Japanese Prisoners of War in India, 1942-46 : Bushido and Barbed Wire / T. R. Sareen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sareen, Tilak Raj, 1935- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Prisoners of war.

Prisoners of war--Japan.

Prisoners of war--Psychology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Folkestone, England : Global Oriental Ltd, [2006]

Summary:

This is the first in-depth study to examine the history, treatment and conditions of more than 2500 Japanese prisoners of war who were captured by British forces on the Burma front and kept in India during the period 1942-46. Drawing on original sources, including the National Archive of India, the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as limited government records in the UK, USA and Japan, together with some former Japanese POWs' first-hand accounts, the author has been able to provide a detailed picture of the way of life of these prisoners, the organization of camp life, as well as the policies that governed their incarceration. In so doing, the author fills a significant gap both in Pacific War studies and prisoner-of-war history. The manner of the capture and surrender of the Japanese was unique, in that they were captured, for the most part, when they were either seriously wounded or sick, or had become unconscious due to hunger or disease while fighting on the Arakan, Imphal and Kohima (Burma) fronts. A few in good health gave themselves up; but there was no mass surrender, even by a single regiment or unit, ever took place, thus giving rise to the myth that no Japanese soldier ever became a prisoner of war. This account sets the history straight and will be widely welcomed by the generalist and specialist alike, particularly those studying the history of this period, including POW history, as well as students of international law and the work of international agencies, such as the Red Cross.

Contents:

Foreword

Introduction

Acknowledgements

List of Abbreviations

Map of India

1 The Japanese Military Tradition

2 The Battlefields of Arakan, Imphal and Kohima

3 Surrender or Death

4 Utility Value of the Japanese POWs

5 Psychological Warfare

6 Nature of Japanese Capture

7 Attitude of POWs Towards Suicide

8 POW Camp No. 29, Bikaner

9 Political Indoctrination

10 The Geneva Convention

11 Mountbatten at Bikaner Camp

12 The Twilight of Suicidal Nationalism

13 From Bikaner to Baleli, to POW Camp No. 30

14 Living as POWs

15 Sunshine Beyond the Barbed Wire

Conclusions

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9789004213661

900421366X

OCLC:

607690264

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004213661 DOI