Iwabuchi Sanji

Iwabuchi Sanji ( Japanese 岩 淵 三次 ; * March 2, 1895 in Sanjō ; † February 26, 1945 in Manila , Philippines ) was a Japanese vice admiral who organized the defense of Manila in World War II and died during the battle.

death

Iwabuchi commanded the defense of the city of Manila in February 1945. 14,000 Marines and around 10,000 Army soldiers remained in Manila, while the 14th Regional Army , which defended Luzon against the Americans , withdrew to Baguio . On February 2, the 1st U.S. Cavalry Division reached the city. About 8,000 American paratroopers from the 11th Airborne Division had now landed in the Tagaytay Hills and were marching quickly towards Manila. The 1st Cavalry Division had crossed the last intact bridge over the Pasig on February 3rd , and after fierce resistance there were probably only about 2,000 men fighting the GIs on February 19th . On February 26 Iwabuchi committed in his command post suicide , probably by himself with a hand grenade blew up, and was posthumously to Admiral promoted.

literature

• Ugaki Matome: Fading Victory: The Diary of Admiral Matome Ugaki, 1941-45 . University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh 1991, ISBN 0-8229-5462-1 . New edition: Naval Institute Press, Annapolis 2008, ISBN 978-1-591-14324-6 (Editors: Katherine V. Dillon, Donald M. Goldstein, Gordon W. Prange. Translator: Masataka Chihaya).

Japanese name: As is common in Japan, the family name comes before the first name in this article . So Iwabuchi is the family name, Sanji the first name.