Adači, Hatazó

Lieutenant General Adachi Hatazo


Graduates from the Army War College in 1922 and serves with the 1st Division of the Imperial Guard. Adachi cleverly in 1930 avoids involvement with either of the political factions of the Japanese Army. He serves in various staff positions and in 1933 is assigned to be in charge of security for the South Manchurian Railway.


In 1934 he becomes a colonel and is given command of the 12th Infantry Regiment. During the Shanghai Incident, he commands his unit from the front line and personally leads it courageously into battle. In September he is wounded by a rifle shell which marks his right leg for life.


In 1938 he is commissioned into the 26th Infantry Brigade and is appointed Major General. He gains respect and reputation among the soldiers as he always shares their living conditions and is open to any open discussion with the officers and staff.


In August 1940, he becomes Major General and commands the 37th Division in the Battle of Southern Shanxi. In 1940 he becomes Chief of Staff of the North China Area Army and leads the Scorched Earth Campaign against Chinese forces in 1941 to 1942.


Pacific Campaign


On November 9, 1942, he places the 18th Army under his command in Rabaul and on the coast of New Guinea. While moving from Rabaul to Lae, the transport is attacked during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea and all the ships are sunk. The 51st Division that is transported suffers heavy losses. Adachi himself is aboard one of the ships along with his staff.


Adachi's forces are successively shelled after the Solomon Islands campaign and the Allied landings at Aitape and Hollandia. The troops begin to suffer from malaria, food shortages and a lack of ammunition. The troops try to be self-sufficient by planting and growing food. When ammunition rations begin to run low many of his subordinates begin to carry out banzai attacks rather than surrender. At surrender the army numbers only 13,000 men. Adachi surrenders to the Australian6th Aivision at Cape Wom, near Wewak, New Guinea.


At the end of the war, Adachi is arrested by Australian forces and charged with war crimes such as mistreatment and summary execution of prisoners of war. Although he did not personally commit any of these acts, he is blamed for knowing about this as a commanding officer and failing to prevent his subordinate soldiers from doing so. He pleads guilty and is sentenced to life imprisonment on 12.7.1947. On 10.9.1947 he commits suicide in Rabaul prison.