Page 278 - MaterialsTrial-JapaneseArmy-1950

bacteria and counting the fleas on the sticky paper on the proving ground, did you understand
that you were thereby helping in the preparations to conduct bacteriological warfare?

Answer: I did.

Counsel Prokopenko: Accused Kurushima. Please tell us, to what, concretely, do you plead
guilty?

Accused Kurushima: Firstly—to having belonged to Branch 162 of Detachment 731.
Secondly—to having taken part in manoeuvres, the ultimate object of which was the mass
extermination of human beings. That is al.,

EXAMINATION OF WITNESS TAMURA

President of the Court: Witness Tamura, I warn you of your liability to prosecution for
giving false testimony, you must tell the Court all the facts you know about the case, and
speak nothing but the truth. Tell us, witness Tamura, when were you taken prisoner by the
Soviet Army?

Witness Tamura: On September 1, 1945.

Question: Where were you at the time, and what duties were you performing?

Answer: At that time I was in the city of Changchun (Manchuria) and was Chief of the
Personnel Division of the Kwantung Army Headquarters.

Question: What was your military rank?

Answer: Colonel.

State Prosecutor: Witness Tamura, what information did you receive from the Chief of
Staff of the Kwantung Army, Hata, concerning the aims and objects of Detachment 731?

Witness Tamura: Lieutenant General Hata informed me that Detachment 731 of the
Kwantung Army was officially called the Prophylaxis and Water Supply Administration, but
was engaged mainly in preparations to conduct bacteriological warfare against the Soviet
Union. He gave me instructions to pay special attention to this detachment in matters of
personnel.

Question: When, under what circumstances and on whose orders did you inspect
Detachment 731?

Answer: I received the order to inspect Detachment 731 in June 1945 at the Harbin
Aerodrome from former Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army, General Yamada.

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