information about the atomic bombs; memorials; references; about the author.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Feb 6, 2007
• ISBN: 9781412204217

Rev. Dr. Georg F.W. Gerritsen

Because I read a number of books on the activities of Albert Schweitzer in Africa, I was encouraged to consider the general ministry. My education was aimed toward that goal, and also you will find information about my family. Name: Rev. Dr. Georg F.W. Gerritsen Born: 1934 in Batavia (Jakarta) of the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) One of six (6) children-two (2) boys and four (4) girls Father was a Dutch citizen; Mother was a German citizen, however on the date of her marriage (April 21, 1932) she became a Dutch citizen. From 1942 to 1945 in the (four Japanese) concentration camps: Bloemenkamp; Tjihapit; Moentilan (Muntilan); and Banjoe Biroe (Banju Biru). Education and General Information: Elementary Education in the Dutch East Indies (Called today: Indonesia); High School Education in the Netherlands Private lessons to learn Latin in Toronto, Ontario, Canada Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MichiganÑAB General in 1959 Westminster Theological Seminary, Glenside, PennsylvaniaÑ Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1963. In 1974 the degree was turned into a Master of Divinity Temple University in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaÑEducational Psychology (3 undergraduate credits) in 1964 I worked as a janitor at the Headquarters of the United Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Part Time Associate Pastor at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania from 1964 to 1965 TeacherÑteaching German & French I at Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania from 1963 to 1968 Guidance Counselor at Hatboro-Horsham Junior High School in Hatboro, Pennsylvania from 1968 to 1969 West Chester State College in West Chester, PennsylvaniaÑ GUIDANCE and COUNSELING (36 graduate credits) from 1967 to 1969 Part Time Associate Pastor of Haws Avenue United Methodist Church in Norristown, Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1969 I worked for Bristol-Myers and Wallace Pharmaceutical companies as a salesman in the state of Michigan from 1969 to 1972 Full Time Pastor of the United Methodist Church in the state of Michigan from 1972 to December 1999 San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, CaliforniaÑDoctor of Ministry in 1980Ñthesis or dissertation project: "THE THEOLOGICAL ANTECEDENCE IN CRISIS COUNSELING" (subjects in DEATH, DIVORCE, TERMINAL ILLNESS AND SUICIDE) THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES LIVED IN: From 1934 to 1947 in the Dutch East Indies (now called Indonesia); from 1947 to 1954 in the Netherlands; from 1954 to 1955 in Ontario, Canada; and from 1955 to the present time in the USA. Ordination: In 1972 as a Deacon in The United Methodist Church by Bishop Dwight Loder In 1974 as an Elder In The United Methodist Church By Bishop Dwight Loder For twenty-eight (28) years I was a United Methodist pastor on a full time basis, and in December of 1999 I retired. Deaths in the family: in 1969 my father; in 1987 my oldest sister, in 2001 my mother Marriage: In 1961 on September 23 I married Barbara E. Foulks, who was born in 1940 at Juliustown, New Jersey, and is an R.N. Children: Greg David In January of 1971 our adopted son (Greg David) became part of our family. He was born on November 20, 1970 in Flint, Michigan. Presently, he lives in Michigan.

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Copyright 2007 Rev. Dr. Georg F.W. Gerritsen.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-4120-6209-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4122-0421-7 (e)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

1 THE DUTCH EAST INDIES (INDONESIA)

2 MY CHILDHOOD

3 THE MOVE TO BANDOENG (BANDUNG)

4 A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FOUR CONCEN-

TRATION CAMPS (MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

OF A SURVIVOR WHO WAS PUT IN FOUR

JAPANESE CONCENTRATION CAMPS)

5 THE JAPANESE INVASION

6 BANDOENG

a) Bloemenkamp—The First Concentration Camp

MOVING TO TJIHAPIT

b) The Second Concentration Camp

7 IN MOENTILAN —The Third Concentration Camp

8 IN BANJOE BIROE —The Fourth Concentration Camp

9 GOING TO SEMARANG BY TRUCK

(AFTER THE WAR)

10 GOING TO BANDOENG BY PLANE

(AFTER THE WAR)

11 ZUIDLAREN

12 THE INTERIM PERIOD BETWEEN ZUIDLAREN

AND AMERSFOORT

13 AMERSFOORT

CONCLUSION

THE AGES OF THE FAMILY GERRITSEN IN 1943

AFTERTHOUGHTS

SECTION A

(Why war?)

SECTION B

(The reason for going to the Dutch East Indies – Indonesia)

SECTION C

(The various conditions)

SECTION D

(Japan’s Desires)

SECTION E

(Gratitude to the veterans)

SECTION F

(On forgiveness of the atrocities of Japan)

SECTION G

(On food in the concentration camps)

SECTION H

(On my feelings about the war)

SECTION I

(On education and other general information)

REMARKS

SOME DRAWINGS:

KEDEK

TJIHAPIT

MOENTILAN (MUNTILAN)

A diagram of the Concentration Camp of BANJOE

BIROE (Banju Biru)

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ATOMIC BOMB

THE MEMORIALS

REFERENCES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PREFACE

The author will try to give to the reader an idea or a concept of the horrors of a war and its consequences or the result of such an activity. Also, that there are individuals who are willing to sacrifice their own lives in order to save others. Such heroism cannot be understood or comprehended by a rational mind.

The people of the United States of America are about to be involved with the war, when Japan (from the air) attacked their navy at Pearl Harbor on the 7th of December 1941. The American president, Mr. Roosevelt, on the radio said to the American people that this day should be called: A Day of Infamy. There was no choice but to go to war now. First, the soldiers had to go to Europe, and then they had to get involved in the Pacific.

Personally, I believe that too much attention and emphasis are given to the time when American soldiers entered Normandy; also, about concentration camps in Europe and the occurrence of the holocaust of the Jews.

Not too much has been said, shown or indicated what was done to bring the Japanese army to their knees, and the sacrifices made by those, who fought in that arena. Some Americans have had no idea that there were concentration camps in the Dutch East Indies (called today Indonesia). Let us give all those who fought in the Pacific the same praise and glory.

When you talked to the returnees, they might discuss with you their experiences. No one would say that they were brave or were not afraid of what was ahead of them, but everyone followed God’s second greatest commandment: Love your neighbor as yourselves.

This book is dedicated to all those who fought in the Pacific, and to my wife, Barbara, as well as to our son, Greg. May the readers receive a better understanding of what took place in that area. They would see the violence and the brutality of Japan in their concentration camps all over the Dutch East Indies (called today Indonesia). Moreover, everyone in Japan should learn of the horrors inflicted on us. Those atrocities and such treatments were not expected. Japan had never apologized for their behavior to the Dutch nation and the survivors of about 70,000. Approximately 120,000 died at their hands.

Let us NEVER forget the bravery of the American men and women of World War II in the Pacific.

The author (of this book) would not have been alive in the year 2003 (58 years later), if it was not for the endurance and the perseverance of America as well as the assistance given by the Allied forces. Therefore, all the praise and glory should be given to them. Thank you America, Canada, Australia and other Allied Forces.

INTRODUCTION

The reader of these memories would get a bird’s eye view of the people in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia). The Dutch names have been preserved, however, the names of places, towns, and cities have been put in parenthesis in order to show him/her how they have changed as indicated on a recent map.

First, the people and the land would be described. The gentleness and the childlike behavior, and what this land had to offer to those who came here. The thoughts of a world war and the actions of Japan were not part of the ‘foreign’ citizens and the natives of that land.

Then, my childhood experiences in Batavia (Jakarta) have been described, and later when the family moved to Bandoeng (Bandung). Also my education in that city came to the foreground.

When I talked about the Japanese Invasion, I brought out my fears and our feelings of the bombing of the city of Bandoeng (Bandung) and its airport.

Fourthly, I gave the reader a condensed view of the four concentration camps as well as my personal experiences. Also, my thanks to all the veterans who would go out, especially to those who fought in the Pacific.

Finally, a detailed information of each of the four Concentration Camps as well as how the family came together again.

Last of all, the return to the Netherlands was indicated and the process of the education became important to us plus what was done with the six children. Ultimately, the family Gerritsen settled permanently in the city of Amersfoort.

The whole event was brought to a conclusion. Also, the ages in 1943 were indicated, plus a map of the island of Java had been provided, and where the four Concentration Camps were located.

Afterthoughts in various areas were brought out by the writer as well as his remarks. Since there were no cameras during the incarcerations, I have supplied some drawings.

It could be said that this situation could be compared to the 2003 condition with Saddam Hussein in Iraq. There must be a similarity with the thoughts of Hirohito of Japan as well as the actions of the leader of Iraq. In both cases there is a blind obedience and a following of those who have been told of an imminent death, if his orders were not obeyed.

In the Middle East as well as in the Far East, death and its final rewards must have had a greater impact upon the people in the East than the concept of life in the West. Not too many countries in that area of the East honored the idea of democracy as it had been brought out and practiced in the western world.

1

THE DUTCH EAST INDIES (INDONESIA)

The Dutch East Indies—a former Dutch colony—and now called Indonesia is comprised of 17000 islands. Most of the general population are still living on the