Unit 731: Difference between revisions

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It engaged in human experimentation and field use of weapons.
It engaged in human experimentation and field use of weapons.
==Experimentation==
==Experimentation==
==Technology==
In comparison with the contemporaneous U.S. and British programs, the Japanese methods for distributing infectious agents was relatively primitive.  Interestingly, however, some of the devices alleged to be U.S. biological munitions, in the Korean War, had a significant resemblance to Unit 731 devices. The Soviets did capture some Unit 731 personnel, and that information may have made its way to North Korea.
When a disease was vector-borne, such as [[plague]] carried by fleas, the Japanese approach was to distribute infected arthropods, rather than the more difficult process of forming an aerosol spray. [[Anthrax]] was first delivered on bullets or bomb fragments
Diseases being studied included:
*[[plague]]
*[[cholera]]
*[[typhus]]
*[[anthrax]]
*[[glanders]]
==Field operations==
==Field operations==
==U.S. evaluation==
==U.S. evaluation==
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}}, pp. 85-86</ref>
}}, pp. 85-86</ref>


Two separate organizations were involved in the intelligence interrogations and document examinations: the Chemical Warfare Service, which provided the technical expertise, and the G-2 Division of [[Douglas MacArthur]]'s staff, headed by Major General [[Charles Willoughby]]. 
Relatively recently declassified documents have suggested that G-2 may have exaggerated the unquestionable atrocities, possibly to obtain more funding. They also showed direct cash payments to Ishii and others, as well as immunity to war crimes prosecution.<ref>{{citation
| title = New Facts about US Payoff to Japan’s Biological Warfare Unit 731
|author = Tsuneishi Keiichi
| translator = James Orr
| publisher = Kyodo News Agency; first appeared in Kanagawa Shimbun
| date = 18 August 2005
| url = http://japanfocus.org/articles/print_article/2209}}</ref>
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 00:12, 26 September 2010

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Unit 731 was an Imperial Japanese Army research and development facility for biological weapons, headquartered in Pingfan, Manchuria. It was headed by Gen. Shiro Ishii, who was given immunity from war crimes prosecution in exchange for his experimental data.

It engaged in human experimentation and field use of weapons.

Experimentation

Technology

In comparison with the contemporaneous U.S. and British programs, the Japanese methods for distributing infectious agents was relatively primitive. Interestingly, however, some of the devices alleged to be U.S. biological munitions, in the Korean War, had a significant resemblance to Unit 731 devices. The Soviets did capture some Unit 731 personnel, and that information may have made its way to North Korea.

When a disease was vector-borne, such as plague carried by fleas, the Japanese approach was to distribute infected arthropods, rather than the more difficult process of forming an aerosol spray. Anthrax was first delivered on bullets or bomb fragments

Diseases being studied included:

Field operations

U.S. evaluation

U.S. intelligence first obtained fragmentary knowledge of Unit 731 in December 1944, with more details in April 1945. After the surrender of Japan, a U.S. Army microbiologist, was sent to interrogate persons in the program and evaluate documents.[1]

Two separate organizations were involved in the intelligence interrogations and document examinations: the Chemical Warfare Service, which provided the technical expertise, and the G-2 Division of Douglas MacArthur's staff, headed by Major General Charles Willoughby.

Relatively recently declassified documents have suggested that G-2 may have exaggerated the unquestionable atrocities, possibly to obtain more funding. They also showed direct cash payments to Ishii and others, as well as immunity to war crimes prosecution.[2]

References

  1. Ed Regis (1999), The Biology of Doom: the History of America's Secret Germ Warfare Project, Henry Holt, ISBN 0805057641, pp. 85-86
  2. Tsuneishi Keiichi (18 August 2005), New Facts about US Payoff to Japan’s Biological Warfare Unit 731, Kyodo News Agency; first appeared in Kanagawa Shimbun