LtGen Yamashita´s Diplomatic Mission

The Famous Tomoyuki Yamashita (a LtGen since November 1937 and a full general after February 1943) headed the diplomatic military team which left for Germany in December 1940. He spent six months observing such matters as the "Luftwaffe" and the "Panzer-divisionen" at war in the West.

Japanese military authorities, admiring the brilliant successes of German Army operations, began to cherish a desire to learn from German experience rather than from that of the Nomonhan Incident. This desire crystallized into the dispatch of the Yamashita Military Inspection Team to Germany.

Yamashita s Mission Inform

From the end of 1940 until June 1941, Lieutenant General Yamashita's military inspection team was visiting Germany and Italy. The gist of the General's report follows:

a)Military materiel programs should stress air power and mechanization for the Army. Air strength must be especially built up, on a priority basis-qualitatively and quantitatively.

b)Emphasis in ground armaments should be accorded speed and armor, built around a nucleus of medium tanks. In the case of other combat arms, mechanization and advanced technology must also be exploited to the fullest.

c)Paratroop units should be organized as soon as possible, and practical applications must be examined.

d)(Omitted.)

e)In view of the out-of-date equipment of the Japanese Army, it is concluded that the last thing Japan should contemplate is the initiation of war against either the United States, Great Britain, or the Soviet Union.

Japanese Army decision AbOUT Yamashita s Mission Inform

Japan should accordingly exercise patience in avoiding the outbreak of war, meanwhile concentrating all of her strength upon the modernization of her military materiel.

In accordance with the Yamashita Report, the military authorities decided to lay greater strength upon air power thereafter. Steps were taken to BeEF up potentials, to organize paratroop forces, and to study methods of employment.

Contrary to the conclusions reached by the Yamashita mission, however, the measures introduced turned out to be preliminary preparations, useful in case a war with America broke out.