On the occasion of the 77th anniversary of Japan's defeat and announcement of unconditional surrender on August 15, The Crime Evidence Exhibition Hall of the 731st Unit of the Japanese Invaders of China announced to the public the "Kwantung Army Chemical Department Left Behind List", which includes 414 members of this unit. Members’ real names and personal information. This is the first time that our country has disclosed information about members of the Chemical Department of the Kwantung Army, providing historical data support for conducting research on the history and post-war impact of Japan's chemical warfare.
Jin Chengmin, director of the Crime Evidence Exhibition Hall of the 731st Unit of the Japanese Invasion of China, introduced the "Kwantung Army Chemical Department Left Behind List" to reporters (photo taken on August 13). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Siqi
The Chemical Department of the Kwantung Army was established in Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province on May 11, 1939. It is also known as the "Manchurian 516th Unit" and is known as the "Japanese Army Chemical Research Institute" in Japan. This unit mainly develops a series of poisons, including mustard gas , Lewis gas, chloric acid gas, etc., and applies them in actual combat.
It is understood that this directory was originally stored in the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan, and was transferred to the National Archives of Japan in 2017. It was discovered by the research team of the 731st Crime Evidence Exhibition Hall of the Japanese Invading Forces during their cross-border evidence collection in Japan. After many efforts, it was obtained in April 2021.
The "Kwantung Army Chemical Department Left Behind List" (photo taken on August 13) was released for the first time in the Crime Evidence Exhibition Hall of the 731st Unit of the Japanese Invading Army. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Tao
Jin Chengmin, director of the Crime Evidence Exhibition Hall of the 731st Unit of the Japanese Invaders, said that the file was formed around 1945 and has a total of 237 pages, detailing the names, dates of birth, and names of 414 members. Household registration, type of service, military branch, etc., as well as information such as the residence and relationship of relatives, reveal the basic historical facts such as the overall size, personnel composition, ranks and grades of the 516th Army.
"Japan's implementation of chemical warfare is the same as its implementation of bacteriological warfare. It is a top-down premeditated, organized and systematic state crime that violates international morality and human conscience." Jin Chengmin said that after research, it was found that the 51st The number of members of the Sixth Army is not 250 as originally claimed, but the number can be found to be 414. Its core members are senior officers, and the professionals come from medical schools, army hospitals, , etc. The high level of personnel composition can show the specialness of this unit. sex.
The "Kwantung Army Chemical Department Left Behind List" (photographed on August 13) was released for the first time in the Crime Evidence Exhibition Hall of the 731st Unit of the Japanese Invaders. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Tao
Jin Chengmin said that this file is an extremely important core file for studying chemical warfare and germ warfare launched by Japan during World War II. It is also ironclad evidence of the crimes committed by the Chemical Department of the Japanese Kwantung Army during its invasion of China.
(Original title: The evidence is conclusive! The roster of the 516th Unit of the Japanese invaders is released for the first time)
Source: People's Daily Online
Process Editor: TF021
