| Item title: | Letter from Major KIYOHARA |
| Title (romaji): | KIYOHARA Shôsa yori no shokan |
| Title (kanji) | |
| Location: | Australian War Memorial (AWM 82 2/322) 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 2/322 |
| Inst. series: | AWM 82 |
| Inst. sub-series: | 2/- Post-surrender material received from HQ 8 Military District (Rabaul) |
| Item: | 2/322 |
Item qualities | |
| Quantity / desc: | 14 pages, handwritten in pencil |
| Access: | Open |
| Item type: | Unpublished, Official |
| Category: | Correspondence |
Item content | |
| Creation date (d/m/y): | ?/?/c1946 |
| Conflict code: | Post-war (related to WW2) |
| Keywords: | WAR CRIMINALS - SUSPECTS, WAR CRIMINALS - SUSPECT'S COMPOUND, UNIT HISTORIES |
| Australian unit names: | |
| Allied unit names: | |
| Japanese unit names: | 17th Division 2nd Mixed Regt |
| Names: | KIYOHARA, Maj |
| Sender: | KIYOHARA, Maj |
| Recipient: | Commander, 17th Division |
| Languages: | Japanese |
| Area: | Rabaul Area [Melanesia (PNG, Irian Jaya & Solomon Islands), Bismarck Archipelago, New Britain] |
| Content: | This item is a letter dated 11 April from Major KIYOHARA to the Commander of the 17th Division. It was written in reply to a letter from the commander which presented some questions regarding war crimes and suspected war criminals. The letter describes the situation in the war criminals' compounds, mentions when the 2nd Mixed Regiment was incorporated into the 17th Division, and discusses the treatment of British POWs on the Watom Island. It also details the relationship between the commanders of military police and the 17th Division. Approximately 700 British POWs were brought to the Rabaul area by the 51th Division in December 1942, of which about 80 were left behind when the division left Rabaul. The majority lost their lives due to illness and Allied bombardments, before 21 remaining POWs were transferred to Watom Island. KIYOHARA argues that there was no evidence of ill treatment of POWs, referring to the fact that POWs were only given light labour work for self-sufficiency and were provided with twice as much food as Japanese soldiers. He also mentions that sanitary conditions were adequate and that only three POWs died of illness after the transfer to Watom Island. KIYOHARA also discusses the command structure between the 8th Army, the 17th Division and the military police. He argues that the commander of the military police was not directed by the commander of the 17th Division. He states that the 17th Division was never given orders by the Army regarding the execution of civilians or Indians, or was presented a report on such matters by the military police. KIYOHARA understands that the Army delegated the authority to maintain order and security to the military police, and that the execution of civilians or Indians was a matter beyond the authority of the divisional commander. |
AWM 82 captured Japanese document details | |
| Title: | Letter from Major KIYOHARA |
| ATIS number: | |
| Item status: | Original document |
| Item type: | Unpublished, Official |
| Names: | KIYOHARA, Maj |
| Names (kanji ): | |
| Sender: | KIYOHARA, Maj |
| Sender (kanji): | |
| Recipient: | Commander, 17th Division |
| Recipient (kanji): | |
| Japanese unit names: | 17th Division 2nd Mixed Regt |
| Japanese unit names (romaji): | Dai 17 Shidan Dai 2 Konsei Rentai |
| Japanese unit names (kanji) | |
| Place of acquisition: | Rabaul Area |
| Date of acquisition: | |
Other information | |
| Notes: | |
| Last modified: | 03/05/2009 10:07:35 AM |
| Source: | AJRP staff |
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