Kenpeitai, known as Kempeitai, was the military police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army from 1881 to 1945 that served as a secret police force.
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14 Facts About Kenpeitai
2.
Kenpeitai was established in 1881 by a decree called the Kenpei Ordinance, figuratively "articles concerning gendarmes".
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3.
In 1907, the Kenpeitai was ordered to Korea, where its main duty was legally defined as "preserving the peace", although it functioned as a military police for the Japanese Army stationed there.
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4.
Kenpeitai maintained public order within Japan under the direction of the Interior Minister, and in the occupied territories under the direction of the Minister of War.
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5.
However, the Kenpeitai had a Tokko branch of its own, and through it discharged the functions of a secret police.
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6.
Kenpeitai's brutality was particularly notorious in Korea and the other occupied territories.
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7.
Kenpeitai was disarmed and disbanded after the Japanese surrender in August 1945.
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8.
Kenpeitai ran extensive criminal and collaborationist networks, extorting vast amounts of money from businesses and civilians wherever they operated.
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9.
The Kenpeitai supplied 600 men, women and children per year to the infamous Unit 731, which conducted human experimentation.
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10.
Kenpeitai was divided into three branches: the Keimu Han, Naikin Han, and Tokumu Han.
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11.
Kenpeitai maintained a headquarters in each relevant Area Army, commanded by a Shosho, with a Taisa as Executive Officer.
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12.
Kenpeitai operated commands on the Japanese mainland and throughout all occupied and captured overseas territories during the Pacific War.
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13.
Kenpeitai personnel wore either the standard M1938 field uniform or the cavalry uniform with high black leather boots.
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14.
Kenpeitai officers were armed with a cavalry sabre and pistol, while enlisted men had a pistol and bayonet.
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