Yuitsu Tsuchihashi

Yuitsu Tsuchihashi
Yuitsu Tsuchihashi
Born	January 1 1891 Saga Prefecture, Japan
Died	May 31, 1975(1975-05-31) (aged 84)
Allegiance	Empire of Japan
Service/branch	Imperial Japanese Army
Years of service	1912–1945
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	48th Division 38th Army
Battles/wars	World War II Pacific War

Yuitsu Tsuchihashi (土橋 勇逸, Tsuchihashi Yūitsu, January 1, 1891 – May 31, 1975) was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II.

Biography

Tsuchihashi was born in Saga prefecture and graduated from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1912 and the Army Staff College in 1920. He learned French and was stationed in France between 1924 and 1927.

After his promotion to major general in July 1938, he became chief of staff of the IJA 21st Army in August 1939. As a lieutenant general, he was sent to Taiwan in September 1941 to command the IJA 48th Division.

After the outbreak of the Pacific War, he was moved with his division to the Philippines, where his forces captured Manila, but did not participate in the Battle of Bataan. Instead, his division was transferred in January 1942 to Eastern Java, where they captured Surabaya on 7 March 1942. After this, he became commander of the island of Timor, where he fought the Battle of Timor against Australian and Dutch commandos.

In November 1944, he was sent to French Indochina to reorganize and take command of the 38th Army. In March 1945, he played a crucial role in the Japanese coup d'état in French Indochina and became the provisional Governor in Hanoi. After the surrender of Japan, he was taken prisoner by the Chinese and held captive in the Guangdong province, until he was released in July 1949.

References

• Ammenthorp, Steen. "Tsuchibashi, Yūichi". The Generals of World War II.
• Budge, Kent. "Tsuchihashi Yuitsu (1891-1975)". Pacific War Online Encyclopedia.