Lot 1030

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Description:

RECOVERED JAPANESE MILITIARIA FROM THE BATTLE OF ATTU
On June 7, 1942, six months after Pearl Harbor, the 301st Independent Infantry Battalion of the Japanese Northern Army landed on the remote Aleutian island of Attu without opposition, one day after landing on nearby Kiska. On May 11, 1943, the operation to recapture Attu began. A shortage of landing craft, unsuitable beaches, and equipment that failed to operate in the appalling weather caused great difficulties in projecting any force against the Japanese. Many soldiers suffered from frostbite – because essential supplies could not be landed, or having been landed, could not be moved to where they were needed. On May 29, the last of the Japanese forces suddenly attacked near Massacre Bay in one of the largest banzai charges of the Pacific campaign. The charge, led by Colonel Yamasaki, penetrated U.S. lines far enough to encounter shocked rear-echelon units of the American force. After furious, brutal, close-quarter, and often hand-to-hand combat, the Japanese force was killed almost to the last man: only 28 prisoners were taken. We offer several relics obtained by a soldier present at the now nearly forgotten battle, including 29" x 17" section of canvas with three hanging straps bearing unknown Japanese characters, possibly a flag remnant, noted: "ATTU 7-28-43 CASCO BAY" (near the scene of the banzai charge), a 4" x 2" section of aluminum with Japanese characters marked: "JAP ZERO ATTU MAY 1943", a 3" x 2" bar of green army-issue Japanese soap, a Japanese whistle and chain, and a small packet of Japanese cigarettes. Also present is a 28" x 28" home-made Japanese flag with four Japanese characters, tack holes in corners, purportedly a "body" flag captured by the same soldier at Okinawa. Overall very good.

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June 4, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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