Japanease forces on D-Day

[sniper101st]

I recently read in a book that Japanease forces participated in the defence of the Normandy beaches does anyone know any more about this as I was always under the impression they only ever faught in there own theatre of the Pacific.

[Kyt]

There were some Korean soldiers who had been conscripted into the Japanese army, been captured by the Russians and conscripted, then captured by the Germans and conscripted into their army and sent to defend Normandy, and then finally captured by the Americans. Some pictures have mistakenly been captioned them as Japanese soldiers.

However, there have been unconfirmed rumoursthat some Japanese students in Germany joined the German army, but I've never been able to find firm evidence for this.

[sniper101st]

Yes I recently read a book by Donald Burgett and in it he mentions that during D-Day +1 he came accross this soldier in full japanease uniform at first it was considered a rumour that they were participating.

[Kyt]

Is that Currahee?

[sniper101st]

Yes its an excellent book and they way he describes his experiences are unreal I must say I have learn alot from his books.

[Kyt]

From: http://www.geocities.com/alvinlee_81...csChinese.html

The two pictures above are very interesting as it shows what seems to be Japanese army officers in Germany or prehaps German occupied area on attachment to observe their military tactics etc. Note their unusual sleeve shields on the right side of the tunic.

[Cpl Rootes]

Originally Posted by Kyt

There were some Korean soldiers who had been conscripted into the Japanese army, been captured by the Russians and conscripted, then captured by the Germans and conscripted into their army and sent to defend Normandy, and then finally captured by the Americans.

I read that somewhere as well, was in an Ambrose book I think