Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

August 8th, 1951

"Distinguished himself in a special way during the Japanese occupation period for his strength of spirit, fortitude of character and sense of community.
Ms. Sürbeck took advantage of the fact that she was neutral as a Swiss and was therefore not interned by the Japanese, during the period mid-1942-October 1945, in collaboration with her sister Ms. Otto-Sürbeck, to provide all possible help and assistance to the internees in the prison at Pematang Siantar and the women's camp there. This aid consisted of the provision of food, clothing, money and medicine, which was always done under the most dangerous circumstances. The risk that Ms. Sürbeck ran in this was all the greater because of the presence of a Kempetai bureau established at Pematang Siantar, as a result of which her residence (the Siantar Hotel) was continuously spied on by the enemy. This large-scale aid campaign was financed by her from her own resources, on which she spent large amounts of money, without even demanding any compensation afterwards. News reports and newspapers were also distributed by it to the internees, which contributed significantly to maintaining the morale of the internees.
Notwithstanding the fact that Ms. Sürbeck could have kept herself completely out of the political scene because of her Swiss nationality and that she was also in a very difficult position as the manager of the Siantar Hotel, she has always maintained her attitude towards the Japanese very dismissive.
This special woman has continuously worked for the internees and prisoners; so much so that in October 1945 she was advised by the then Japanese commander not to remain in Siantar any longer, as her life could no longer be guaranteed. During the infamous Siantar hotel murder affair, in which her father, the late Heer Sürbeck, and several other Swiss were killed by extremists, she narrowly escaped death.
Ms. Sürbeck helped to ease much suffering and thereby certainly saved many persons from certain destruction."

Royal decree no. 8