Takeo Ito
Encyclopedia
was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army
during World War II
.
in the Fukuoka prefecture
The commanding officer of the IJA 228th Infantry Regiment at the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War
, he assumed command of 114th Infantry Regiment on September 1, 1941. Upon attaining the rank of major general
on August 25, 1941, Itō was given command of the IJA 38th Division
, which was the primary Japanese division in the invasion of Hong Kong
.
In early 1942, Itō was reassigned to an independent command in his own name, the "Itō Detachment", consisted mainly of 228th Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division and the 1st Kure SNLF, which took part in the Battle of Ambon
in the Dutch East Indies
(30 January–3 February 1942), and in the occupation of Timor
. All of these campaigns were characterized by extreme ruthlessness and the massacre of prisoners.
In November, Itō, along with one regiment of the 38th Division, was shipped to Guadalcanal
. On 11 November, during the pivotal Battle of Guadalcanal, Itō was positioned by Lieutenant-General Harukichi Hyakutake to attack Marines
under the command of United States General Alexander Archer Vandegrift who were involved in the Matanikau offensive
against Japanese positions. However, Vandegrift called off his offensive that day after receiving intelligence
reports of Hyakutake's plans. Itō later helped command 38th Division troops during the Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse
. He and the 38th's survivors on Guadalcanal were evacuated by the Japanese navy
during the first week of February 1943. Some Western historians have incorrectly stated that Itō died on Guadalcanal.
Itō became commander of the 40th Independent Mixed Brigade, stationed at New Ireland
on 8 July 1944. He was promoted to lieutenant-general on November 26 of that year.
At the end of the war, Itō was taken into custody by Australian forces
, and was tried as a war criminal in a military tribunal
for the murder of Chinese civilians. He was sentenced to death at Rabaul
, New Britain
on 24 May 1946. However, Ito was released on 28 October, and repatriated to Japan. He died on 24 February 1965.
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Biography
Takeo Itō was born in the city of FukuokaFukuoka, Fukuoka
is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...
in the Fukuoka prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
The commanding officer of the IJA 228th Infantry Regiment at the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, he assumed command of 114th Infantry Regiment on September 1, 1941. Upon attaining the rank of major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
on August 25, 1941, Itō was given command of the IJA 38th Division
38th Infantry Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
The was a line infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. The division saw heavy action during the Pacific campaign of World War II, including the conquest of Hong Kong in 1941, the Dutch East Indies in early 1942, and the Guadalcanal Campaign from October 1942 to February 1943...
, which was the primary Japanese division in the invasion of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
In early 1942, Itō was reassigned to an independent command in his own name, the "Itō Detachment", consisted mainly of 228th Infantry Regiment, 38th Infantry Division and the 1st Kure SNLF, which took part in the Battle of Ambon
Battle of Ambon
The Battle of Ambon occurred on the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies , on 30 January – 3 February 1942, during World War II. A Japanese invasion was resisted by Dutch and Australian forces...
in the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
(30 January–3 February 1942), and in the occupation of Timor
Timor
Timor is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, north of the Timor Sea. It is divided between the independent state of East Timor, and West Timor, belonging to the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. The island's surface is 30,777 square kilometres...
. All of these campaigns were characterized by extreme ruthlessness and the massacre of prisoners.
In November, Itō, along with one regiment of the 38th Division, was shipped to Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
. On 11 November, during the pivotal Battle of Guadalcanal, Itō was positioned by Lieutenant-General Harukichi Hyakutake to attack Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
under the command of United States General Alexander Archer Vandegrift who were involved in the Matanikau offensive
Matanikau Offensive
The Matanikau Offensive, from November 1–4, 1942, sometimes referred to as the Fourth Battle of the Matanikau, was an engagement between United States Marine and Army and Imperial Japanese Army forces around the Matanikau River and Point Cruz area on Guadalcanal during the Guadalcanal campaign of...
against Japanese positions. However, Vandegrift called off his offensive that day after receiving intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
reports of Hyakutake's plans. Itō later helped command 38th Division troops during the Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse
Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse
The Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse, part of which is sometimes called the Battle of the Gifu, took place from 15 December 1942 to 23 January 1943 and was primarily an engagement between United States and Imperial Japanese forces in the hills near the Matanikau River...
. He and the 38th's survivors on Guadalcanal were evacuated by the Japanese navy
Operation Ke
was the largely successful withdrawal of Japanese forces from Guadalcanal at the conclusion of the Guadalcanal Campaign of World War II. The operation took place between 14 January and 7 February 1943, and involved both army and navy forces under the overall direction of the Japanese Imperial...
during the first week of February 1943. Some Western historians have incorrectly stated that Itō died on Guadalcanal.
Itō became commander of the 40th Independent Mixed Brigade, stationed at New Ireland
New Ireland (island)
New Ireland is a large island in Papua New Guinea, approximately 7,404 km² in area. It is the largest island of the New Ireland Province, lying northeast of the island of New Britain. Both islands are part of the Bismarck Archipelago, named after Otto von Bismarck, and they are separated by...
on 8 July 1944. He was promoted to lieutenant-general on November 26 of that year.
At the end of the war, Itō was taken into custody by Australian forces
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
, and was tried as a war criminal in a military tribunal
Military tribunal
A military tribunal is a kind of military court designed to try members of enemy forces during wartime, operating outside the scope of conventional criminal and civil proceedings. The judges are military officers and fulfill the role of jurors...
for the murder of Chinese civilians. He was sentenced to death at Rabaul
Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
, New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
on 24 May 1946. However, Ito was released on 28 October, and repatriated to Japan. He died on 24 February 1965.
Further reading
- Chapter VIII:Advances Towards Kokumbona in United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific - Guadalcanal: The First Offensive by John Miller (United States Army Center of Military History, 1949 & 1995), pp. 196, 201-202, 204
- Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal: History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II, by Lt. Col. Frank O. Hough, USMCR; Maj. Verle E. Ludwig, USMC; Henry I. Shaw, Jr. (Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps) Volume I, Chapter 8: Critical November
- The Hong Kong Society of Wargamers: "The Fall of Hong Kong, Christmas 1941", by Andrzej Cierpicki