Bacteriological weapons of the Japanese Empire
The complex of buildings "Detachment 731" near Harbin. Photo Wwii.space
Since the early thirties, the Empire of Japan has been developing weapons mass destruction. The forces of special organizations created and produced toxic substances and various kinds of bacteriological weapons. For military purposes, it was proposed to use a fairly wide range of pathogens of various diseases, as well as different means of delivering them to enemy positions.
Inhumane plans
In the twenties of the XX century. Japanese military construction was faced with the problem of a lack of resources. The available and available stocks of materials made it possible to create a sufficiently strong army and navy, but they could not compete on equal terms with the armed forces of the leading countries. At the same time, Tokyo's ambitions were constantly growing, which is why the search for alternative ways to increase military power began.
In the late twenties, the idea of developing and massively introducing weapons of mass destruction - chemical and bacteriological - appeared and received support. Soon it was approved by the country's top leadership. It should be noted that in 1925 Japan signed the so-called. The Geneva Protocol, which outlawed weapons of mass destruction, did not, however, ratify it. This became a formal justification for a new inhumane program.
"Biologists" test a bacterial solution on a living person, 1940. Photo by Wikimedia Commons
It was assumed that in the event of a full-scale conflict, the imperial army would be able to equalize the chances of victory through the use of toxic substances and various pathogens. At the same time, the authors of the concept and the command were well aware that bacteriological weapons are characterized by slow action and for a considerable time makes the area dangerous for their soldiers. However, they decided to take such measures, cruel even for their own army.
Disease factories
In 1927, the Japanese army built the first plant for the production of toxic substances. Then new research facilities appeared. Work on bacteriological weapons officially started in 1932, when the so-called. laboratory for the prevention of epidemics. In 1936, this organization was reorganized into Detachment 731 of the Kwantung Army - it was under this name that it became known.
Also, as part of various formations and associations, their own special detachments were created. In total, in 1936-44. at least 6-8 detachments and a greater number of their branches were created. All these organizations were stationed in the occupied territories, mainly in China.
Barbarians from the "special forces" were concerned about their safety. Photo Wikimedia Commons
The main work on bacteriological weapons was carried out by detachments 731 and 100. Their specialists studied the existing pathogens of various diseases and tried to develop new ones. The development of delivery vehicles was also carried out, and biological production was deployed. At the same time, Detachment 731 specialized in human diseases, and Detachment 100 studied diseases of domestic animals and livestock. Similar tasks were solved by other detachments.
The monstrous experiments on humans brought widespread fame to the special detachments. Local residents, prisoners of war, etc. used as a test material to study the effects of weapons of mass destruction and in other studies. The victims of Detachment 731 alone were approx. 3 thousand people. According to various estimates, at least a quarter of those killed are citizens or immigrants from Russia and the USSR.
Microscopic weapon
In the three divisions of the head "Detachment 731" there were about a dozen groups engaged in research on diseases and pathogens. A wide range of diseases was studied: typhus, plague, tuberculosis, anthrax, etc. There were also searches for vaccines and treatments. Separate groups were engaged in the production of pathogens and the development of means for their delivery.
Porcelain bombs for transporting plague fleas. Photo Wwii.space
Bubonic plague and anthrax were considered the most effective militarily. In addition, it was proposed to use other diseases as well. In the laboratories of several detachments, a full-scale production of the corresponding pathogens was organized. Over time, it became possible to release hundreds of kilograms of pathogens of all kinds every month.
In parallel, the issues of the spread of infections were studied. In particular, individual scientific groups have been studying fleas and other insects capable of carrying dangerous diseases. Having obtained the desired results, barbarian biologists organized mass rearing of vectors for further use.
Delivery vehicles
More attention was paid to the methods of delivery and distribution of pathogens. The simplest "delivery vehicle" was the simplest canisters, into which a nutrient solution containing bacteria was poured. Trained specialists or suicide bombers had to deliver the canisters to the right place and pour the dangerous liquid into rivers, wells, etc. Contamination of food was also practiced.
Plague fleas were originally transported and “applied” using compact containers. They were delivered by ground or dropped from aircraft from low altitude. For a faster spread of the disease, grain was dropped along with the insects, which was supposed to attract rats.
Subjects prepared for testing a bacteriological aerial bomb. Photo Wikimedia Commons
In 1944, a special aerial bomb was created for dropping fleas from high altitudes. She received a torpedo-shaped porcelain hull and a metal stabilizer. When falling to the ground, the body had to break and release fleas; there was also a variant with the possibility of deployment at a certain height. The unusual material of the case was chosen for reasons of economy, and also due to the fact that upon impact, the porcelain simply cracked and did not heat up. The metal bomb crumpled when dropped and heated up significantly, killing most of its load.
Porcelain bombs could be used by any aircraft of the army and fleet... In 1944-45. gliders have also been considered as carriers of such weapons or containers with pathogens. In addition, an unguided balloon was developed to deliver infections in the direction of the enemy "at the behest of the wind."
Crimes Against Humanity
Detachment 731 and other villains began to use their designs in the late thirties. The first targets for containers of fleas and hazardous solutions were occupied Chinese villages and cities. Disease specialists regularly worked in different localities, infecting the population, civilian objects, food, etc.
The first 10-12 of these attacks were formalized as field trials. Then, starting in 1940, regular and systematic operations were carried out to exterminate the Chinese population. Bacteriological and chemical weapons were used together or separately, depending on the plans of the command.
Submarine I-400. With the help of such aircraft carriers, it was planned to attack the continental United States. Photo Ww2db.com
The lack of the necessary infrastructure, the inability to receive medical care, as well as the cruel treatment by the occupiers and the targeted infection of key facilities contributed to the fastest spread of infections and death of people. According to modern estimates, from the late thirties to 1944-45. criminal biologists infected and actually killed 550-580 thousand people. Dozens of settlements were emptied.
The first episodes of the use of bacteriological weapons against the enemy army date back to 1939. During the battles on the river. Khalkhin-Gol Japanese "epidemiologists" tried to infect territories and water bodies remaining behind the enemy. However, this operation had minimal effect. They managed to infect only 700 Soviet and Mongolian fighters. Military medics of the Red Army saved almost everyone, only 8 people died. At the same time, an outbreak happened behind the front line with several thousand sick.
After that, for a long time, Japan did not use bacteriological weapons against enemy armies due to insufficient effectiveness. However, at the final stage of the war, these ideas were again returned. So, during the battles on about. Okinawa was proposed to strike at the American positions with gliders with dangerous cargo. However, preparation for such an operation took too long - the island's defense collapsed before a possible strike.
In August 1945, the possibility of using bacteriological weapons against the Red Army was seriously considered. These plans also fell through: the high rates of the offensive of our army did not allow preparation. In addition, the Kwantung Army evacuated "special forces" and destroyed their bases. The production of weapons of mass destruction fell sharply, and its reserves did not allow to fulfill all plans.
Interrogation report of one of the Japanese war criminals who participated in the bacteriological program. Document from the FSB archive
However, there is reason to doubt the possibility of a successful biological attack. Taking into account the peculiarities of the Far East and the known information about Japanese projects, the military medical service of the Red Army carried out a total vaccination of personnel and protected them from possible infection.
From the spring of 1945, plans were made to strike the continental United States. Aircraft submarines were supposed to deliver aircraft armed with porcelain plague bombs to American shores. In early August, the final plan for Operation Yodzakura Sakusen was adopted, providing for the September 22 raid. However, the Japanese Empire soon surrendered, which automatically led to the cancellation of all planned operations.
Genocide Remedy
The Japanese program for the development of bacteriological weapons was created with the aim of strengthening the army. However, just a few years later, it turned into a real means of genocide against the population of the occupied territories - with almost zero result of a military nature. For hundreds of thousands of infected and dead civilians, there were only a few hundred sick military personnel.
Even by the cannibalistic standards of the Japanese militarists, it was a complete military failure. It was only about massive crimes against humanity, senseless and extremely cruel. However, unfortunately, the criminals were not duly punished. Most of the leaders and employees of the "special forces" who survived the war remained at large and actually changed their place of work. And the strangest thing is that they were saved from the gallows and the bullet by a country that had been at war with Japan for several years, suffered heavy losses and almost became a victim of its bacteriological attacks.
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