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Inada was chief of the Operations Section of the Army General Staff at the time of the Changkufeng Incident in the Korea-Manchuria-Russia border area. He
proposed a limited offensive to expel the Russians from the area as a
test of Russian intentions in the Far East. His strategy was adopted
and resulted in a serious military setback for the Japanese.
However, the Soviets declined to exploit their victory, suggesting that
they wished to avoid a full-scale war in the Far East.
Inada developed a respect for the Red Army as a result of that experience, and was shocked when informed by radio that Kwantung Army had launched an air raid deep into Mongolian behind Nomonhan in June 1939 (Goldman 2012):
You damned idiot! What do you think will be the real meaning of this little success of yours?
Inada strongly opposing Mutaguchi's plan for U-Go (Brown 1984):
It would no doubt satisfy you to go to Imphal and die there. But Japan might be overthrown in the process.
Inada suggested instead that the Japanese armies in Burma should move into Yunnan and make contact with China Expeditionary Army, thereby making Burma irrelevant as a barrier to Allied communications with China. He believed Japan faced a war of attrition that might go on for many more years. However, Inada was scapegoated for a diplomatic failure to realign Thailand's boundaries as promised to Phibul Songkram, and his replacement proved more pliant.
Inada took commanded of 6 Air
Division in April 1944 after its previous commander, Itahana Giichi, was relieved in disgrace for the Wewak debacle. Inada gave up the defense of Hollandia in the face of the massive Allied invasion that month, surviving the subsequent retreat to Sarmi to hold staff postings at Singapore and in Kyushu for the final defense of the homeland.
| 1896 |
Born |
|
| 1938 |
Major general
|
Chief, 2 Section (Maneuvers and
War Plans), 1 Bureau, Army General Staff |
| 1940 |
Commander, Hotory Fortress Artillery Regiment |
|
| 1941 |
Vice chief of staff, 5 Army |
|
| 1942-7-1 |
Chief of staff, 5 Army |
|
| 1943-2-23
|
Vice chief of staff, Southern Army |
|
| 1943-10-11 |
Commander, 2 Field Operations
Base Area |
|
| 1944 |
Lieutenant
general |
Commander, 6 Air
Division |
| 1944 |
Retires |
|
| 1945-3 |
Recalled. Commander, 3 Shipping
Transport Command, Singapore |
|
| 1945-5-3 |
Chief of staff, 16 Area Army |
|
| 1945 |
Retires |
|
| 1946 |
Arrested for war crimes |
|
| 1951 |
Released |
|
| 1986 |
Dies |
References
Generals.dk (accessed 2009-3-30)
Goldman (2012)
Pettibone (2007)
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2009, 2011, 2013 by Kent G. Budge. Index
