Kawabe Torashiro (1890-1960)

Kawabe Torashiro was the brother of Kawabe Masakazu and followed him into the Japanese Army, graduating from the Military Academy in 1912, the Artillery and Engineering School in 1915, and the Army Staff College in 1921. During the 30s, he served as military attaché to Russia, Germany, and Hungary. He was on the staff of Kwantung Army from 1934 to 1936 and was involved in efforts to set up Li Shou-hsin as a puppet warlord in Chahar province. However, he also aligned with Kanji Ishihara's attempt to limit Japanese involvement in China after the Marco Polo Incident.

Kawabe was inspector general of the Army Air Forces at the start of the Pacific war. In 1943, he was given command of 2 Air Army, but returned to staff assignments in 1944. He became vice-chief of staff of the Army in April 1945.

Naval Historical Center Photo #80-G-490350

Kawabe was in favor of resisting an Allied invasion of Japan. However, once the Emperor made the decision to surrender, Kawabe played a key role in cementing support for the decision among the top Army leaders, including Umezu, Dohihara, Hata, Sugiyama, and Anami, whom he persuaded to sign an accord supporting the Emperor. He then had the unpleasant duty of leading the delegation to Manila that arranged the details of the surrender. (Kawabe is the officer at the foot of the ladder in the preceding photograph.)

Service record

References

Boatner (1996)

Craig (1967)

Dupuy et.al. (1992)

Generals.dk (accessed 2008-4-18)

Hayashi and Cox (1959
Pettibone (2007)

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