Hisaichi Terauchi

Hisaichi Terauchi, the son of Misatake Terauchi, the prime minister of Japan, was born in 1879. He attending the Japanese Military Academy and after graduating in 1900 he joined the Japanese Army.

Terauchi spent time in Germany and worked as a lecturer at the Military Academy before taking command of the 5th Division and the chief of staff of the Korea Army. Later he become head of the Formosa Army.

In October 1935 he was promoted to full general. Two years later he was the army's choice as war minister. He returned to the Japanese Army when he was given command of the forces in North China.

Terauchi took control of the Southern Army on 6th November 1941 and soon afterwards began devising war plans with Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto.

After leading the conquest of the Southern Area he established his headquarters in Singapore. Promoted to field marshal, he moved to the Philippines in May 1944. When this area came under threat he retreated to Saigon. After receiving bad news about Burma he suffered a stroke on 10th April 1945.

Terachi surrendered to Lord Mountbatten on 12th September 1945. Kept prisoner in Malaya he died in November 1945.