Page 62 - MaterialsTrial-JapaneseArmy-1950

which I viewed the aerodrome. One of the officers informed me that plague-infected fleas,
which were one of the bacteriological weapons, were tested on a special proving ground by
spraying from aircraft. At the same time I was informed of the results of these tests under
different weather conditions.

While inspecting Detachment 731, I was extremely amazed at the scale on which the
detachment's research and production activities in preparing to conduct bacteriological
warfare were carried on.

Question: Thus, Detachment 731 of the Kwantung Army was organized for the purpose of
preparing for a bacteriological attack upon the Soviet Union?

Answer: I must admit that Detachment 731, posted in Manchuria, was formed for the
purpose of producing weapons of bacteriological warfare to be used chiefly against the Soviet
Union, but also against the Mongolian People's Republic and China. . . f

Question: To what degree was Detachment 731 subordinated to the Kwantung Army
Headquarters?

Answer: Detachment 731 was directly subordinated to me as the Commander-in-Chief of
the Kwantung Army.

Detachment 731 was subordinated to the Commander-inChief of the Kwantung Army by
order of the Japanese Minister for War at the time the detachment was organized.

Tactical direction of Detachment 731 connected with all questions concerning the
production and employment of bacteriological weapons was exercised by me. This means,
that if the necessity arose of employing bacteriological weapons against enemy forces, the
order to do so could come only from me, for Detachment 731 was a special military unit
under my command. . . .

Yamada

INTERROGATORS

Members of the, staff

of the Office of the Ministry

for Internal Affairs

for the Khabarovsk Territory,

BRAVfi, GOIKHMAN Interpreter TSVIROV

62