SUGAMO PRISON, TOKYO An Account of the Trial and Sentencing of Japanese War Criminals in 1948, by a U.S. Participant

Ginn (John L.)

ISBN 10: 0899507395 / ISBN 13: 9780899507392

Published by McFarland, 1992

About this Item

Hardback. The war with Germany and its allies ended on May 7, 1945, and the war with Japan ended on August 14, 1945, both in unconditional surrender. This book begins with the end of the war that involved the United States and Japan. Gen. Douglas MacArthur planned for the Eleventh Airborne Division to land at Atsugi Airfield on August 23. The Japanese quickly informed him that government authority over the armed forces was not yet complete and that they needed more time to bring radical forces under control. The general agreed and set August 26 as the new date. However, a storm prevented the main landing of occupational troops until August 30. For the Russians the war with Japan was over after only 24days. It lasted 14yrs for the Chinese, and almost 4 for the Americans, British, and Dutch. The occupation forces began rounding up suspected Japanese war criminals early in September. While Army troops were readying Sugamo Prison, other troops from the Thirty-fifth AAA group, reinforced with two batteries from the 579 AAA, were guarding war criminal suspects at Omori Prison. This prison, much small than Sugamo, was located on Omori Island - land reclaimed from Tokyo Bay. During the war, this facility had been a notorious POW camp for Americans. On December 8, 1945, the overcrowded Omori prisoners were transferred to Sugamo Prison - known then as XI Corp Stockade 1. The two batteries of troops serving at Sugamo provided guard duty and security around the clock. In March 1946, administration and control of Sugamo Prison was assigned to 8th Army with headquarters in Yokohama. Lt. General Robert L. Eichelberger was the Commander. One of the first prisoners to be processed into Sugamo Prison was Hideki Tojo. Chapter headings include : The Prison; The Prisoners; The Trials; The Sentences; The Executions; The Americans. Illus., Appendices, Bibliog. and Index. 297pp. 8vo. h/back. From the library of true crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. F. dw. not required. Seller Inventory # 17689

Bibliographic Details

Title: SUGAMO PRISON, TOKYO An Account of the Trial...

Publisher: McFarland

Publication Date: 1992

Binding: Hardcover / Hardback

Condition: Fine

Edition: First edition.

About this title

Synopsis:

In the aftermath of World War II, Sugamo Prison housed some of the most infamous Japanese war criminals, including Premier Hideki Tojo and I. Torgui DAquino, better known as Tokyo Rose. In all, over 2,000 war criminals and protected witnesses were held at Sugamo. Almost sixty prisoners were executed and many others were sentenced to prison terms. This story of a largely forgotten part of World War II, by a man who was a Sugamo guard for over two years, gives an inside look at the prison. Details are given about the prisoners (classified A, B, and C, based on the severity of their crimes), the trials, the sentencing, the executions, and the American guards. Appendices include listings of the accused, those executed, and a roster of American personnel.

Review:

"a factual account...a useful chronicle"--American Society of International Law