IC VR Merksplas 2000

Collection

Web address:: http://www.arch.be/index.php?l=nl&m=praktische-info&r=onze-leeszalen&d=beveren

Scope and content:: This fonds mainly contains material related to the residence of the management of the internment centre for aliens in Angoulême. We note incoming and outgoing correspondence (no. 2), orders (no. 3), a logbook (no. 4) and regulations (no. 5). Nrs. 7-10 consist of opsluitingsdossiers (individual files of prisoners). This material covers the years 1940-1946. Given the refugee issue of the 1930s, the fonds probably also contains information on Jewish prisoners.

Administrative/biographical history:: The internment centre for aliens in Merksplas (1939-1945) was established in early 1940, in application of the legislative order of 28 September 1939, which allowed for the internment of undesirable or illegal aliens. The Sûreté Publique / Openbare Veiligheid suspected many German and Austrian refugees and emigrants of forming a potential ‘fifth column’. They were transferred to the internment centre in Merksplas from early 1940. The centre continued to function during the Occupation. (J. Buyck & K. Velle, Inventaris van het archief van de Rijksweldadigheidskolonies Hoogstraten-Merksplas-Rekem-Wortel, I 27 (Rijksarchief te Beveren), Brussel, ARA-AGR, 1998; R. van Doorslaer, E. Debruyne, F. Seberechts & N. Wouters (ed.), Gewillig België. Overheid en Jodenvervolging tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog., Antwerpen/Brussel, Meulenhoff/Manteau en SOMA, 2007, p. 143.)

Access, restrictions:: Consultation of documents older than 30 years containing personal information requires the authorisation of the Algemeen Rijksarchivaris or his representative, as well as the signing of a research declaration.

Finding aids:: J. Buyck, “Inventaris van het interneringscentrum voor vreemdelingen te Merksplas”, in J. Buyck, I. Rotthier & K. Velle, Inventaris van de archieven van het parket te Hasselt […],I 124 (Rijksarchief te Beveren), Brussel, ARA-AGR, 2005, pp. 118-119.