Hi guys! I'm trying to find out more about kempeitai esp. in the Philippines, how they operated, the ranks the kempeitai chief held, their exact functions, how many kempeitai offices where in one city (specifically Manila. One per district?) and some more things like that. I can't seem to find anything other than the brutalities. I'm looking for something on the technical aspect. Also, can anyone provide me with an e-book on World War II Philippine theater? Or any sites with full on explanation about the Kempeitai in the Philippines? I know this may be a lot. But hey, can't hurt to try
Hi Gwendy, Start by looking at the wikipedia article Kempeitai - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia And have a look at this article which describes the general structure (officers, NCOs, numbers etc: JAPAN'S DARK BACKGROUND 1881-1945
Kempeitai: Ruthless Policemen of the Rising Sun | Office of Justice Programs Abstract The Kempeitai used cruelly repressive tactics to control the militarily occupied territories of Japan's World War II empire. Through horror tactics, the Kempeitai and their willing ethnic collaborators from Manchuria to Singapore imposed submissiveness on reluctant nations and used ruthless brutality to break the will and spirit of those who did not submit to the Japanese regime. Forming a part of the Imperial Nipponese Army, the Kempeitai were soldiers who acted as armed military and security policemen, but with a high degree of independence. This article describes the recruitment and training of the Kempeitai, its organization, and its philosophy of superiority. A case study of a "typical" officer of the Kempeitai is presented from the case notes of Shusa (Lt. Col.) Haruzo Sumida (1903- 46). He played a key role in the repression of occupied nations. He worked out of Kempeitai headquarters in Singapore, the main torture and interrogation building. At his war-crimes trial after Japan's surrender, the President of the War Crimes Trial said to him, "You were prepared, for the glorification (as you thought) of your country, to reduce men and women below the level of beasts and send them without pity or compunction to an agonizing death." Like Sumida, many of the Kempeitai were hung as war criminals. Some committed suicide, but others escaped retribution and went on to enter senior positions in Japanese society.
An abstract of evidence of the case involving Sumida is here: https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/5101c9/pdf/ "This case relates to the Double Tenth atrocities in Singapore. Owing to allegations made by informers of very dubious character, the Japanese were pursuaded that news was being received by wireless sets in Changi Jail, operated by internees, and outside, and in September 1943 some Japanese ships were blown up in Singapore Harbour, of which the Japanese believed the internees to be the instigators. On 10 October 43 the Kempei Tai, who were charged with the investigation of the case, arrested a large number of the internees of Changi Jail, and later further arrested a number of Chinese and other civilians in Singapore, since the investigation had now taken the broader form of inquiries into the amount of communication between civilian internees and others outside."