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U.S. Army. Via ibiblio.org
Yanagida commanded
33 Division under 15 Army in Burma in late 1943. At this time, he
had no previous combat experience. His division
was part of the U-Go
offensive and began moving
against Imphal on 7 March 1944. By
29 March his division had suffered heavy losses and he recommended
slowing the advance, which infuriated his superiors. Mutaguchi wanted him
court-martialed for cowardice, but
settled for forcing him into
retirement on 9 May 1944.
Yanagida was later recalled to command the garrison of Port Arthur and was captured by the Russians during their Manchurian offensive. He never returned to Japan.
Yanagida is described by Drea (2009) as "a
polished staff officer with no combat experience." Yanagida regarded
Mutaguchi as "an idiot", while Mutaguchi in return thought him a
"gutless bastard." Yanagida seems to have been deeply affected by the sight of Japanese casualties,
shutting himself up in his tent when a column of wounded men passed
through his headquarters. His own chief of staff was "wild with rage"
at Yanagida for so quickly giving up on U-Go.
| 1936
|
Colonel
|
Staff, Imperial Guards Division |
| 1937 |
Chief, Recruiting Section,
Military Affairs Bureau, Ministry of War |
|
| 1938 |
Commander, 1 Regiment |
|
| 1939-1-31 |
Major general |
Vice chief of staff, 11 Army |
| 1940 |
Head, Harbin Special Agency, Manchuria |
|
| 1940 |
Assistant Chief of Intelligence, Kwantung Army |
|
| 1943-3-1 |
Lieutenant
general |
Commander, 33 Division, Burma |
| 1944-5-9
|
Retired |
|
| 1944 |
Recalled. Commandant, Port Arthur Fortress |
|
| 1945 |
Commander, Kwantung Defense
Command |
|
| 1945 |
Prisoner of war, Russia |
|
| 1952 |
Dies in prison camp |
References
Generals.dk (accessed 2008-7-5)
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