Unit 731

Unit 731 (731??) was a secret military medical unit of the Imperial Japanese Army that researched biological warfare and other topics through human experimentation during the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) and World War II era. For information on its origin see Kempeitai Political Department and Epidemic Prevention Research Laboratory.

Related Topics:
Imperial Japanese Army - Biological warfare - Human experimentation - Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) - World War II - Kempeitai Political Department and Epidemic Prevention Research Laboratory

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The unit was disguised as a water purification unit. It was based in Pingfan, near the city of Harbin in northeastern China, the region which was then part of the puppet state of Manchukuo. It is estimated that over 3,000 Chinese, Korean, and Allied POWs were killed in the Unit 731 facilities. Many more people died in field experiments directed by Unit 731, but there is no well-established number.

Related Topics:
Pingfan - Harbin - China - Manchukuo

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There were other units besides Unit 731, which serves as a general term in describing the Japanese biological warfare program. Other units include Unit 543 (Hailar), Unit 773 (Songo unit), Unit 100 (Changchun), Unit 1644 (Nanjing), Unit 1855 (Beijing), Unit 8604 (Guangzhou), and Unit 9420 (Singapore). The acts of Unit 731 are one of many major war crimes committed by the Imperial Japanese Army from the occupation of Manchuria in 1931 to the end of World War II in 1945.

Related Topics:
Unit 543 - Hailar - Unit 773 - Unit 100 - Changchun - Unit 1644 - Nanjing - Unit 1855 - Beijing - Unit 8604 - Guangzhou - Unit 9420 - Singapore - War crime - Manchuria - 1931 - World War II - 1945

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After these laboratories were destroyed by the Japanese to hide their activities, many of the scientists involved went on to prominent careers in politics, academia and business. The United States granted amnesty, allowing these scientists to go unprosecuted in exchange for their experimentation data.

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