Tomoyuki Yamashita

Tomoyuki Yamashita , 1888-1946, Japanese general. He studied military science in Germany. He commanded (1941) the Malayan campaign and forced Singapore to surrender (Feb., 1942). He also commanded during the unsuccessful defense (Oct., 1944-Aug., 1945) of the Philippines against the invading Allies under Douglas MacArthur. In Sept., 1945, he surrendered. He went on trial before a military commission in Manila for atrocities committed by soldiers under his command. He was found guilty and hanged (1946).

Yamashita Tomoyuki (known as ‘ The Tiger of Malaya’) (1888–1946) Japanese general. In World War II he led his forces in a lightning series of successes, capturing Malaya (1941–42), SINGAPORE (1942), and Burma. In 1944 he assumed control of the PHILIPPINES CAMPAIGN. He surrendered to the Allies under MACARTHUR in 1945, was tried before a military commission for atrocities committed by his soldiers, and hanged.

Yamashita Tomoyuki (b. 8 Nov. 1885, d. 23 Feb. 1946). Japanese general Born near Tokyo, as a young officer he served in the Russo-Japanese War and in World War I. He attended staff officers' college (1926) and then held a series of staff appointments. He was one of the young army officers involved in the 26 February Incident (1936) although he is believed to have opposed the coup itself while having some sympathy for its objectives. He was perceived as a close rival of Tôjô Hideki, and for that reason he may have been kept away from Tokyo with postings in Manchuria and south-east Asia. As commander of the 25th Army, which invaded Malaya in December 1941, Yamashita captured Singapore in February 1942 and led his army into Burma. In 1944 he was given command in the Philippines, organizing fierce opposition to US landings at Leyte and on Luzon, where he continued to fight on until the ‘formal’ surrender of 2 September. In 1946 he was tried and executed in Manila for atrocities committed by troops under his command.

Malayan campaigns; Burma Campaigns; Singapore, fall of