Tomoyuki Yamashita
From Turtledove
| Tomoyuki Yamashita | |
| |
| Historical Figure | |
| Timeline: | OTL |
| Nationality: | Japan |
| Date of Birth: | 1885 |
| Date of Death: | 1946 |
| Cause of Death: | Execution by Hanging |
| Occupation: | Soldier |
| Affiliations: | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Timeline: | Days of Infamy series |
| Appearance(s): | Days of Infamy
through |
| Date of Birth: | 1885 |
| Date of Death: | 1943 |
| Cause of Death: | Killed in action |
Tomoyuki Yamashita (1885-1946) was a general of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. He was most famous for conquering the British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, earning the nickname "The Tiger of Malaya". As a consequence of the actions of his subordinates while Japan occupied the Philippines, Yamashita was tried and convicted for war crimes after the war. He was executed in 1946.
Tomoyuki Yamashita in Days of Infamy series
Tomoyuki Yamashita put that experience to excellent use in the conquest of the United States territory of Hawaii in December, 1941 through February, 1942, accepting the formal surrender of American military leaders in Iolani Palace in February, 1942. Yamashita could barely hide his contempt for Admiral Husband Kimmel and General Walter Short.
Although Stanley Owana Laanui was made the monarch of the reconsituted, Yamashita represented the true executive authority in Hawaii (symbolized by the fact that he an office in the Iolani Palace). Consequently, Yamashita, an Army general, was often at odds with the Imperial Japanese Navy, who carried the larger burden of defending Hawaii. When American planes led by Jimmy Doolittle bombed Hawaii in March, 1942, both branches of the military were embarassed, but the Army felt that the Navy shouldered most of the burden. Yamashita frequently placed pressure on Naval officers, Commander Minoru Genda in particular, when it was learned the American submarines were regularly patroling the island, and sinking Japanese cargo ships loaded with rice and oil.
Yamashita's forces were defeated by the large invasion forces the United States brought to Hawaii in 1943. Yamashita moved his headquarters to Pearl City, and resigned himself to defeat. True to custom, Yamashita died fighting.
