The soldier who continued to fight for Japan in WW2, 30 years after it ended, 1944 - 1974

The soldier who continued to fight for Japan in WW2, 30 years after it ended, 1944 - 1974

Hiroo Onoda (小野田 寛郎) was a Japanese soldier who continued to fight the war 30 years after Japan surrendered in 1945. It is arguably the most extreme example of fighting for honour in the entire war. Onoda was sent to Lubang island in the Philippines and was instructed to carry out sabotage and not die or kill himself under any circumstances by his commander. ⠀ He was assigned to a group of other Japanese soldiers. During this time, he and his comrades hid out in the hills of the Island and would carry out guerilla attacks against the locals. However, their isolation would lead to their famous story. After a while, only four soldiers remained in the group. Private Yuichi Akatsu, Corporal Shōichi Shimada and Private First Class Kinshichi Kozuka and Onoda himself, who was a lieutenant at this point. ⠀ The group did not realise that the war ended in 1945 and still carried out their attacks on locals, stealing food, burning rice fields and engaging in shootouts with police. Several attempts were made to make the soldiers realise the war was over, as leaflets were sent to the group telling them of Japan's surrender. However, the soldiers believed these leaflets were fake, a trap to lure them out of the cave they were living in. ⠀ During this time, the group killed at least 30 civilians. Akatsu walked away from the group in 1949 and Shimada was shot and killed in 1954 by a search party, and in 1972, Kozuka was shot and killed by local police. In 1974, Norio Suzuki (鈴木 紀夫), a Japanese explorer, went looking for Onoda and met him in the hills near the cave. Suzuki explained to Onoda that the war was over, but Onoda said he would not surrender unless directed. Onoda's retired commander, Major Yoshimi Taniguchi, would give him direct orders to do so. ⠀ Taniguchi was flown to Onoda and gave him orders to surrender, which Onoda did. He gave up his Arisaka Type 99 rifle, 500 rounds of ammunition and several hand grenades, and a dagger (to use for suicide). He was pardoned and then moved to Brazil and raised Cattle. He died in 2014 at the age of 91 Photographer: unknown Source: CNN