New Evidence Unveiled: Japan’s Unit 731 Adds to itsList of Atrocities
Harbin, China – On the eve of the93rd anniversary of the Mukden Incident, the Unit 731 Crimes Exhibition Hall and Japanese scholar Matsuo Makoto jointly released a newly discovered historical document, List of Higher Civil Servants in the Army, Army Clerks, Army Technicians. This document, found in the National Archives of Japan, was compiled by theJapanese Army Demobilization Section in 1945. It comprises 267 pages and provides detailed information on the technicians of the Japanese bacteriological warfare units from February 1944 to August 1945, totaling 100 individuals.
Among these, 57 were from Unit 731, 16 from Unit 100, 11 from Unit 1644, 9from Unit 9420, 7 from Unit 1855. The document meticulously records their appointment dates, promotion history, universities of origin, and achievements.
Technicians were highly skilled professionals who held senior official positions and were the core research force. They were incorporated into theArmy’s military personnel sequence and often served as heads of various research departments. Their primary roles involved conducting various bacterial experiments and medical research.
Jin Shicheng, deputy secretary-general of the Harbin City Research Association on the History of Japanese Bacterial and Poison Gas Warfare, explained that the previously released Unit 731 roster recorded 50 technicians. This newly discovered document reveals an additional 7 technicians from Unit 731. Comparing these two sets of data allows for a clearer understanding of the overall structure and personnel composition of Unit 731.
While the rosters for the Nanjing Unit 1644 and GuangzhouUnit 8604, two of the six major Japanese bacteriological warfare units, remain undiscovered, the newly released document provides information on the technicians of Unit 1644, contributing to a better understanding of its personnel composition.
Jin Shicheng emphasized that the newly released document is crucial evidence for deepeningresearch on the Japanese bacteriological warfare unit system. It holds significant importance in comprehensively exposing the atrocities of the Japanese bacteriological warfare and represents a collaborative effort between China and Japan to uncover these crimes.
The future plan is to unite more peace-loving forces to jointly expose the atrocities of Japanese bacteriological warfare, remember history, and safeguardpeace.
Significance of the Discovery
The discovery of this document is significant for several reasons:
- Adds to the Evidence: It provides further concrete evidence of the systematic nature of the Japanese bacteriological warfare program and the extensive involvement of skilled personnel in its execution.
- Clarifies Unit Structure: Ithelps researchers better understand the organizational structure of Unit 731 and other related units, providing insights into their hierarchy and personnel distribution.
- Highlights the Scale of the Atrocities: The document highlights the vast number of individuals involved in these horrific experiments, emphasizing the scale and systematic nature of the Japanese bacteriological warfareprogram.
- Promotes International Collaboration: The joint release of the document by the Unit 731 Crimes Exhibition Hall and Japanese scholar Matsuo Makoto demonstrates a commitment to international cooperation in uncovering historical truths and holding perpetrators accountable.
The Importance of Remembering
The release of this document serves as a stark reminder of theatrocities committed by the Japanese military during World War II. It underscores the importance of remembering history and learning from the past to prevent such horrific events from happening again.
The document also highlights the ongoing need for international collaboration in uncovering the truth about historical events and ensuring that justice is served for victims of war crimes.
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