TOMOYUKI YAMASHITA WAR CRIMES TRIAL TESTIMONY

TOMOYUKI YAMASHITA WAR CRIMES TRIAL TESTIMONY
Period mimeographed copies of official secret and restricted documents of the trial of Tomoyuki Yamashita brought up on war crimes in 1945. In this document, several higher-ranking Japanese officers are named as having direct influence over the conditions of the camp. This testimony was given in the military trial 'America versus Tomoyuki Yamashita'. Testimonies are from civilians and soldiers who describe their mistreatment, abuse, and experiences at the hands of Japanese soldiers in the 32-page document. These prisoners of war recount how they were kept at several different places during their imprisonment such as Luzon, Echague, Cabanatuan, Bilibid Prison, Manila Harbor, Mukden, Hoten Camp, Japanese ship Oryoko Maru, San Fernando, Lingayen Bay, Takao Harbor, Moji Military Hospital, Fusan, Fukuoka, and Camp O'Donnell. The testimonies state that prisoners died from dysentery, malnutrition, suffocation, exposure, gunshot wounds, infection, or stab wounds and that about 27 men died a day under these conditions. One testimony explains the casualties of the prisoners of war due to the bombing of the Oryoko Maru and subsequent violence by the Japanese. One woman's testimony states that some Japanese soldiers wanted to rape her, but after being denied, soldiers killed her husband and attempted to kill her. Some testimonies explain that bargaining with the personal effects of the dead sometimes rewarded troops with water or small amounts of food. 13 x 9 inches. Minor pencil inscriptions on some pages.