Hiroo Onoda Presentation: Fighting WW2 for 29 years
Jul 6, 2022 17:40:37 GMT
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𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘴𝘬𝘺, Kliment Jefremovitš Vorošilov, and 1 more like this
Post by Eugene V. Debs on Jul 6, 2022 17:40:37 GMT
Hi there! This time, I will write about the interesting story of Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese soldier who continued to fight for 29 years in an island even after World War II ended.
Let's start!
Hiroo Onoda Presentation: Fighting WW2 for 29 years
Young Hiroo Onoda
Hiroo Onoda was born on 19 March 1922 in Kainan, Japan Empire. He started working for a trading company at the age of 17. At the age of 18, he joined the Imperial Japanese Army. He trained as an intelligence officer at the Nakano School* and specialized in guerrilla tactics, survival, martial arts and propaganda.
*Nakano School was the main military school on military intelligence in Empire of Japan at World War II, which was specialized in teaching unconventional military techniques, like sabotage, guerrilla warfare and propaganda.
On 26 December 1944, he was sent to the Philippines, to the island of Lubang, and was subordinate to Major Yoshimi Taniguchi and Major Takahashi. He was ordered to destroy the pier and the airstrip of the harbor on the Lubang island.
Due to the some disagreements between the existing officers on the island and Onoda, he was not listened. And the island was captured by the Allied forces.
But some of the Japanese soldiers, including Onoda, survived. They decided to retreat to the interior of the island and continue fighting in form of groups and with guerilla warfare tactics.
Major Taniguchi had told him: "It may take three years, it may take five, but whatever happens we'll come back for you." And he ordered Onoda to resist and never surrender untill they come back.
Onoda continued to war with Private Yuichi Akatsu, Corporal Shōichi Shimada and Private First Class Kinshichi Kozuka.
While Onoda and his crew survived, other groups were captured or killed. But meanwhile, Japan had surrendered and World War II had ended, while they were still fighting. In October 1945 the soldiers found a lefleat that read: "The war ended on 15 August. Come down from the mountains!" But he thought it was a trap or propaganda to get them to surrender (as mentioned, he had studied propaganda at Nakano School as well), by Americans. And Onoda thought that Japan would not surrender whatever happens, in connection with the thought of traditional values, which he had too.
Leaflets were dropped to inform the soldiers who are still hidding in islands. At the end of 1945, leaflets with General Tomoyuki Yamashita's order to surrender were dropped on Lubang island by planes, but he still did not believe it and thought it was just propaganda. Leaflets continued to be dropped, but he never believed them. And he continiued with the other three soldiers to guerilla warfare. They survived by looting local farms etc. and guerilla activity, sometimes the island's inhabitans like farmers, and sometimes fought against the police.
Yuichi Akatsu surrendered in March 1950 to Filipino forces. On this event, the remaining soldiers began to be even more careful.
By 1952, letters urging them to surrender and family pictures were dropped onto the island by plane, but the three soldiers again thought it was a trap. Shōichi Shimada was injured during a shootout with local fishermen in 1952 but recovered. But on 7 May, he was killed during a shootout.
Meanwhile, the remaining two soldiers were declared dead in December 1959.
Kozuka died in 1972 in the fire opened by the local police, so Onoda was left alone. But this event shocked the Japanese and caused the thought that Hiroo Onada might still be living. Because both Kozuka and Onoda, as said before, were declared dead 13 years ago, at 1959.
Meanwhile, thereupon, an explorer, Norio Suzuki, decided to find Onoda, he believed Onoda was still alive, and found him after four days of searching. They became friends. Suzuki said the war had already finished. But Onoda said he would not surrender unless ordered officially by an officer. After that, Suzuki took a photo with him as proof of their meeting and returned to Japan.
The Japanese government found Major Yoshimi Taniguchi, who was gave the orders to Hiroo Onodaz who had surrendered and was now a bookseller. On 9 March 1974, Taniguchi returned to Lubang island and met up with Onoda, keeping the promise he made in 1944: "It may take three years, it may take five, but whatever happens we'll come back for you." And he had come back, even it took 29 years.
And gave him the following orders:
"1. In accordance with the Imperial command, the Fourteenth Area Army has ceased all combat activity.
2. In accordance with military Headquarters Command No. A-2003, the Special Squadron of Staff's Headquarters is relieved of all military duties.
3. Units and individuals under the command of Special Squadron are to cease military activities and operations immediately and place themselves under the command of the nearest superior officer. When no officer can be found, they are to communicate with the American or Philippine forces and follow their directives."
Onoda was thus dismissed from his job and finally formally surrendered. He handed over his sword, a functioning Arisaka Type 99 rifle, 500 rounds of ammunition and several grenades, and the dagger his mother had given him in 1944 to commit suicide if caught. He was 23 years old when he was sent to Lubang island, and when he surrendered, he was 52 years old.
After he returned, he could not adapt new Japan. Then he moved to São Paulo, and married. He also wrote an autobiography.
Onoda said: “I became an officer and I received an order. If I could not carry it out, I would feel shame. I am very competitive." And later, he told about his days in Lubang island: "Nothing but accomplishing my duty.".
When he was 91 years old, Hiroo Onoda died on 14 January 2014 from heart failure.
Note: Teruo Nakamura, the last known Japanese soldier in hiding, surrendered later in 1974.
References: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroo_Onoda
www.history.co.uk/shows/lost-gold-of-wwii/articles/the-japanese-soldier-who-kept-on-fighting-after-ww2-had-finished
www.historynet.com/hiroo-onoda-the-japanese-officer-who-refused-to-surrender-decades-after-wwiis-end/
Let's start!
Hiroo Onoda Presentation: Fighting WW2 for 29 years
Young Hiroo Onoda
Hiroo Onoda was born on 19 March 1922 in Kainan, Japan Empire. He started working for a trading company at the age of 17. At the age of 18, he joined the Imperial Japanese Army. He trained as an intelligence officer at the Nakano School* and specialized in guerrilla tactics, survival, martial arts and propaganda.
*Nakano School was the main military school on military intelligence in Empire of Japan at World War II, which was specialized in teaching unconventional military techniques, like sabotage, guerrilla warfare and propaganda.
On 26 December 1944, he was sent to the Philippines, to the island of Lubang, and was subordinate to Major Yoshimi Taniguchi and Major Takahashi. He was ordered to destroy the pier and the airstrip of the harbor on the Lubang island.
Due to the some disagreements between the existing officers on the island and Onoda, he was not listened. And the island was captured by the Allied forces.
But some of the Japanese soldiers, including Onoda, survived. They decided to retreat to the interior of the island and continue fighting in form of groups and with guerilla warfare tactics.
Major Taniguchi had told him: "It may take three years, it may take five, but whatever happens we'll come back for you." And he ordered Onoda to resist and never surrender untill they come back.
Onoda continued to war with Private Yuichi Akatsu, Corporal Shōichi Shimada and Private First Class Kinshichi Kozuka.
While Onoda and his crew survived, other groups were captured or killed. But meanwhile, Japan had surrendered and World War II had ended, while they were still fighting. In October 1945 the soldiers found a lefleat that read: "The war ended on 15 August. Come down from the mountains!" But he thought it was a trap or propaganda to get them to surrender (as mentioned, he had studied propaganda at Nakano School as well), by Americans. And Onoda thought that Japan would not surrender whatever happens, in connection with the thought of traditional values, which he had too.
Leaflets were dropped to inform the soldiers who are still hidding in islands. At the end of 1945, leaflets with General Tomoyuki Yamashita's order to surrender were dropped on Lubang island by planes, but he still did not believe it and thought it was just propaganda. Leaflets continued to be dropped, but he never believed them. And he continiued with the other three soldiers to guerilla warfare. They survived by looting local farms etc. and guerilla activity, sometimes the island's inhabitans like farmers, and sometimes fought against the police.
Yuichi Akatsu surrendered in March 1950 to Filipino forces. On this event, the remaining soldiers began to be even more careful.
By 1952, letters urging them to surrender and family pictures were dropped onto the island by plane, but the three soldiers again thought it was a trap. Shōichi Shimada was injured during a shootout with local fishermen in 1952 but recovered. But on 7 May, he was killed during a shootout.
Meanwhile, the remaining two soldiers were declared dead in December 1959.
Kozuka died in 1972 in the fire opened by the local police, so Onoda was left alone. But this event shocked the Japanese and caused the thought that Hiroo Onada might still be living. Because both Kozuka and Onoda, as said before, were declared dead 13 years ago, at 1959.
Meanwhile, thereupon, an explorer, Norio Suzuki, decided to find Onoda, he believed Onoda was still alive, and found him after four days of searching. They became friends. Suzuki said the war had already finished. But Onoda said he would not surrender unless ordered officially by an officer. After that, Suzuki took a photo with him as proof of their meeting and returned to Japan.
The Japanese government found Major Yoshimi Taniguchi, who was gave the orders to Hiroo Onodaz who had surrendered and was now a bookseller. On 9 March 1974, Taniguchi returned to Lubang island and met up with Onoda, keeping the promise he made in 1944: "It may take three years, it may take five, but whatever happens we'll come back for you." And he had come back, even it took 29 years.
And gave him the following orders:
"1. In accordance with the Imperial command, the Fourteenth Area Army has ceased all combat activity.
2. In accordance with military Headquarters Command No. A-2003, the Special Squadron of Staff's Headquarters is relieved of all military duties.
3. Units and individuals under the command of Special Squadron are to cease military activities and operations immediately and place themselves under the command of the nearest superior officer. When no officer can be found, they are to communicate with the American or Philippine forces and follow their directives."
Onoda was thus dismissed from his job and finally formally surrendered. He handed over his sword, a functioning Arisaka Type 99 rifle, 500 rounds of ammunition and several grenades, and the dagger his mother had given him in 1944 to commit suicide if caught. He was 23 years old when he was sent to Lubang island, and when he surrendered, he was 52 years old.
After he returned, he could not adapt new Japan. Then he moved to São Paulo, and married. He also wrote an autobiography.
Onoda said: “I became an officer and I received an order. If I could not carry it out, I would feel shame. I am very competitive." And later, he told about his days in Lubang island: "Nothing but accomplishing my duty.".
When he was 91 years old, Hiroo Onoda died on 14 January 2014 from heart failure.
Note: Teruo Nakamura, the last known Japanese soldier in hiding, surrendered later in 1974.
References: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroo_Onoda
www.history.co.uk/shows/lost-gold-of-wwii/articles/the-japanese-soldier-who-kept-on-fighting-after-ww2-had-finished
www.historynet.com/hiroo-onoda-the-japanese-officer-who-refused-to-surrender-decades-after-wwiis-end/
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