Page 65 - MaterialsTrial-JapaneseArmy-1950

Interpreter TSVIROV

EXCERPT FROM RECORD OF INTERROGATION
OF YAMADA OTOZOO

November 17, 1949 City of Khabarovsk

. . . Among the units under my command engaged in devising and in the mass production
of bacteriological weapons were Detachment 731, Detachment 100, and their branches.

. . . Concerning the activities of detachments 731 and 100 in the preparations to conduct
bacteriological warfare, it must be said that Detachment 731 engaged in devising and
producing bacteriological weapons intended for the wholesale extermination of human
beings. The activities of Detachment 100, in this respect, were of somewhat narrower scope,
and were limited to devising and producing bacteriological weapons of sabotage in the form
of exterminating animals and contaminating crops.

. . . The Operations Division under my command exercised guidance in questions
concerning the production of the necessary quantities of bacteria, supplying technical
equipment, and also in training skilled cadres for the personnel of detachments 731 and 100. .
. .

Question: That being the case, what did you have in mind when, during the interrogation
on November 3, 1949, you said that the manufacture of means of bacteriological warfare was
carried on chiefly against the Soviet Union?

Answer: I fully confirm that statement, but I must explain that preparations were made to
conduct bacteriological warfare not only against the Soviet Union, but against other countries
too.

Question: More precisely, what countries have you in mind?

Answer: Chiefly against the Soviet Union, but also against China, the Mongolian People's
Republic, the United States of America and England.

Question: What concrete measures were taken in preparing to conduct bacteriological
warfare against the Soviet Union?

Answer: The preparations to conduct bacteriological warfare against the Soviet Union
consisted in a series of researches into methods of employing epidemic bacteria, the mass
production of bacteriological weapons, and in experiments to test the effectiveness of the
action of given species of bacteria.

Question: Tell us what methods of employing bacteriological weapons were devised?

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