Group 731 (Bacteriological weapon of Japan)

Main article: Japan

The idea of creation of bacteriological weapon was finally created in the Japanese empire in the late twenties when the country endured the period of rapid growth. For fight against the probable opponent — the USA dominating in the region and Great Britain and also strengthening after civil war of the USSR — looked for effective weapon. The Japanese microbiologist of Cyro Isiya volunteered to create it. 

In the early thirties Isiya made a tour on the leading bacteriological laboratories of Europe. In the report according to the results of a trip the scientist proves that biological weapon can bring to the empire huge advantage. 

"Unlike artillery shells it is not capable to kill instantly manpower, but these shells filled with bacteria, without noise affect a human body and animals, bringing slow, but painful death. It is optional to make shells, it is possible to infect quite peace things — clothes, cosmetics, foodstuff and drinks, edible animals — it is possible to spray bacteria from air" — wrote Isiya. 

The report impressed the Japanese military authorities, and in 1932 according to instructions of the Minister of War Sadao Araki funds for creation of a special complex on development of biological weapon were allocated. Construction of laboratories began in Manzhouli occupied by Japanese in 20 km to the south from the main town of the province of Harbin. The head of group it was appointed Cyro Isiya. The scientific personnel were gathered from the best graduates of prestigious Japanese educational institutions. Officially the complex received the name of Head department on water supply and prevention of Kvantunsky army. Prince Takeda became the curator of division in 1940. 

The personnel of division 731 infect the Chinese civilian population with bubonic plague in Harbin, Manchuria, 1940.

The bulk of "works" in a complex began in 1936, and came to the end only with approach of the Red Army in 1945. In 9 years the staff of group carried out a huge number of terrible experiments with living people. For this purpose experimental were infected, sometimes opened to trace process of a disease. Anesthesia at the same time was not used: was considered that it can affect the experiment course. Life of the captive was prolonged by means of the supporting therapy, however, not for humanistic reasons at all. 

Experimental in group called precisely "logs". To document development of a disease, at procedures of opening there were artists. Black-and-white photos did not satisfy researchers: authentic transfer in the image of the struck bodies was required for them. 

The special unit of Group 731 was engaged in studying of limits of opportunities of a human body. To people chopped off extremities, subjected to a frostbite or burns and watched development of gangrene, placed in pressures chamber and captured an agony of the victims with cameras. Experiences put even on children and expectant mothers: at the last watched process of pregnancy and put experiments on yet not been born fruit. Experiments with a vivisection were actively made: at people deleted vitals, since intestines and finishing with a brain. Mutilated then directed to a research in different departments of laboratory. 

People who by miracle recovered after the experiments were infected again. None of experimental left the territory of a complex live. The exact number of the victims is unknown, but approximately their number is estimated at 3 thousand people. 70% experimental were Chinese, about 30% — the Soviet citizens, the others — Koreans, Manchurians, Mongols, Americans, the British and Australians. 

Among diseases with which Group 731 experimented there were anthrax, smallpox and botulism. For years of researches the group managed to display a strain of a plague bacillus which was 60 times stronger than normal. 

Activity of group was not limited only to laboratory tests. Bacteriological weapon was used by Japanese against Chinese. Wells in areas of action of the Chinese guerrillas and in the back of the Chinese troops caught causative agents of a typhoid. For a number of the transactions "Group 731" received official messages of thanks from the Japanese army. Plans of bacteriological diversions for a war case with the USSR were created: under blow there could be Khabarovsk, Blagoveshchensk, Chita. An attack and on the USA was planned. The Japanese troops considered infection of the American territory by means of bombing from airplanes. 

This plan was opposed by the prime minister Hideki Todzio. The politician considered that war is lost, and was afraid of revenge of Americans. 

The end of activity of mad division came on August 9, 1945 when the Soviet troops began Manchurian offensive transaction, and the second atomic bomb fell to Nagasaki. Command ordered to destroy all traces of activity of group. Evacuation of personnel, destruction of documentation and proofs and also murder of all experimental which were in prison at that moment began. The complex of laboratories was blown up. However because of rapid approach of the Red Army only the highest officers could run with a number of the major documents, turning on Cyro Isiya. It transferred all materials to the American command in exchange for life and freedom. The most part of non-management employees got to the Soviet captivity. 

The documents transferred to Americans still remain secret. Any of the members of Group 731 who were taken prisoner to Americans was not condemned by the Tokyo tribunal. Also prince Takeda supervising researches was not punished. Moreover, in the run-up to the Games of 1964 he headed the Japanese Olympic committee. 

All members of group who got to the Soviet captivity was are condemned under sentence of the Khabarovsk tribunal in 1949 for the terms from 2 to 25 years. Said that captured Japanese shared results of works and with the Soviet specialists. 

Cyro Isiya in a rank of the lieutenant general lived till 1959 and died in Japan. According to some data, he cooperated with Americans and even continued the researches. His deputy Masakhi Kitano after war worked in the Japanese pharmaceutical company "Green Cross", was also not condemned and never told about life in the years of war. However some other officers and members of group by the end of life began to be told about activity of division. Just on the basis of their memoirs Morimura Seyiti also wrote the book.

In April, 2019 it became known that the National archive of Japan declassified these 3.6 thousand members of Group 731 of the Japanese imperial army which was engaged in development of bacteriological weapon in the years of World War II. 

The Japanese archive declassified data on Group 731 at the request of professor of the University of medical sciences Katsuo Nisiyama. He heads group of the Japanese scientists who consider that the detailed story about activity of group will allow to avoid repetition of similar tragedies in the future. 

Negotiations on disclosure of data lasted two years. As a result of steel names and the addresses of 3607 members of so-called Head department on water supply and prevention of Kvantunsky army under which sign Group 731 worked are known. Among them — 52 surgeons, 38 nurses, 49 engineers and 1117 army doctors. 

The history of activity of division became known thanks to the book by the Japanese researcher Morimura Seyiti Kitchen of devil. Contents has it so shocking character that in the preface the author warns readers about possible "loss of belief in mankind" after reading of the book.