Shirō Ishii (石井四郎 Ishii Shirō , 1892 - 1959) was the lieutenant-general of the Unité 731, which dealt with research on the bacteriological weapons during the Sino-Japanese war of 1937.

Presentation

It is born the June 25th 1892 in the old village from Chiyoda in the Préfecture of Chiba. He studies medicine at the imperial university of Kyōto. He excels in his studies and he is assigned at the military medical school of Tōkyō in the capacity as army medical officer. Its work impresses its superiors.

With the beginning of the year 1928, it goes on a great journey 2 years in Europe where it launches out in intensive research on the effects of the bacteriological weapons and the chemical weapons. He learns enormously from things and decides to help the Japan under the direction of Sadao Araki, Minister for the army.

In 1930, after a study trip in Europe, Ishii Shirō is promoted commander and integrates the service of the prevention of the epidemics of the medical school of the army.

In 1931 he invents a water filter able to clean the water of the bacteria. Device used in the Japanese imperial Navy.

In 1932, it begins experiments.

In 1936, the Unité 731 is formed. A complex of 150 buildings close to Harbin is built to enable him to develop its research in a total secrecy. Indeed, it is claimed that unit 731 deals with purifying the water of the rivers.

In 1942, Ishii begins the first tests of its weapons on Chinese soldiers and civilians. Thousands of them die of the Bubonic plague, the Choléra, the Anthrax, the Tuberculose, the Typhoïde and other viruses.

In 1945, the day before the defeat of the Japanese troops, the government orders to destroy all the evidence of the research undertaken by unit 731.

In 1946, the United States begins negotiations with the important people of unit 731. Whereas in Europe in 1947, the lawsuit of Nuremberg highlights the responsibilities for the Nazis, a secret pact is concluded between the Americans and Shiro Ishii. This pact guarantees immunity and the secrecy to him on the atrocities made on approximately 3.000 civilians and soldiers Chinese (but so Russian and some Westerners) in exchange of the results which it obtained. An agreement is concluded and all the members of the unit are exonerated from continuations in front of the Tribunal of Tokyo. Certain doctors captured by the Soviets however are judged in 1949 at the time of the lawsuit of Khabarovsk.

Sources

• Horizons - inexpressible crimes of the unit 731
• the “pact with the devil” of Américians, by Laurent Zecchini in Washington - February 3rd, 1997 - Le Monde
• the army of the emperor: Violences and crimes of Japan in war 1937-1945 per Jean-Louis Margolin and sinister Yves Ternon
• It " Unit 731" Japanese imperial army - April 19th, 2005 - Agency France Presse
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