Masakazu Kawabe | |
|---|---|
 General Masakazu Kawabe | |
| Native name | 河辺 正三 |
| Born | (1886-12-05)December 5, 1886 Toyama Prefecture, Japan |
| Died | March 2, 1965(1965-03-02) (aged 78) |
| Allegiance |  Empire of Japan |
| Service |  Imperial Japanese Army |
| Years of service | 1907–1945 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands | |
| Battles / wars | |
Masakazu Kawabe (河辺 正三,Kawabe Masakazu, 5 December 1886 – 2 March 1965) was a general in theImperial Japanese Army. He held important commands in the Imperial Japanese Army during theSecond Sino-Japanese War, and during World War II in theBurma Campaign and defense of the Japanese homeland late in the war. He was also the elder brother of GeneralTorashirō Kawabe.
A native ofToyama prefecture, Kawabe graduated from the 19th class of theImperial Japanese Army Academy in 1907 and the 27th class of theArmy Staff College in 1915. From 1927 to 1929, he served as an instructor at the War College. He was then assigned as amilitary attaché to Switzerland from 1918 to 1921 and to Berlin, Germany from 1929 to 1932. Promoted toinfantrycolonel in 1932, he served in a number of staff assignments on his return to Japan, before being assigned command of the IJA 6th Infantry Regiment from 1932 to 1933.[1]
Kawabe went on to be Commandant of the Infantry School from 1933 to 1934, and was Chief of 1st Section within theInspectorate General of Military Training from 1934 to 1936. He was promoted tomajor general in 1936.
At the beginning of theSecond Sino-Japanese War Kawabe was sent to China to take command of the Permanent China Brigade, which had been involved in theMarco Polo Bridge Incident. As the war expanded he was made DeputyChief of Staff of theNorth China Area Army from 26 August 1937 until 14 April 1938 when he became Chief of StaffCentral China Expeditionary Army from 15 February 1938 to 31 January 1939.
Kawabe was promoted tolieutenant general in March 1939. During his time in China, he was involved in theBattle of Xuzhou,Northern and Eastern Honan,Battle of Wuhan,Canton Operation,Battle of Nanchang,Battle of Suixian-Zaoyang,Battle of Changsha (1939), and the1939-40 Winter Offensive. From 12 September 1939 to 14 October 1940 Kawabe was recalled to Japan, and held the powerful post ofInspector-General of Military Training. However, he returned to China ascommander in chief of theIJA 12th Division in March 1940, serving under theKwantung Army. Promoted to commander in chief of theIJA 3rd Army in March 1941, he subsequently was Chief of Staff of theChina Expeditionary Army from 17 August 1942 to 18 March 1943.
In March 1943, Kawabe was transferred to the southern front as Commander in Chief of theBurma Area Army. Arriving inBurma he was convinced to supportRenya Mutaguchi, commander of the15th Army and an old comrade-in-arms, in his plans for apre-emptive attack against British forces atImphal. The goal of this offensive was to disrupt theAllied build-up in that area, and perhaps, if all went well, make way for an invasion ofAssam andBritish India. This plan was strongly opposed by most of Kawabe's commanders as well asMasazumi Inada, Vice-Chief of Staff of theSouthern Expeditionary Army based inSingapore. Especially the difficult supply situation was thought to be a major obstacle. However, in October 1943, Inada was removed from his position due to a diplomatic incident withThailand and in December the plan was approved by GeneralHisaichi Terauchi andPrime MinisterHideki Tōjō on the understanding the operation would be a purely defensive one.[2]
Mutaguchi's plan was a tremendous disaster for the Japanese army, resulting in the highest casualties of any operation in the entire war, and the loss of Burma. During the later stages of this offensive, Kawabe was bedridden withamoebic dysentery. Kawabe was relieved by GeneralHeitarō Kimura on 30 August 1944 and returned to Japan.[3]
Kawabe served for a short time on theSupreme War Council. In the final stages of the war, experienced commanders were needed to organize the defenses of the Japanese home islands. Kawabe became Commander in Chief of theCentral District Army on 1 December 1944, he also became Commander in Chief of the15th Area Army from its formation on 1 February 1945 to 7 April 1945. Kawabe was promoted to fullgeneral in March 1945. On 8 April 1945 he took command ofAir General Army, consisting of the remaining air units in Japan,Korea andOkinawa, for the final defense of Japan against the anticipated Allied invasion.
After thesurrender of Japan, Kawabe was retained by theSCAP occupation authorities to assist with thedemobilization of the Japanese military, replacingKenji Doihara after the latter was arrested and tried for war crimes. Kawabe retired at the end of 1945 and died 20 years later.[4]
| Preceded by | Japanese military commander inBritish Crown Colony ofBurma 1943–1944 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Other | |
