Takeo Itō

Infobox Military Person
name=Takeo Itō
lived=
placeofbirth=Fukuoka prefecture, Japan
placeofdeath=Rabaul, New Britain


caption=Japanese General Takeo Itō
nickname=
allegiance=Empire of Japan
branch=
serviceyears=
rank=Lieutenant General
commands=IJA 38th Division
unit=
battles=Second Sino-Japanese War
World War II
awards=
laterwork= nihongo|Takeo Itō|伊東武夫| Itō Takeo|extra=1886-1946 was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

Biography

Itō was born in Fukuoka city. Upon attaining the rank of major general on 25 August 1941, Itō, who had been the commanding officer of the IJN 228th Infantry Regiment at the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, was given command of the IJN 38th Division, which was the primary Japanese division in the invasion of Hong Kong. [cite web
last = Ammentorp
first = Steep
url = http://www.generals.dk/general/Ito/Takeo/Japan.html
title = Ito, Takeo
work = The Generals of World War II]

In early 1942, Itō was reassigned to an independent command in his own name, the “Itō Detachment”, with soldiers from the 38th Division, which took part in the Battle of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies (30 January – 3 February 1942), and in the occupation of Timor. All of these campaign were characterized by extreme ruthlessness and the massacre of prisoners. [cite web
last = Budge
first = Kent
url = http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/index.htm
title = Takeo Ito
work = Pacific War Online Encyclopedia]

In November, 1942, Itō, along with one regiment of the 38th Division, was shipped to Guadalcanal. On 11 November 1942, during the pivotal Battle of Guadalcanal, Ito was positioned by Lieutenant-General Harukichi Hyakutake to attack Marines under the command of U.S. General Alexander Archer Vandegrift who were involved in the Matanikau offensive against Japanese positions. However, Vandegrift called off his offensive that day after receiving intelligence reports of Hyakutake's plans. Itō later helped command 38th Division troops during the Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse. He and the 38th's survivors on Guadalcanal were evacuated by the Japanese navy during the first week of February 1943. Some western historians have stated that Itō died on Guadalcanal, which is obviously incorrect.

Itō became commander of the 40th Independent Mixed Brigade stationed at New Ireland and New Guinea, on 4 July 1944, and was promoted to lieutenant-general on November 26 of that year.

At the end of the war, Itō was taken into custody by Australian forces, and was tried as a war criminal in a military tribunal for the murder of Chinese civilians. He was sentenced to death at Rabaul, New Britain on 24 May 1946 but it is unclear as to whether or not the sentence was carried out. [ [http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/WCC/warcrimfe.htm Some Noteworthy War Criminals] Source: "History of the United Nations War Crimes Commission and the Development of the Laws of War", United Nations War Crimes Commission (London: HMSO, 1948)]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/dutcheastindies/ito.html The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942 Biographies: Major-General Takeo Ito]
* [http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/GuadC/GC-08.htm "United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific - Guadalcanal: The First Offensive" by John Miller] (Center of Military History, United States Army, 1949 & 1995), pp. 196, 201-202, 204
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/I/USMC-I-VI-8.html "Pearl Harbor to Guadalcanal: History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II", by Lt. Col. Frank O. Hough, USMCR; Maj. Verle E. Ludwig, USMC; Henry I. Shaw, Jr.] (Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps) Volume I, Chapter 8: Critical November
* [http://hksw.org/despatches_106_1_j.htm The Hong Kong Society of Wargamers: "The Fall of Hong Kong, Christmas 1941", by Andrzej Cierpicki]