Waichiro Sonobe
Encyclopedia
was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army
during the Second Sino-Japanese War
.
, Sonobe graduated from the 16th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1904. After serving with the IJA 23rd Infantry Regiment, he completed coursework at the 25th class of the Army Staff College
. He was assigned to the IJA 23rd Infantry Regiment on graduation. From 1916-1917, he was sent as a military attaché
to France. On his return to Japan, he was assigned to the IJA 30th Infantry Regiment, and participated in the Siberian Intervention
of 1919-1920. On his return to Japan, he served in various staff positions within the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff.
From 1925 to 1927, Sonobe was the Army representative to the Japanese diplomatic Mission to the League of Nations
. After his return to Japan, he was assigned to command the IJA 74th Infantry Regiment within the IJA 19th Division until 1929.
From 1929-1933, Sonobe served as Chief of 1st Section, Inspectorate General of Military Training
. In 1933 he was again give a field command as commander of the IJA 8th Infantry Brigade of the IJA 10th Division, and was transferred in 1934 to become commander of the IJA 1st Infantry Brigade of the IJA 1st Division.
From 1934 to 1935 Sonobe was Director of the Toyama Army Infantry School and then its commandant until 1937. Concurrently from 1936 he commanded the 1st Independent Garrison Unit.
In 1937, with the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War
, he left to command the IJA 7th Division until 1939, when he was placed in charge of the Central District Army. From 1940, Sonobe was dispatched to China
, where he commanded the Japanese Eleventh Army. The IJA 11th Army was active at the Battle of Zaoyang-Yichang
, Central Hupei Operation
and Battle of South Henan
.
Sonobe returned to Japan in 1941, and became a member of the Supreme War Council
. He retired the same year.
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
during the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
.
Biography
A native of Kumamoto prefectureKumamoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system...
, Sonobe graduated from the 16th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1904. After serving with the IJA 23rd Infantry Regiment, he completed coursework at the 25th class of the Army Staff College
Army War College (Japan)
The ; Short form: of the Empire of Japan was founded in 1882 in Minato, Tokyo to modernize and Westernize the Imperial Japanese Army. Much of the empire's elite including prime ministers during the period of Japanese militarism were graduates of the college....
. He was assigned to the IJA 23rd Infantry Regiment on graduation. From 1916-1917, he was sent as a military attaché
Military attaché
A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission . This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy...
to France. On his return to Japan, he was assigned to the IJA 30th Infantry Regiment, and participated in the Siberian Intervention
Siberian Intervention
The ', or the Siberian Expedition, of 1918–1922 was the dispatch of troops of the Entente powers to the Russian Maritime Provinces as part of a larger effort by the western powers and Japan to support White Russian forces against the Bolshevik Red Army during the Russian Civil War...
of 1919-1920. On his return to Japan, he served in various staff positions within the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff.
From 1925 to 1927, Sonobe was the Army representative to the Japanese diplomatic Mission to the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
. After his return to Japan, he was assigned to command the IJA 74th Infantry Regiment within the IJA 19th Division until 1929.
From 1929-1933, Sonobe served as Chief of 1st Section, Inspectorate General of Military Training
Inspectorate General of Military Training
The was responsible for all non-military aviation training of the Imperial Japanese Army. It was headed by an Inspector general who was responsible for overseeing technical and tactical training, and who reported directly to the Emperor of Japan via the Imperial General Headquarters rather than to...
. In 1933 he was again give a field command as commander of the IJA 8th Infantry Brigade of the IJA 10th Division, and was transferred in 1934 to become commander of the IJA 1st Infantry Brigade of the IJA 1st Division.
From 1934 to 1935 Sonobe was Director of the Toyama Army Infantry School and then its commandant until 1937. Concurrently from 1936 he commanded the 1st Independent Garrison Unit.
In 1937, with the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, he left to command the IJA 7th Division until 1939, when he was placed in charge of the Central District Army. From 1940, Sonobe was dispatched to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, where he commanded the Japanese Eleventh Army. The IJA 11th Army was active at the Battle of Zaoyang-Yichang
Battle of Zaoyang-Yichang
The Battle of Zaoyang–Yichang , also known as the Battle of Zaoyi was one of the 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War....
, Central Hupei Operation
Central Hupei Operation
The Central Hubei Operation was one of the engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Known as the Central Hubei Operation, East and West of Hsiang River, in Japan it is called the 漢水作戦...
and Battle of South Henan
Battle of South Henan
The Battle of South Henan , was one of the 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War.This battle was the first time the NRA engaged the Japanese in southern Henan....
.
Sonobe returned to Japan in 1941, and became a member of the Supreme War Council
Supreme War Council (Japan)
The Supreme War Council was established during the development of representative government in Meiji period Japan to further strengthen the authority of the state. Its first leader was Yamagata Aritomo , a Chōshū native who has been credited with the founding of the modern Japanese army and was to...
. He retired the same year.