|
KAWASAKI
POW Camp- 2B AKA: Mitsui Camp #2 |
|
Tokyo 2-B Kawasaki AKA: Mitsui Camp #2 Location: KAWASAKI-shi, OGI-machi See area MAP Satellite View- Google- Courtesy of Wes Injerd Timeline: Oct 1942: Established and first known as TOKYO POW CAMP No. 1-B WHARF SUB-CAMP (or WHARF BILLET) (FUTO SHISHO) 13 Nov 1942 - 312 Americans arrive from Philippines- a number of Guam men were already present per Carney diary. 1 Aug 1943: Renamed TOKYO POW CAMP No. 2-B 13 Nov 1943: Carney diary notes one year anniversary- 18 have died and only 108 of original 312 men remain at this camp 14 Nov 1953: Carney notes sudden passing of Dutch soldier "Geerartus" on this day- [Geeraths, Johannes died of acute pneumonia] 9 Dec 1943: Carney notes only 236 in camp 25 July 1945: Barracks destroyed in B-29 raid. Pows moved to Nishing Flour Mill. 27 July 1945: Transfer to Nishing completed after all bodies dug out of ruins September 1945: Rescue effected This was one of four camps in Kawasaki: Kawasaki Main No.1 Bunsho, Kawasaki Dispatch No. 5 and Kawasaki Sub-camp No. 5. Tokyo Command, Kanagawa Prefecture Tokyo Area Commanding Officers: Col. Sekuba and Col. Susuki Source: NARA, RG331, Box 1321, File 17 Special Time Line- created by Al Young - external link. Very interesting summation of POW movements and Dutch roster Kawasaki Sub-Camp #2 35.38'30"N -139.39'39"E [MAP] Camp 2-B is located in the former boarding house of the Mitsui Shipping Company in the center of the industrial section of Kawasaki. Building covers approx. 900 sq. meters. One source reports two Allied POW stockades in the vicinity surrounded by a six-foot fence with no barbed wire. POWs work in iron works and docks. Source: Report to Gen. MacArthur, 14 Aug 1945, in preparation for surrender. Camp Layout |
Primary Slave Labor Use: Employer: Mitsui Corporation Stevedore and steel mill labor for the Mitsui Corporation. Called the "Mitsui Madhouse" by some prisoners Dolder Report: Report by rescue team #56 on the Kwasaki #2B POW Camp by team leader, 2 Lt Robert H. Dolder Camp Photographs & Sketches More- external link and lots of group photograps- slow loading Aerial Picture of Camp: Illustrates the destruction in B-29 raid of 25 July 1945. Important sites are noted. Picture and description courtesy of Ed Jackfert, ADBC. Camp Rosters USMC known to have been at this camp Full American Roster with a few Dutch & British -compiled from various sources- includes men who died at Tokyo #2B. Combined Roster of known deceased for POW Camps #1 & #2 Story of Ensign Carney's death during 25 Jul 45 air raid. Source- note from Frank Carney's nephew. Guam man, WO Snater also killed in this raid. Carney Diary- covers partial period Nov 1943 to Aug 1944. Courtesy of nephew and namesake. Books about Kawasaki 2B Mitsui Madhouse Memoir of a U.S. Air Corps POW in World War II by Herbert Zincke- 2005 McFarland Publishing - Not reviewed- However, thought to be very accurate. Roster has numerous errors and we will post corrected roster later. Service to My Country by Edward Jackfert. Well illustrated and excellent details. Definitely worth the money. Japanese Camp Staff: List of Japanese staff at date of surrender. Camp officials originally acknowledged by Japanese were: C.O.- Lt. J Hayashi C.O.- Lt. B. Kanatsuna This is probably the same as "Lt. Ryugo Kanetsuna," convicted and sentenced to nine years' hard labor in the case of the deaths of the 23 POWs on 25 July 1945, C.O.- Lt Tasurnia C.O.- Lt. S. Washimi Med Cpl- (Pvt) Wata Pvt M. Shiezawa |