Fukei Shinpei (?-1946)

Fukei commanded the prisoner of war camps set up in Malaya following the Japanese conquest. It was under his direction that British POWs and Changi Prison were compelled to sign a pledge not to attempt escape on pain of death. This was a violation of the Hague Convention. Fukei ordered the execution of at least four prisoners who violated this pledge.

Fukei took command of 102 Division when it was activated in June 1944 in the central Philippines. His division was shipped to Leyte to reinforce the defenders in October and November 1944. He disobeyed orders to evacuate the survivors to Cebu and was threatened with court-martial. However, permission to hold the court-martial had to be obtained from Imperial General Headquarters, which ignored the request. He remained in command of the remnants of his division on Cebu until the surrender.

Fukei was tried for war crimes at Changi, found guilty, and executed by firing squad at the location of one of the executions he had ordered, where his last word was a shouted "Banzai!"

Service record

References

Fuller (1992)

Gilbert (1989)

Generals.dk (accesssed 2008-2-27)

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