Kan'ichi Nagazawa (長沢貫一, 2 October 1891 - 26 August 1981) was a Japanese major general who participated in World War II. During the war, he was known for being the main commander of the 121st Infantry Regiment and as the main commander and survivor of the Battle of Ramree Island.
Kan'ichi Nagazawa 長沢貫一 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 2, 1891 Kyoto Prefecture, Japan |
| Died | August 26, 1981 (aged 89) Tottori, Tottori Prefecture, Japan |
| Allegiance |  Japan |
| Branch |  Imperial Japanese Army |
| Years of service | 1913 – 1945 |
| Rank |  Major General (Rikugun-Shōshō) |
| Unit | 54th Division |
| Commands | 121st Infantry Regiment |
| Battles / wars | |
| Alma mater | Imperial Japanese Army Academy |
Biography
editNagazawa was born at the Kyoto Prefecture on October 2, 1891.[1][2][3] In May 1913, he graduated from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy, ranking 25th at his class.[1][4] In December of the same year, he was appointed as an ensign.[4]
In August 1931, he was promoted to major.[5] In August 1935, he was appointed as a member of the Tottori Regimental District headquarters and in August 1936, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel.[5] In August 1940, he was promoted to colonel and was appointed commander of the 121st Infantry Regiment at the outbreak of the Pacific War.[1][2] He then proceeded to participate at the Burma campaign as well as participate at the Battle of Ramree Island.[1][6][7] In February 1945, he was given command of the 55th Infantry Regiment and was promoted to major general in June of the same year.[1][2][3] He was then transferred to the Southern Expeditionary Army Group and surrendered at Phnom Penh.[1]
He died on August 26, 1981, at his home in Tottori due to a cerebral infarction.[3][8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Fukukawa 2001, p. 511.
- ^ a b c Misao 1981, p. 346.
- ^ a b c "军团网-WW2备忘录 —— 长泽贯一". Juntuanwang (in Chinese). Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ a b Misao 1981, p. 328, 346.
- ^ a b Army Active Officers and Equivalent Officers Retirement Age List, September 1, 1945, p. 188
- ^ Woodburn Kirby 2004, p. 215.
- ^ Lewis Allen; Mutsya Nagao (1975). "ビルマ戦最後の悲劇――シッタン河脱出作戦". ktymtskz.my.coocan.jp. Hayakawa Publishing. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ The Encyclopedia of the Dead, 1980-1982, p. 227.
Bibliography
edit- Fukukawa, Hideki (2001). Japanese Army General Dictionary (in Japanese). Fuyo Shobo Publishing Co., Ltd.
- Misao, Toyama, ed. (1981). Army General Officer Personnel Overview Army Edition (in Japanese). Fuyo Shobo Publishing Co., Ltd.
- Woodburn Kirby, S. (2004) [1965]. Butler, Sir James (ed.). The War Against Japan: The Reconquest of Burma. History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Vol. IV (Imperial War Museum Department of Printed Books and Naval & Military Press Uckfield ed.). London: HMSO. ISBN 978-1-84574-063-4.
- Department of War, ed. (1936). Army Active Duty Officers, September 1, 1936 Report (in Japanese). Kaikosha.
- The Encyclopedia of the Dead, 1980-1982. Nichigai Associates. 1983.