| Item title: | Documents regarding war criminals |
| Title (romaji): | Sensô hanzainin ni kansuru bunsho |
| Title (kanji) | |
| Location: | Australian War Memorial (AWM 82 2/323) View information about obtaining a copy of this document |
AJRP details | |
| AJRP module: | Australian War Memorial official records |
| AJRP series: | AWM 82 captured Japanese documents |
| AJRP sub-series: | Post-surrender Rabaul material received from HQ 8 Military District |
| AJRP folder: | |
Location details | |
| Institution: | Australian War Memorial |
| Call number: | AWM 82 2/323 |
| Inst. series: | AWM 82 |
| Inst. sub-series: | 2/- Post-surrender material received from HQ 8 Military District (Rabaul) |
| Item: | 2/323 |
Item qualities | |
| Quantity / desc: | 5 pages, handwritten in pencil and ink |
| Access: | Open |
| Item type: | Unpublished, Official |
| Category: | Correspondence |
Item content | |
| Creation date range (d/m/y): | 2/4/1946 to 8/4/1946 |
| Conflict code: | Post-war (related to WW2) |
| Keywords: | WAR CRIMINALS |
| Australian unit names: | 8th Military District |
| Allied unit names: | |
| Japanese unit names: | South East Area Army |
| Names: | SAKAI; KIKUCHI, Col |
| Sender: | Chief of Staff, South East Area Army |
| Recipient: | Chief of Staff, 8th Military District |
| Languages: | Japanese |
| Area: | Rabaul Area [Melanesia (PNG, Irian Jaya & Solomon Islands), Bismarck Archipelago, New Britain] |
| Content: | This item consists of drafts of two letters from the South East Area Army to the 8th Military District and a character reference document prepared by SAKAI, Commander of the 17th Division, for Colonel KIKUCHI. One draft dated 2 April requests the execution of sentences to be postponed until the issue regarding the status of foreign collaborators is solved. At a previous meeting with the Commander of the 8th Military District, General IMAMURA raised this matter and argued that foreign nationals accompanying the Japanese forces were collaborators rather than POWs. Since this matter was still under consideration by the Australian forces when the letter was drafted, the sender requested the execution of sentences to be postponed for those who had been charged with the ill-treatment of POWs (accompanying foreign nationals). The other draft also dated 2 April requests the Australian forces to inform the Japanese forces about the date of each execution in advance, to allow criminals to meet their supervisors and a few others before execution, to allow criminals to have a special meal before execution and to provide a priest at the time of each execution. The character reference document was supplied by SAKAI for Colonel KIKUCHI who had been sentenced to death. It describes KIKUCHI as a responsible, cautious and honest person. SAKAI expresses his disbelief at the news that KIKUCHI received a death sentence for murder. |
AWM 82 captured Japanese document details | |
| Title: | Documents regarding war criminals |
| ATIS number: | |
| Item status: | Original document |
| Item type: | Unpublished, Official |
| Names: | SAKAI; KIKUCHI, Col |
| Names (kanji ): | |
| Sender: | Chief of Staff, South East Area Army |
| Sender (kanji): | |
| Recipient: | Chief of Staff, 8th Military District |
| Recipient (kanji): | |
| Japanese unit names: | South East Area Army |
| Japanese unit names (romaji): | Nantô Hômengun |
| Japanese unit names (kanji) | |
| Place of acquisition: | Rabaul Area |
| Date of acquisition: | |
Other information | |
| Notes: | |
| Last modified: | 03/05/2009 10:06:54 AM |
| Source: | AJRP staff |
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