KOYAGI, Japan (AP) — On Saturday, dozens of relatives of former Dutch prisoners of war (POWs) gathered to commemorate their loved ones who endured suffering and starvation during their imprisonment in one of Japan's largest World War II prison camps located in Nagasaki. This commemoration coincides with the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, an event many of these POWs witnessed from their camp.

The names of these prisoners are inscribed on a stone monument at the Fukuoka POW Camp No. 2, the larger of the two war prison sites in Nagasaki. This monument was established in 2015 with contributions from Japanese survivors of the Nagasaki bombing and their descendants, symbolizing reconciliation and peace.

At the ceremony, Andre Schram, a representative of the Dutch bereaved families, emphasized that the monument carries a message beyond mere remembrance; it is a "plea for peace." He noted that it symbolizes reconciliation between those whose ancestors were once adversaries. Schram's father, Johan Willem Schram, was a Dutch Navy sailor who survived the forced labor and hardships at Camp No. 2 during the last years of the war, as well as the atomic bombing on August 9, 1945, just a week before Japan's surrender.

Andre Schram has written a book titled "Johan's Story," chronicling the history of the Netherlands’ colonial rule over the Dutch East Indies, Japan's war efforts, and the post-World War II era, based on his research. His father was initially reluctant to discuss his traumatic experiences during the war.

During the conflict, Japan detained around 150,000 members of the Allied forces in various camps across Asia, with more than 30,000 held in Japanese POW camps, as reported by the POW Research Network Japan. These prisoners were often coerced into labor in mines and factories to mitigate the workforce shortages caused by the draft of Japanese men into military service in various battlefields.

While at the No. 2 Camp in Nagasaki, approximately 500 POWs faced unbearable conditions, with the majority being Dutch, along with some Americans, British, and Australians. Although none of the POWs died as a direct result of the atomic blast, by the time the bomb struck Nagasaki, more than 70 had perished due to malnutrition, overwork, and associated illnesses.

The devastating bombing on August 9, 1945, killed over 70,000 individuals by the end of that year. This attack was merely three days after the U.S. had dropped a uranium bomb on Hiroshima, bringing death to about 140,000. Japan ultimately announced its surrender on August 15, 1945, marking the end of World War II.

The ceremony also highlighted a poignant connection between the families of the Dutch POWs who returned home carrying painful memories and the descendants of atomic bombing survivors in Nagasaki. Kazuhiro Ihara, whose father survived the bombing and worked towards reconciling with the POWs, expressed hope that this event would foster a peaceful world and enhance future exchanges between Dutch and Japanese communities.

On the day prior to the commemoration, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, accompanied by their daughter Princess Aiko, visited Nagasaki to honor the atomic bombing victims and meet a few survivors, underscoring the need to convey the tragedies of war and learn from such historical events.

When the bomb detonated over Nagasaki, the prisoners at Camp No. 2 were situated around 10 kilometers (about 6.2 miles) from the hypocenter of the explosion. They witnessed a massive orange fireball, purple smoke, and the mushroom cloud that followed. The explosion shattered windows, caused doors to fall off their hinges, and even collapsed part of the camp’s clinic, injuring several prisoners.

At another camp, known as No. 14, which was closer to the blast site, brick buildings were destroyed, resulting in the deaths of eight prisoners and injuries to many others. In the aftermath, POWs from Camp No. 2 provided food and other assistance to their fellow prisoners affected by the explosion at Camp No. 14.

On August 18, the surviving POWs at Camp No. 2 were formally informed of Japan's surrender. Soon after, on August 26, the first food drop for the Allied POWs was delivered by a U.S. B-29. The remaining prisoners departed the camp on September 4, merely two days after the formal signing of the war's conclusion, finally returning to their homeland.