Important news for anyone researching Dutch wartime history: the Central Archives for Special Criminal Jurisdiction (CABR) are now digitally searchable through the Nationaal Archief’s online catalogue. While the complete files themselves remain accessible only onsite in The Hague, this new searchable index opens up major possibilities for genealogists, historians, and descendants seeking answers about World War II and its aftermath.

I first wrote about accessing the CABR files onsite in 2020. These archives contain process dossiers relating to investigations and prosecutions of approximately 300,000 individuals suspected of collaboration with Nazi Germany during the occupation. However, the CABR files also hold much broader information.

What Does the CABR Contain?

The CABR dossiers include not only data on investigated persons but also information about (Jewish) victims, members of the resistance, and wartime events. Previously, this information was difficult to locate because the archive was organised only by the names of those investigated. As a result, references to victims or other parties appeared only inside dossiers indexed under others’ names.

Now that the CABR is fully digitally searchable, descendants of war victims and investigated individuals alike can discover:

• What happened to family members who were betrayed or otherwise affected during the war?
• Additional details about their ancestor’s involvement or mentions in multiple dossiers.
• Broader historical context, from resistance activities to the consequences of collaboration.

How Is the CABR Organised?

According to the Nationaal Archief’s detailed search help page:

• The CABR archive comprises case files (‘strafdossiers’) from the postwar Bijzondere Rechtspleging (Special Jurisdiction), which prosecuted suspected collaborators between 1945 and the early 1950s.
• Each dossier focuses on an individual case but may reference numerous other persons and events.
• The files include depositions, verdicts, correspondence, and related documents.
• Indexing was historically done by the name of the suspect or investigated person only, not by the names of victims or witnesses.

What Has Changed?

Thanks to a recent digitisation and metadata project:

• The Nationaal Archief’s online catalogue now allows searching by person’s name, including names of suspects, victims, resistance members, and others mentioned.
• This search determines whether a dossier exists associated with a given name.
• However, the full CABR files remain physically available only at the Nationaal Archief’s reading room in The Hague, accessible through five designated computers.
• Digital copies of files cannot be downloaded or viewed remotely at this time due to privacy and sensitivity concerns.

Practical Tips for Researchers

• Search the online catalogue first: Before visiting, check whether your person of interest appears in the CABR index.
• Plan your visit: Since file consultation is onsite-only and computer access is limited, scheduling ahead is recommended.
• Respect privacy restrictions: Some files are subject to confidentiality or legal restrictions, meaning access may be limited or delayed.
• Use the search aid: The Nationaal Archief provides guides and help pages to assist with searching and interpreting results — see CABR Zoekhulp.

Sensitivity and Context

CABR files reveal difficult truths. Being named in a dossier doesn’t automatically mean guilt; many were acquitted or wrongly accused. Some files involve painful family or community conflicts.

Approach these documents with care and historical understanding.

Summary

• CABR dossiers cover suspects, victims, resistance members, and wartime events.
• Search names online via the Nationaal Archief catalogue.
• Full files are only accessible onsite at the Nationaal Archief in The Hague (5 computers available).
• Consult the official search aids and plan visits carefully.
• Handle findings with sensitivity and respect for complex histories.

This enhanced accessibility is a major step for Dutch and international genealogical research, opening new doors to understanding family histories affected by the war.

If you want help navigating the CABR or interpreting what you find, feel free to contact me.

🌐 Nationaal Archief CABR Announcement (2025):
https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/onderzoeken/nieuws/het-cabr-digitaal-doorzoeken-in-het-nationaal-archief

🔍 Search CABR Dossiers in the Online Catalogue:
https://oorlogvoorderechter.nl/

📘 CABR Search Aid (Zoekhulp):
https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/onderzoeken/zoekhulpen/centraal-archief-bijzondere-rechtspleging-cabr

📝 My earlier blog post on the CABR (2020):
https://www.gershon-lehrer.be/blog/2020/03/02/cabr-files-in-hague/