Official Japanese History of World War 2

[konev]

Gentlemen,

I would like to know if anyone has heard anything about the status of the Japanese official history of World War 2 "Senshi Sosho"?

I have the list of volumes (all 102), but as far as I know, its a lost cause unless someone comes up with a large monetary amount to pay for translations.

Has anyone heard anything different?

regards,

konev

[asiaticus]

I think that someone in Australia translated one volume having to do with the War in New Guinea.
See this thread
http://www.f16.parsimony.net/forum27947 ... s/8094.htm

Can you list all 102 volumes?

Maybe its time to learn Japanese. Then we can translate them for ourselves. :^)

[konev]

Asiaticus,

Here is the file I receieved from someone about them.



konev

[konev]

Let me try it again

Identified Volumes of Senshi Sōsho
[Note: these are 98% correct with two volumes in question: vols. 18 and 50].

Vol. # Title & Date Published

1 Advance into Malaya. (1966)
2 Occupation of Philippines. (1966)
3 Occupation of Dutch East Indies. (1967)
4 Ichi-go Operation (pt. 1): Campaign in Honan (China). (1968)
5 Occupation of.Burma. (1967)
6 Army Operations in Central Pacific (pt. 1): Before the Loss of the Mariana Islands. (1967)
7 Tobu Nyuginia homen rikugun koku sakusen: Army Air Operations on the Eastern New Guinea Front. (1967)
8 Conduct of Army Operations by Imperial HQ (pt. 1): To August 1942. (1967)
9 Industrial Mobilization of War Supply Production (1): Program. (1967)
10 Hawai sakusen: Hawaii Operation. (1967)
11 Army Operations in Okinawa Area. (1968)
12 Marianas oki kaisen: Sea Battles off the Marianas. (1968)
13 Army Operations in Central Pacific (pt. 2): Peleliu, Anguar and Iwo-Jima. (1967)
14 Minami Taiheiyo rikugun sakusen: Pooruto Moresubi - Ga shima shoki sakusen (pt. 1): Army Operations in the South Pacific: Port Moresby to the First Phase of Guadalcanal (pt. 1). (1968)
15 Imphal Operation: Defense of Burma. (1968)
16 Ichi-go Operation (pt. 2): Campaign in Hunan (China). (1967)
17 Okinawa homen kaigun sakusen: Okinawa Area Naval Operations. (1968).
18 Ichi-go Operation (pt. 3): Campaign in Kwangsi (China). (1969)
(Note: vol. number in question; Princeton Library has this as: Hokushi no chiansen, the same title as Vol. 50).
19 Hondo boku sakusen: Homeland Air Defense Operations. (1969)
20 Conduct of Army Operations by Imperial HQ (pt. 2): To August 1942. (1969)
21 Army Operations in Northern Pacific Area (pt. 1): Loss of Attu. (1968)
22 Seibu Nyugineya homan rikugun koku sakusen: Army Air Force Operations on the Western New Guinea Front. (1969)
23 Army Operations North of Australia. (1969)
24 Philippines-Marei hoomen kaigun shinkoo sakusen: Philippines-Malay Area Naval Attack Operations. (1969)
25 The Irrawaddy Campaign: Collapse of the Defense of Burma. (1969)
26 N.E.I.-Bengaru wan hoomen kaigun shinkoo sakusen: N.E.I.-Bengal Bay Area Naval Attack Operations. (1969)
27 Kwantung Army (pt. 1): Military Disposition Against USSR and Nomonhan Incident. (1969)
28 Minami taiheiyoo rikugun sakusen: Gadarukanaru - Buna sakusen (pt. 2): Army Operations in the South Pacific: Guadalcanal - Buna Operations (pt. 2). (1968)
29 Hokutoo hoomen kaigun sakusen: Northeast Area Naval Operations. (1969)
30 Kaigun Sho-Go sakusen: Fuirippin oki kaisen (pt. 2): Naval Sho-Go Operation: Battles off the Philippines (pt. 2). (1970)
31 Kaigun Gunsembi (pt. 1): The Navy’s Armaments Program (pt. 1): Up to November 1941. (1969)
32 Defeat on Burma Front and Defense of Indo-China Peninsula. (1969)
33 Industrial Mobilization of War Supply Production (pt. 2): Execution. (1970)
34 The Army Air Force’s Drive to South Pacific Area. (1970)
35 Conduct of Army Operations by Imperial HQ (pt. 3): To August 1942. (1970)
36 Army Air Operations in Okinawa, Formosa and Iwo-Jima. (1970)
37 Kaigun Sho-Go sakusen (pt. 1): Taiwan oki kokusen made: Naval Sho-Go Operations (pt. 1): Up to Air Battle off Taiwan. (1970)
38 Chuubu taiheiyoo hoomen kaigun sakusen (pt. 1): Central Pacific Naval Operations (pt. 1): Before May 1942. (1970)
39 Daihonei kaigunbu - rengoo kantai (pt. 4): Imperial General Headquarters - Combined Fleet (pt. 4). (1970).
40 Minami Taiheiyo rikugun sakusen: Munda Saramoa (pt. 3): Army Operations in the South Pacific: Munda Salamaua (pt. 3). (1970)
41 Shogo rikugun sakusen: Reite kessen (pt. 1): Sho-go Ground Operations: The Decisive Battle of Leyte (1). (1971)
42 Operations by China Expeditionary HQ in 1945 (1): To March 1945. (1971)
43 Midooei kaisen: Midway Sea Battle. (1971)
44 Operations in the Northern Pacific (2): Kuriles, Sakhalin and Hokkaido. (1971)
45 Conduct of Navy Operations by Imperial HQ and Combined Fleet HQ (1): Before Outbreak of Pacific War. (1971)
46 Kaijo boei sen: Surface Defensive Actions. (1971)
Also translated as The Maritime Protection War, and Naval Operations for Convoy Escort.
47 Assault on Hong Kong and Chang Sha (1941). (1971)
48 Sho-go Army Air Operations in Philippines. (1971)
49 Nantoo hoomen kaigun sakusen: Southeast Area Naval Actions Until Guadalcanal Reinforcement. (1971)
50 Hokushi no chiansen: (??? English translation not known – see Vol. 18).
51 Plan and Preparation for Defense of Japan’s Homeland (1): Defense of Kanto District. (1971)
52 Armament and Employment of Army Air Force (1): To the Initial Phase of 1934. (1971)
53 Army Air Operations in Manchuria. (1972)
54 Nansei homen kaigun sakusen: Dai Ni-Dan sakusen irai: Southwestern Area Naval Operations: From Second Phase Operations Onwards. (1972)
55 Operations by China Expeditionary HQ in 1942 and 1943. (1972)
56 Kaigun Sho-go sakusen Fuirippin oki kaisen (1): SHO-Go Naval Operations: The Naval Battle of the Philippine Sea (1). (1970)
57 Hondo kessen jumbi: Kyushu no boei (2): Preparations for the Decisive Battle of the Homeland: Defense of Kyushu (2). (1972)
58 Minami Taiheiyo rikugun sakusen: Fuinshehaahen-Tsurubu-Tarokina (4): Army Operations in South Pacific: Finschhafen-Tsurubu-Tarokina (4). (1973)
59 Conduct of Army Operations by Imperial HQ (4): To August 1942. (1972)
60 Sho-go rikugun sakusen: Ruson kessen (2): Sho-Go ground operations: The Decisive Battle of Luzon (2). (1972)
61 Offensive of Third Army Air Force in Burma and Dutch East Indies. (1972)
62 Chuubu taiheiyoo hoomen kaigun sakusen (2): Central Pacific Area Naval Operations (2) (after June 1942). 1973)
63 Conduct of Army Operations by Imperial HQ (5): August to December 1942. (1973)
64 Operations by China Expeditionary HQ in 1945 (2): March 1945 to the End of the War. (1973)
65 Army Branch of IGHQ: Circumstances Surrounding the Outbreak of Greater East Asian War (1). (1973)
66 Daihonei rikugunbu (6): Conduct of Army Operations by Imperial Headquarters (6): Before June 1943. (1973)
67 Daihonei rikugunbu (7): Conduct of Army Operations by Imperial Headquarters (7): From December 1943 to July 1944. (1973)
68 Army Branch of IGHQ: Circumstances Surrounding the Outbreak of Greater East Asian War (2). (1973)
69 Army Branch of IGHQ: Circumstances Surrounding the Outbreak of Greater East Asian War (3). (1973)
70 Army Branch of IGHQ: Circumstances Surrounding the Outbreak of Greater East Asian War (4). (1974)
71 Conduct of Navy Operations by Imperial HQ and Combined Fleet HQ (5): Middle Part of Third Phase Operation. (1974)
72 Naval Operations in China Area (1): Before April 1938. (1974)
73 Kwantung Army (2): Prewar Preparation Against USSR and Defense at End of War. (1974)
74 Offensive Operations of Army Air Force in China. (1974)
75 Daihon’ei rikugunbu: Showa 19 nen 7 gatsu made (8): Imperial General HQ: to July 1944 (8). (1974)
76 Army Branch of IGHQ: Circumstances Surrounding the Outbreak of Greater East Asian War (5). (1974)
77 Conduct of Navy Operations by Imperial HQ and Combined Fleet HQ (3): Before February 1943. (1974)
78 Armament and Employment of Army Air Force (2): 1934 to Beginning of 1942. (1974)
79 Naval Operations in China Area (2): After 1938. (1975)
80 Conduct of Navy Operations by Imperial HQ and Combined Fleet HQ (2): Before June 1942, (1975)
81 Conduct of Army Operations by Imperial HQ (9): Before January 1945. (1975)
82 Conduct of Army Operations by Imperial Headquarters (10): Before August 1945. (1975)
83 Nantoo hoomen kaigun sakusen: Southeast Area Naval Operations Until Guadalcanal Evacuation. (1975)
84 Minami Taiheiyo rikugun sakusen: Aitape-Puriaka-Rabaaru (5): Army Operations in the South Pacific: Aitape-Empress Augusta Bay-Rabaul (5). (1973)
85 Hondo homen kaigun sakusen: Homeland Area Naval Operations. (1975)
86 Army Operations in the China Incident (1): Before January 1938. (1975)
87 Development, Production, and Supply of Army Aviation Weapons. (1975)
88 War Preparations of Imperial Navy (2): After Outbreak of Pacific War. (1975)
89 Army Operations in the China Incident (2): Before September 1939. (1976)
90 Army Operations in the China Incident (3): Before December 1941. (1975)
(Note: volume number in question).
91 Conduct of Navy Operations by Imperial HQ and Combined Fleet HQ (6): Final Part of Third Phase Operation. (1975)
92 Army Operations in Southern Theater: Defense of Malaya and Dutch East Indies. (1976)
93 Conduct of Navy Operations by Imperial HQ and Combined Fleet HQ (7): Ending the Pacific War. (1976)
94 Armament and Employment of Army Air Force (3): 1942 Until the End of the War. (1974)
95 History of the Naval Aviation Corps. (1976)
96 Nanto homen kaigun sakusen (3): Gato Tesshu-Go: Southeastern Area Naval Operations (3): After Withdrawal from Guadalcanal. (1976)
97 Construction and Use of Bases for the Army Air Force’s Operations. (1979)
98 Sensuikan shi: History of Submarines. (1979)
99 The Army’s Armaments and War Preparations. (1979)
100 Daihonei Kaigumbu: Daitoa Senso Kaisen Keii (1): Imperial General HQ, Naval Section: Circumstances of the Outbreak of the Greater East Asian War (1). (1979)
101 Daihonei Kaigumbu: Daitoa Senso Kaisen Keii (2): Imperial General HQ, Naval Section: Circumstances of the Outbreak of the Greater East Asian War (2). (1979)
102 A Chronological Table of the Army and Navy. (1979)


Notes re Selected Senshi Sōsho Titles:

Volumes. 78 and 94: these are co-authored by Masao MATSUDA and Makoto IKUTA - the two volumes give a comprehensive overview of the organizational development of the JAAF, its administrative system, its structure and its relationship to government agencies and schools in both peacetime and wartime. JAAF doctrine, tactics and planning are examined and then related to wartime operations.

Volume 97: co-authored by Takeshi KISHI and Shichiro TAKASE - covers the construction of airfields, logistics, maintenance, air transport, intelligence, and communications activities of the JAAF during the Great East Asia War.

Volume 95: authored by Hiroshi TSUNODA, Gentaro MORIYAMA and Hideo MINEMATSU - covers the aircraft, armament, technology, training and operations of the JNAF with special emphasis on its role at the beginning of the Pacific War and the causes behind its subsequent rapid decline.

konev

[Akira Takizawa]

18 Hokushi no chiansen (pt.1): The security fights in North China
30 Ichi-go Operation (pt. 3): Campaign in Kwangsi (China)
50 Hokushi no chiansen (pt.2): The security fights in North China

Taki

[Sewer King]

... And if only he could see what is in Japan Defense Agency archives, SIGINT or not, although I get the impression that is hard for most anyone to do.

Yes, BKS (Japan Defense Agency Historical Branch) is not easy to work with unless a native Japanese known to them can break the ice for you. Communications with BKS should be by letter, in Japanese, and Japanese cultural customs should be observed. Replies normally take 6 to 10 months. The Japanese succeeded in destroying an estimated 95% of their military records so there is not a great deal there. Their wonderfully detailed, 102-volume war history series (Senshi Sosho), a complete run of which can be found in the Library of Congress, includes just about everything known and most researchers find that it isn't necessary to deal directly with BKS (much to their relief!). This is why our wartime COMINT intercepts are so valuable - they often provide additional details not available to the Japanese at BKS.

--Larry

Another of our members passed the above on to me several months ago.

I am mildly surprised that the possibility of an answer to a formal inquiry would be as fast as 6-10 months.

Presumably the US Library of Congress' copy of Senshi Sosho is untranslated from its original Japanese. But with the wide level of interest and high historical importance, I would have thought there would be enough demand and drive to translate it. If it was to be translated, would that be best done in Japan?

If most wartime records were destroyed as mentioned above, what primary sources does this grand history draw upon? Over what period of time was it written?

[konev]

Gentlemen,

Sorry about this

Here is a word about my posting (I cannot seem to edit my posting. Does anyone know how after its already posted?):


"NOTE: this list was provided to me a week ago by "Larry D.", a former member of Axis History Forum."

Regards,

konev

[Akira Takizawa]

> If most wartime records were destroyed as mentioned above, what primary sources does this grand history draw upon? Over what period of time was it written?

It is true that many documents were destroyed at the end of the war, but huge documents still remain at BKS library. See below page about the details of thier library.

http://www.nids.go.jp/english/military_ ... index.html

Senshi Sosho was written according to these documents as well as interviews with survivors concerned.

Taki

[asiaticus]

Wow. Thanks for the post of the list, Konev and for the corrections and the BKS link. Taki.

Id like to get hold of the volumes on the war in China myself.

[Peter H]

Each volume has around 300 pages?

[Akira Takizawa]

Each volume has around 300 pages?

More. Each volume has 600 pages on the average. So, the total pages of Senshi Sosho will be 60,000 pages.

It costs a huge money to translate them. Only country can do it.


Taki

[Van]

It would have been also great to have the work even in Japanese. I think i heard of Congress' Library taking part in scanning books program. Probably there is a chance to see this work online sometime? The Library cataloigue entry (here) does not seem to provide any information about electronic form.

P.S. Tried to look for "Senshi Sosho" it in the google books, but there seem to be only mentions of it in other books (here).

[Eugen Pinak]

Here is the only translated part of Senshi Sosho "Army operations in the South Pacific area: Papua campaigns, 1942–1943" - http://ajrp.awm.gov.au/ajrp/ajrp2.nsf/t ... endocument
It seems that this is an excerpt from volumes 14 and 28.

[Edward Chen]

Hi all, and just wondering,

Where in Japan (university libraries or other exclusive civilian collections) can the Senshi Sosho series be found?
Surely there could not be just one set available, and only at the National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS).

As an aside, my local library (which services a community with a large Asian population) has a copy of the 6-volume "Taiheiyo Senso Shi" (Pacific War history, or 太平洋戰爭史), published between 1971-73. (The library carries the first 5 volumes), which are as follows:

1. Manchuria Incident
2. Sino-Japanese War I (1932-37)
3. Sino-Japanese War II (1937-40)
4. Pacific War I (1940-42)
5. Pacific War II (1942-45)
6. San Francisco Peace Treaty (1945-52) [not available]

I have not yet started digging into this series, so I am wondering whether its content is of significance.

Thanks in advance.

[islandee]

I am in a situation where I believe that I can get Hawai sakusen translated. My problem is getting a copy of it. Any ideas?