Keiji Shibasaki
Keiji Shibasaki (柴崎恵次, Shibasaki Keiji ) (1894 - 1943) was a Admiral Japanese and the commander of the Japanese garrison on the island of Betio of the atoll of Tarawa during the Second world war at the time of the Bataille of Tarawa (20 - November 23rd 1943).
Shibasaki arrived on Betio in September 1943 to take the ordering of the Japanese garrison, including 1122 soldiers of the imperial marine forming the 3rd special force of unloading, 1497 soldiers of the imperial marine forming the 7th special force of unloading of Sasebo and of the Korean and Chinese workers for the majority forming the 111e unit of construction, and a detachment of 970 workers of the 4th unit of construction.
Shibaskaki was a veteran of the amphibious attack in China during the Thirties and knew how to defend the island against an enemy unloading. It established the strong defenses extended on all the island of Betio to defend the airfield of strategic importance and is famous to have said to its men “that will take a million men and hundred years” to conquer the island. Shibasaki is supposed to be killed the first day of the battle at the time of the afternoon of the November 20th 1943 with all the principal officers of the island by American destroyers while they went towards a secondary headquarters of the island further away from the stations of combat than his bunker of command.
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