The Experience of the European Community in the Malang Internment Camps from the Japanese Occupation Transition to the Bersiap Period, 1942–1946
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29408/fhs.v10i2.36284Keywords:
internement camps, Japanse occupation, MalangAbstract
This study highlights the plight experienced by the European community in the city of Malang during the Japanese military occupation, a topic that rarely received attention in the historiography of the Japanese occupation period, especially regarding the internment camps used to hold prisoners of war as well as European civilians. This article focuses on three main topics: (1) the condition of the internment camp in Malang City, (2) the daily life of the European community in the camp, and (3) the end of the internment camp. This research uses a variety of primary and secondary sources, including newspapers, illustrations, interviews, and memoirs from the victims. The results of this study show that at the beginning of the establishment of internment camps in Malang City, the health and comfort of European civilians were relatively good. However, the situation deteriorated significantly from the beginning of 1943 to 1945 caused by a lack of stock of groceries for the prisoners. The situation is also exacerbated by poor sanitation, limited space to rest and the prohibition of the use of electricity and lighting.
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