Pacific War Trials – conclusion
There were 19 cases brought up for medical experiments at Truk. (Most people have only heard of these abominable acts from the Nazis.) Another was held for the slaughter of 98 Pan American airline employees on Wake Island in 1943. And ten others were sentenced to death; 18 were convicted of murdering civilians in the Palaus.
Upon Japan’s surrender, the Allies began organizing war crimes investigations and prosecutions throughout Asia. At the Tokyo Trial, the Allies prosecuted only 28 high-ranking ‘Class A’ suspects from various government and military departments on charges linked to the waging of war and war crimes. Hundreds of lower-ranking ‘Class B’ and ‘Class C’ suspects of diverse ranks were prosecuted at other Allied trials operating across Asia.
It is hard to arrive at the exact number of Allied trials held in Asia, as there continues to be access restrictions to some national trial records. Some latest estimates of the number of war crimes trials held by different national authorities in Asia are as follows: China (605 trials), the US (456 trials), the Netherlands (448 trials), Britain (330 trials), Australia (294 trials), the Philippines (72 trials), and France (39 trials). In 1956, China prosecuted another four cases involving 1062 defendants, out of which 45 were sentenced and the rest acquitted. The Allies conducted these trials before military courts pursuant to national laws of the Allied Power concerned. Altogether 2244 war crimes prosecutions were conducted in Asia. 5700 defendants were prosecuted: 984 defendants were executed; 3419 sentenced to imprisonment; and 1018 acquitted.
The British conducted national war crimes trials (the Singapore Trials) pursuant to a 1945 Royal Warrant adopted by the British executive under royal prerogative powers (1945 Royal Warrant). The British military was given the responsibility of implementing these trials in different locations across Asia and Europe. 330 trials were organized by the British military in Asia. Of these, 131 trials were conducted in Singapore.
As of mid-1946, the British military had established 12 war crimes courts in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Rangoon, Hong Kong, and Borneo. Eight of 12 courts established were located in Singapore. There were also ‘travelling courts’ that made their way to particular locations to hear a case.
Singapore served as the base for the British military’s war crimes investigations and prosecutions in Asia. Investigations were conducted out of Goodwood Park Hotel. Post-war conditions in Singapore posed many challenges to the organizing of these trials. There was a shortage of food, basic necessities, and qualified personnel in post-war Singapore.
Trials conducted in Singapore concerned not only Japanese military atrocities perpetrated in Singapore but those committed in other parts of Asia
A substantial number of trials addressed the abuse and neglect of POWs and civilian detainees in prisons and camps, such as Changi Prison, Sime Road Prison, Outram Road Gaol, and Selarang Barracks.
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Military Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Nikyisha T. Boyd – Kissimmee, FL US Army, Midlle East, Sgt. 1st Class, 1st Special Forces
Paul Coleman – Roswell, GA; USMC, WWII, PTO
William Degen – Buffalo, NY; US Army, WWII, ETO, 7th Army
Dallas G. Garza – Fayetteville, NC; US Army (MFO), Egypt, Chief Warrant officer, KIA (South Sinai)
Marwan S. Ghabour – Malborough, MA; US Army (MFO), Egypt, Chief Warrant Officer, KIA (South Sinai)
Robert C. MacDonald – Hamilton, CAN; RC Air Force (RAF), WWII, CBI, Sgt., radarman
Kyle R. McKee – Painsville, OH; US Army (MFO), Egypt, SSgt., KIA (South Sinai)
Jeremy C. Sherman – Watseka, IL; US Army (MFO), Egypt, Sgt., KIA (South Sinai)
Seth V. Vandekamp – Katy, TX; US Army (MFO), Egypt, Captain, KIA (South Sinai)
Joseph Watson (102) – Waikato, NZ; RNZ Army, WWII, Pvt. # 6290224, 50th Northcumberland Regiment
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Posted on November 16, 2020, in Post WWII, WWII and tagged 1940's, Australia, British, family history, History, Japan, Military, Military History, Pacific, Pacific War, Pacific War Trials, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 103 Comments.
Very interesting! The history of tribunal courts has voice that can be well reckoned with!
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Thank you for reading it.
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With pleasure!🍂🍮🍮🍂
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Interesting series. It must have taken a lot of work, so thanks, once again, for your efforts.
After you spoke of the Civil War I looked up the history of war crimes and can’t find any history before 1945. I know the British held an enquiry about the execution of Edith Cavell in 1919 but they found that the Germans had acted properly and had no case to answer.
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There is not much history on war crime trials before WWII. This is the best I could come up with.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_crimes_trial
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Thanks for that – considering what was seen as “fair” in Europe at the time von Hagenbach was very unlucky.
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Sounds like it!!
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This is a great series- difficult to read but informative. Thanks GP!
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I totally understand. I appreciate you reading through.
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It’s hard to process— war is hard to process— especially the parts about cannibalism.
I hate to admit that I was fascinated while reading the posts.
We like to think we would act differently but one can never know unless faced with the same situation.
It’s been thought provoking for sure.
Do you think some of the court cases were sensationalized? I’m just curious…
I remember not long ago some media coverage on American soldiers during one of our countless ongoing continuing wars (I think it was after 9-11 and the weapons of mass destruction war the name fails me at the moment)… it was heartbreaking the way they acted but then can they be blamed? I’m not sure. It’s a tough situation.
I found myself saying “I would never!” But quickly stopped myself. Honestly, I have no idea what I would have done.
There are so many factors to consider.
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People were angry and wanted justice. So some of these were more publicized to show that someone had paid the price for the inhuman crimes.
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The number of allied trials is staggering. Were there as many allied trials in Europe? Why do I think not? I thought I was pretty knowledgeable, but I was wrong. Thank you, GP!
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There were many more trials in the Pacific. People have trouble comprehending just how large the Pacific side of the war was and how much worse the POWs were treated.
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You are right!
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This was a shocking part of history, I’m sure with the Japanese, as with the Nazis, many of those who were truly responsible managed to get away without prosecution at all. At least many did pay the price for what they did.
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I can not locate any information of those who ran away. It seems most committed suicide rather than go to trial.
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A very Japanese style!
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Reblogged this on depolreablesunite.
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Thank you, Rick.
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Thanks for the series
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My pleasure. It is all part of the WWII history.
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=)
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Thank goodness that, whatever was done to the Japanese, within ten years, they had rejoined humanity and today their behaviour is impeccable. At the last World Cup, their supporters all brought a plastic bag to the games so that they could collect up all of their litter.
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They are an amazing people. I know my father said their turnaround after the Emperor’s speech was nothing less than miraculous.
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In referring to your photo of the two Niseis, their role as “monitors” was unique. As Japanese-Americans (I know Miyamoto was interned at Manzanar), their jobs were to oversee the translations provided by aristocratic Japanese for the defendant Tojo.
Interestingly, there were three Nisei monitors for the Tojo trial; in addition to Miyamoto and Onodera, a man named Itami was the third. Itami had the most years (15) in Japan and Miyamoto the least with five. Dad had eleven.
As you know, Dad didn’t want to talk about the trials he translated at. You may understand why when I report here that Itami committed suicide two years after the tribunals.
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You always add such interesting information, Koji. It’s great having a friend who is so knowledgeable on these subjects. Thank you very much.
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Likewise, my friend… I pray Smitty and my uncle have shaken hands up there…
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I’m sure they have. Knowing Dad, he’d like to sit down and have a long conversation with him, he was always trying to learn something new.
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I learned a lot from this series and your summary wrapped it up nicely. One question if I may. Some German war criminals fled to other countries after the war and they were hunted for decades. Was that the situation for any Japanese criminals? Thank you.
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Not to my knowledge, John. They either surrendered or committed suicide.
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I hadn’t heard anything like that, but you never know. Thanks GP!
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I agree with gpcox.
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It sounds as though the war crimes and atrocities in the Pacific theatre were quite extensive.
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I’m afraid you see it as it was, Liz.
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Reblogged this on Dave Loves History.
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Thank you, Dave.
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haha, sometimes a little Spanglish too! 🥴
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sorry Dave, that comment was not to you!!
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A good series,G. Necessary. But I’m glad it’s done. Hard to read about the crimes, and punishment.
You might say that plane was high-jacked. 🙂 –Curt
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I appreciate you sticking with it to the end, Curt. It did end up being longer than I thought it would.
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And very deserving of the attention you gave to it, G. –Curt
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Thanks, Curt.
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A great and informative series, GP. Thank you.
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I appreciate you sticking with it, John.
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Great post, GP! I have read a little about war crimes in the Pacific Theater, but you are right, It is much less well known. The same for what happened in China as well …
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I appreciate you coming by to read this, DC.
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I just shake my head. There’s nothing else I can say, except pray such things never happen again. I suppose they do still happen, but not to such a numerous, mind numbing extent. Thank you for helping us try to learn from history, GP. Hugs on the wing.
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I thank you for taking the time out of your day to read it, Teagan. ‘You’re the top….’ (haha a Cole Porter moment there).
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You’re the Louvre Museum. 😀
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Aw gee whiz…
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This has been a fascinating series, GP. Is there any thought that these trials sent a message to combatants and guards during the Korean War?
I got a kick out of the humor today. Living near the airport, that first sign is one we see on some nearby roads.
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Maybe that sign came from your airport, Dan! haha
The Chinese had turned communist and manipulated northern Korea to do their bidding. Actually they still do, eh?
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So much more is known about the Nazi trials that the Asian. Great series!
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Thank you very much, June.
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Immensely important, informative series, GP. I did know about medical experiments, yet I was not aware of the numbers of war criminals involved.
On a different note, love your humor today.
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Thanks, Dolly.
[PS. the soup came out GREAT!]
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Thank you so much for giving me feedback, GP; you made my day!
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Little was known of the Pacific War trials yet Nuremberg trials were all over the place. Glad to see justice was done. Great series, GP.
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Yes, it is. We all need a bit of justice now and again.
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Oei mijn antwoord is niet verschenen. Nog eens terug schrijven. Heb er veel van opgestoken maar de gruwel vind ik verscvhrikkelijk. Hoe mensen daar mee kunnen leven heb ik nooit begrepen.
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Het is gewoon geweldig dat we nu bevriend zijn met Japan.
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So much I was unaware of GP. Your dedication to research and education is commendable. Heartbreaking to think of the atrocities that occurred at these camps.
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How those men came out of the camps and carried on with their lives is beyond me.
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Good series, GP. I enjoyed every bit of it.
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I’m glad, Jacqui. Nothing like a bit of justice now and again, eh?
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Thank you, John.
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You are welcome.
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At first, the number of trials, convictions, and executions seemed high. Then, I thought about the number of men who suffered in the prisons and camps, and realized that, if anything, the punishments were more than propotionate. It’s recently occurred to me that I don’t remember reading much at all about prisons, trials, and punishments in our Civil War. Maybe I wasn’t paying attention in class. I do remember the book, Andersonville, and the film based on it, coming out when I was still in grade school. No matter the war, there are horrors that need remembering, as you have here.
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Thank you very much for that comment. As you stated, I do not remember anything about trials after the civil war either. I had better correct that, especially as it being the war where we lost the most people!!
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I am so happy you posted this historical part that relates to Singapore. Goodwood Park Hotel, Changi Prison, Selarang Barracks are still standing and in use. Thank you so much.👍😃
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My pleasure. Over on this side of the world, not very many are aware of these trials.
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Agree. Singapore or then Syonan-To was a little dot but strategic in the needs of the Japanese. Thanks again GP🤗
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Glad you included the Allies War Crimes Trials. Our history seems to normally be very US Centric. I’ll bet there are still some American adults that do not realize that WWII started on September 1, 1939, and not December 7, 1941. (And many of them could probably not tell you when Pearl Harbor was or maybe even where Pearl Harbor is.)
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Unfortunately, you are quite right.
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Unfortunately, ignorance starts at the top and trickles down.
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The sheep drank the Kool-aid.
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Very well said. And instead of them committing mass suicide, they are committing mass stupidity–must be that herd mentality that was referenced earlier th is fall.
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🥴 stupid is as stupid does.
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Thank you for this very interesting series, and the summarizing post, GP! As in my mind less trials, as important it was they had done this. Michael
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Thank you, Michael. Our schools all taught about Nuremburg, but left the entire Pacific in the dark. I’ll never understand how those decisions are made.
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Seems to be normal behavior of states. 😉 Here we got a lot of knowledge about the communism, but very less about own history between 1933 and 1945. Needless to say this history has had preparations in the past.
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I doubt very many in your area want to know your history during that era. For many it would hurt and others embarrassed. War brings out the best and worst in people.
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Thank you for these posts, GP. They help make up for what is not taught in school.
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I appreciate you saying so, Lavinia!!
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Off topic: WordPress has de-platformed Conservative Tree House. I have written them in protest and told them that when I resume blogging I will use the SquareSpace platform.
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If WP gets like facebook and Twitter, I think a lot of people will leave. Things are starting to really go haywire and I think they just might get worse real quick.
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Liked and Shared, dear Sir. Thank you.
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Thank you.
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You’re most welcome, dear Sir.
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As always, a well-researched, important documentation of the Pacific War and the aftermath. I can’t praise your efforts enough, GP, though I periodically take a shot at it! These three are, as you note, probably tell of the least known part of the aftermath of the Pacific War and need more light.
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Your opinion is always welcome, Doug, even if you do take a shot once in a while! 😉 Have a great week, my week!
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Thanks, GP1
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A terrible chapter in the history of the war. Thanks for the Military Humor!
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The humor is important to me, but not quite as much as it was for the military man.
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This has been a very interesting and informative series, GP. As my uncle was a POW of the Japanese, and very badly treated, I am glad to read the facts about the retribution that was exacted on the perpetrators. I confess I can find no sympathy for them whatsoever.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It was very conflicting when certain facts came to light. Thank you for reading all this.
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Yes, some of my distant relatives were POWs of the Japanese. They would never talk about the atrocities. But they were never the same again when they came home. Something was broken. Interesting and heartbreaking series. Thanks for researching and writing about it.
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The translation checks are fascinating – I’ve always wondered about the accuracy of interpreters.
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The next post will be about out interpreters, Derrick. Fellow blogger, Koji Kanemoto’s father was one.
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Ah
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Thank you, Ned. This is an area that is rarely discussed.
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