Manchukuo Civilian Police?

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Hama
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Manchukuo Civilian Police?

#1

Post by Hama » 26 Sep 2016, 20:21

Previously I asked about the Maritime Police, but I'm also interested to learn about the regular civilian police force on land that was set up in Manchukuo. I have a few questions I'd be grateful if someone could help me with:

1) How soon after the creation of Manchukuo was the police force established? Did it undergo any big restructurings during the Manchukuo era?

2) Were the chiefs, commissioners, and other higher officers usually local (Chinese, Manchu, etc.) nationality, or Japanese?

3) Were the regular patrolmen mostly Chinese? I saw a photo here (http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-japane ... 39617.html) which says that Japanese instructors were training peasants basic skills like reading to try and bolster the ranks. If the policemen were Chinese and the instructors Japanese, what was the common language of the police (Chinese, Japanese, mixed language)?

4) Does anyone know some good photos or descriptions of what the police uniforms were like? I've only found two photos, both in black and white and not the full uniform: (http://www.ww2incolor.com/d/517701-2/Po ... _Manchukuo) (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... chukuo.JPG).

5) Are there any books that discuss the Manchukuo Police that someone could recommend? The only one I know about is a Japanese book "満洲国警察小史3", but I don't own it and I'm not sure where I can buy it.

6) What sort of armament and vehicles did they use? Was it mostly Japanese-issue equipment, or leftovers from Chinese forces?

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Akira Takizawa
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Re: Manchukuo Civilian Police?

#2

Post by Akira Takizawa » 27 Sep 2016, 03:11

1) How soon after the creation of Manchukuo was the police force established?

1932

> Did it undergo any big restructurings during the Manchukuo era?

In 1937, the police was moved from 民政部(Civil Administration Departement) to 治安部(Security Department). It means that the duty of security was more important in the police.

2) Were the chiefs, commissioners, and other higher officers usually local (Chinese, Manchu, etc.) nationality, or Japanese?

They were Chinese.

3) Were the regular patrolmen mostly Chinese?

Yes

I saw a photo here (http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-japane ... 39617.html) which says that Japanese instructors were training peasants basic skills like reading to try and bolster the ranks. If the policemen were Chinese and the instructors Japanese, what was the common language of the police (Chinese, Japanese, mixed language)?

Chinese

4) Does anyone know some good photos or descriptions of what the police uniforms were like?

I don't know.

5) Are there any books that discuss the Manchukuo Police that someone could recommend?

"満州国警察外史". It can be bought at Amazon JP.
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4380962350

"満洲国警察概要". It can be read at the following site.
http://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1454109

> The only one I know about is a Japanese book "満洲国警察小史3", but I don't own it and I'm not sure where I can buy it.

The following bookshop has a copy.
http://www.keibundo-books.co.jp/

6) What sort of armament and vehicles did they use? Was it mostly Japanese-issue equipment, or leftovers from Chinese forces?

I don't know.

Taki


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Hama
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Re: Manchukuo Civilian Police?

#3

Post by Hama » 27 Sep 2016, 15:07

Thanks Takizawa. Great information as usual.

Is there a list somewhere of the rank structure of Manchukuo police? If it's in one of the books you linked that's fine (I haven't read all through them yet). Otherwise, it'd be interesting if there was somewhere that had this information.

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Akira Takizawa
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Re: Manchukuo Civilian Police?

#4

Post by Akira Takizawa » 27 Sep 2016, 15:15

Hama wrote:Is there a list somewhere of the rank structure of Manchukuo police?
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%BA%80 ... E.E7.B4.9A

English equivalent ranks are stated in the pages linked to Japanese equivalent ranks.

Taki

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Re: Manchukuo Civilian Police?

#5

Post by Hama » 27 Sep 2016, 16:26

Ah thanks! I didn't even think to look at Wikipedia for the ranks.

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Re: Manchukuo Civilian Police?

#6

Post by Hama » 21 Feb 2017, 23:33

I found this photo on a Chinese website. The caption claims its of Manchukuo Policemen, but doesn't give any details. If anyone has seen this photo before and knows anything about it feel free to share: Image

Original website here: http://tupian.baike.com/doc/%E6%BB%A1%E ... 118741.jpg

Edit: Also for English speakers, I had a quick preview look at the book 'Life and Death in the Garden: Sex, Drugs, Cops, and Robbers in Wartime China' and it seems to contain some information on the Manchukuo police. I haven't read it yet myself so if anyone has I'd be curious to hear your opinion.

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