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ITEM FORM
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Item type: Unpublished, Official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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