Gerardus Johannes Berenschot
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Gerardus Johannes Berenschot (Solok
, July 24, 1887 – Kemayoran
, Batavia
(Jakarta), October 13, 1941) was an Indo (Eurasian) born in the Dutch East Indies
. Son of Gerrit Hendrik Berenschot, a Dutch KNIL officer, and Florence Mildred Rappa, Berenschot was sent to the Netherlands
at the age of 15, where he attended a cadet school at Alkmaar
. He later entered the Royal Military College, from which he graduated first in his class.
Upon graduation, he was sent back to his native East Indies
where he distinguished himself as a young subaltern serving in the KNIL (Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger) during the bloody campaigns in Aceh
.
In 1934 he became the KNIL's Chief of the General Staff, and in July 1939 was replaced by Hein ter Poorten
upon his promotion to Commander-in-Chief.
An extremely gifted officer with phenomenal organisational skills, General Berenschot was perhaps the best Commander-in-Chief the KNIL ever knew. Not only was he well trained in the arts of warfare, but he also displayed an impressive understanding of politics and diplomacy.
Following the fall of the Netherlands in 1940, General Berenschot successfully participated in the Singapore Conferences, where he was well liked and well regarded by his British and American counterparts.
On October 13, 1941, the plane carrying the General back from a conference with British Air Chief Marshal Brooke-Popham crashed in one of the native suburbs of Batavia
. There were no survivors.
General Johannes Bereschot's post of Commander-in-Chief of the KNIL was given to Lieutenant General Hein Ter Poorten
, who had the difficult task of preparing the East Indies for the coming war with Japan
.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Gerardus Johannes Berenschot (Solok
Solok
Solok is a city in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Its motto is Kota Beras, which means "the rice city". It has an area of 57.34 km² and a population of over 52,100 people.-External links:...
, July 24, 1887 – Kemayoran
Kemayoran
Kemayoran is a subdistrict of Central Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia. Kemayoran is roughly bounded by Landas Pacu Barat and Landas Pacu Timur road to the north, Letjend Suprapto Road to the south, and a canal along the Sunter Raya road to the northeast...
, Batavia
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
(Jakarta), October 13, 1941) was an Indo (Eurasian) born in the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
. Son of Gerrit Hendrik Berenschot, a Dutch KNIL officer, and Florence Mildred Rappa, Berenschot was sent to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
at the age of 15, where he attended a cadet school at Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
. He later entered the Royal Military College, from which he graduated first in his class.
Upon graduation, he was sent back to his native East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
where he distinguished himself as a young subaltern serving in the KNIL (Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger) during the bloody campaigns in Aceh
Aceh
Aceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
.
In 1934 he became the KNIL's Chief of the General Staff, and in July 1939 was replaced by Hein ter Poorten
Hein ter Poorten
Hein ter Poorten , was the commander of the Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger in World War II...
upon his promotion to Commander-in-Chief.
An extremely gifted officer with phenomenal organisational skills, General Berenschot was perhaps the best Commander-in-Chief the KNIL ever knew. Not only was he well trained in the arts of warfare, but he also displayed an impressive understanding of politics and diplomacy.
Following the fall of the Netherlands in 1940, General Berenschot successfully participated in the Singapore Conferences, where he was well liked and well regarded by his British and American counterparts.
On October 13, 1941, the plane carrying the General back from a conference with British Air Chief Marshal Brooke-Popham crashed in one of the native suburbs of Batavia
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
. There were no survivors.
General Johannes Bereschot's post of Commander-in-Chief of the KNIL was given to Lieutenant General Hein Ter Poorten
Hein ter Poorten
Hein ter Poorten , was the commander of the Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger in World War II...
, who had the difficult task of preparing the East Indies for the coming war with Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.