World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseNoboru Sasaki, sometimes also referred to as Minoru Sasaki, graduated from the Japanese Army Academy in 1914 as a cavalry officer. In the 1920s, he served as a military attaché to Russia and Poland. In 1939, he was attached to the Army Armaments Factory and then became the commanding officer of the 4th Cavalry Brigade. In 1940, he served as the Chief of Staff of the Japanese 6th Army in China. Between 1942 and 1943, he served with the Armored Warfare Department of the War Ministry in Tokyo, Japan. In 1943, he became the commanding officer of the Japanese Army's Southern Detachment in the Solomon Islands. Between Jun and Aug 1943, he led a stubbornly effective defensive against American advances on New Georgia, which eventually was defeated. In Oct 1944, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general. Returning to Japan, he was attached to the 8th Area Army Headquarters until the end of the war.

Photographs

Noboru Sasaki Timeline