


Yoshitsugu Saito
Surname | Saito |
Given Name | Yoshitsugu |
Born | 2 Nov 1890 |
Died | 10 Jul 1944 |
Country | Japan |
Category | Military-Ground |
Gender | Male |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseYoshitsugu Saito was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1890. He graduated from the Japanese Army Academy in 1912 and was commissioned a cavalry officer. In 1924, he graduated from the Army Staff College. In 1938, he became Chief of Staff of the Japanese 5th Division. In 1939, he was promoted to the rank of major general. In 1940, he became the chief of cavalry operations of the Kwangtung Army. In 1942, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general. In Apr 1944, he was made the commanding officer of Japanese 43rd Division on Saipan, Mariana Islands. Shortly after, he would be in charge of all Japanese Army units on Saipan, which included the 43rd Division and the 47th Independent Mixed Brigade; he would be the effective commander of naval infantry units as well, since the disgraced Chuichi Nagumo was reluctant to make major decisions. When the Americans landed on the island, Saito conducted a conservative defensive campaign, hiding in caves during the day, attacking only in the darkness of the night. On 6 Jul 1944, he sent out a determined message to his troops:
ww2dbaseSaito was wounded by shrapnel days after. At dawn on 10 Jul 1944, he committed ritual suicide in a cave, disemboweling himself with a sword followed by his adjutant shooting him in the head. When his remains were discovered by US Marines, Holland Smith honored him by giving him a military burial.
ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia
Last Major Revision: Oct 2014
Photographs
![]() | ![]() |
Yoshitsugu Saito Timeline
2 Nov 1890 | Yoshitsugu Saito was born in Tokyo, Japan. |
6 Jul 1944 | Yoshitsugu Saito announced that he would fight to the death alongside his troops on Saipan, Mariana Islands. |
10 Jul 1944 | Yoshitsugu Saito committed ritual suicide in a cave near Tanapag, Saipan, Mariana Islands. |
13 Jul 1944 | US Marines gave Japanese Lieutenant General Yoshitsugu Saito a military burial near Tanapag, Saipan, Mariana Islands. |
Você gostou deste artigo ou achou este artigo útil? Se sim, considere nos apoiar no Patreon. Qualquer valor já vai ajudar! Obrigado. Por favor, ajude-nos a divulgar o site: Fique atualizado com WW2DB: |
Visitor Submitted Comments
All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.

» Mariana Islands Campaign
- » 1,177 biografias
- » 337 eventos
- » 44,938 entradas na linha do tempo
- » 1,245 navios
- » 350 modelos de aeronaves
- » 207 modelos de veículos
- » 376 modelos de armas
- » 123 documentos históricos
- » 261 instalações
- » 470 eventos
- » 28,477 fotos
- » 365 mapas
Lt. Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, at Guadalcanal

Por favor, considere nos apoiar no Patreon. Mesmo R$1 por mês já faz uma grande diferença. Obrigado!

Ou, por favor, nos apoie adquirindo alguns produtos do WW2DB na TeeSpring. Obrigado!
4 Nov 2017 02:42:45 PM
Does anyone know if he was married and had children? Do you know there names?