Norihide Abe

Norihide Abe (阿部規秀, Abe Norihide, September 8, 1887 – November 7, 1939) was a career officer and Lieutenant General in the Imperial Japanese Army who was the most senior Japanese officer killed in combat during the Second Sino-Japanese War. [1] [2][3][4]

Norihide Abe
Native name
阿部規秀
Born(1887-09-08)September 8, 1887
Aomori, Japan
DiedSeptember 15, 1939(1939-09-15) (aged 52)
Hebei, China
Buried
Tama Cemetery, Tokyo
Allegiance Empire of Japan
Service/branch Imperial Japanese Army
Years of service1907 - 1939
Rank Lieutenant General
Commands held2nd Independent Mixed Brigade,

1st Brigade

32nd Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsSecond Sino-Japanese War
Awards Order of the Golden Kite 3rd Class
Order of the Rising Sun1st Class

Biography

Abe was born in Nanawa Village, Kitatsugaru District, Aomori (present day city of Goshogawara, Aomori). He graduated from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy on May 31, 1907 and served in the IJA 32nd Infantry Regiment, the IJA 8th Division and on the staff of the IJA 18th Division. From April 11, 1932 to August 1, 1935 he was commandant of the Sendai Army Training School. He commanded the IA 32nd Infantry Regiment from August 1, 1935 to August 2, 1937 and was commander of the IJA 1st Infantry Brigade from August 2, 1937 to June 1, 1938. On June 1, 1938 he became commander of the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade which was attached to the Mongolia Garrison Army.

On October 26, 1939 he led 1500 men of the 2nd and 4th Regiments of the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade out of its garrison at Kalgan south for an operation against the Chinese 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army under General He Long in Hebei Province. However, operations were quickly bogged down by the guerrilla warfare tactics employed by the Chinese, who made good use of the rugged terrain of the Taihang Mountains and were able to encircle the Japanese forces. In the afternoon of November 7, his camp headquarters was attacked by a mortar fired by Chinese guerrillas and Abe was severely wounded in the legs and abdomen. Refusing to order a withdrawal, he died later that night of his injuries. Following Abe's death, Japanese reinforcement rescued the remainder of his command and forced the Eighth Route Army to retreat. Mao Tse-tung issued a telegram praising the 18-year old soldier, Le Erxi , who fired the mortar, and proclaimed him to be a hero of the ant-Japanese resistance. The mortar itself is listed as a national first-class cultural property and is displayed at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution in Beijing. [5]

Abe was posthumously awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. His grave is at the Tama Cemetery in Tokyo.

Military career
FromToAppointment
-31.05.1907Military Academy
11.04.193201.08.1935Commandant of Cadets Sendai Army Training School
01.08.193502.08.193732nd Infantry Regiment Commander
02.08.193701.06.19391st Brigade Commander
01.06.193903.11.19392nd Independent Mixed Brigade Commander
03.11.1939-KIA

Promotions
Date of AwardMilitary Rank
26.12.19072nd Lieutenant
01.08.1933Colonel
02.08.1937Major General
02.10.1939Lieutenant General

References
  1. 『陸軍現役将校同相当官実役停年名簿』（昭和10年9月1日調）60コマ
  2. "阿部規秀 - 軍人データベース". Archived from the original on 2009-03-25. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  3. "留守第１４師団参謀長　旅団長戦死の件". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  4. "陸軍中将阿部規秀戦死に関する報告". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  5. 「抗日英雄」の李二喜氏が死去＝日中戦争時、砲撃で日本軍中将を戦死さす―中国 exciteニュース 2010年3月29日13時34分
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