Romusha
Encyclopedia
were forced laborers during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia
in World War II
. The U.S. Library of Congress estimates that in Java, between four and 10 million romusha were forced to work by the Japanese military. About 270,000 of these Javanese laborers were sent to other Japanese-held areas in South East Asia. Only 52,000 were repatriated to Java
, meaning that there was a death rate of 80%.
The Japanese military made very extensive use of such forced labor during the construction of the Burma-Thailand Railway during 1942-43. The death rate among romusha, from atrocities, starvation-diet and disease, significantly outstripped the death rate among Allied prisoners of war. About half the forced laborers engaged on the railroad construction died.
Japanese Occupation of Indonesia
The Japanese Empire occupied Indonesia, known then as the Dutch East Indies, during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The U.S. Library of Congress estimates that in Java, between four and 10 million romusha were forced to work by the Japanese military. About 270,000 of these Javanese laborers were sent to other Japanese-held areas in South East Asia. Only 52,000 were repatriated to Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, meaning that there was a death rate of 80%.
The Japanese military made very extensive use of such forced labor during the construction of the Burma-Thailand Railway during 1942-43. The death rate among romusha, from atrocities, starvation-diet and disease, significantly outstripped the death rate among Allied prisoners of war. About half the forced laborers engaged on the railroad construction died.