Background
Masakazu Kawabe was born on December 5, 1886. He was also the elder brother of General Torashiro Kawabe.
Masakazu Kawabe was born on December 5, 1886. He was also the elder brother of General Torashiro Kawabe.
Masakazu Kawabe graduated from the 19th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1907 and the 27th class of the Army Staff College in 1915. From 1927 to 1929, he served as an instructor at the War College.
He was then assigned as a military attaché to Switzerland from 1918 to 1921 and to Berlin, Germany from 1929 to 1932. Promoted to infantry colonel in 1932, he served in a number of staff assignments on his return to Japan, before being assigned command of the IJA 6th Infantry Regiment from 1932 to 1933. Kawabe went on to be Commandant of the Infantry School from 1933 to 1934, and was Chief of 1st Section within the Inspectorate General of Military Training from 1934 to 1936. He was promoted to major general in 1936.
During the 1930s Kawabe served in a number of posts in China, including command of Permanent China Brigade, which was involved in the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. By late 1941 he was a lieutenant general in command of 3 Army in eastern Manchuria. In the eyes of the Japanese Army, which always regarded Russia as the great enemy, this was an extremely important post. He subsequently became chief of staff of China Expeditionary Army, in August 1942.
On 8 April 1943 Kawabe was reassigned to command the Burma Area Army. His leadership would be characterized by an enormous disregard for human life, even that of his own troops. The disastrous U-Go offensive against Imphal took place under his command in March of 1944. During the later stages of this offensive, he was bedridden with amoebic dysentery and under pressure from his own superior at Southern Army.
In September 1944 he was recalled to Japan, promoted to full general, and given command of Central District Army and 15 Area Army. On 8 April 1945 he took command of General Air Army, consisting of the remaining air units in Japan, Korea, and the Ryukyus, for the final defense against the anticipated Allied invasion. He replaced Dohihara as commander of 1 General Army for demobilization after the latter was arrested for war crimes. Kawabe himself was arrested for his involvement in the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, but was released without standing trial, probably because he was absent when the incident took place.
Quotes from others about the person
Boatner describes Kawabe as "An anxious, austere, emaciated little man (small even by Japanese standards) who looked sick most of the time."
