Sakuma Yoshiro

Major General Sakuma Yoshiro was born on 7 August 1908 in Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan to Sakuma Shinji. 
He was born to a Samurai family. He joined the Imperial Japanese Army in 1932. He gratuated from the Academy in in 1936. He then was sent to Changchun, Jilin, China and then to Tianjin. He took part in the Battle of Beijing under Kiyoshi Katsuki and was promoted to Corporal. 
He then fought in the Battle of Shanghai under Yanagawa Heisuke. His superiors often were amazed by his strength and will to fight. He was then promoted to Sergeant Major. 
He then fought in the Battle of Nanjing, Jiangsu. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant. He remained in Nanjing until February 1938. He was then moved to the Battle of Xuzhou, Jiangsu under Hata Shunroku.
In July he joined the Eleventh Army under Yasuji Okamura. After the Battle of Wuhan, Hubei, he was promoted to Captain. In January 1939, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and he became one of Okamura's most trusted subordinates. 
In February 1940, he was promoted to Colonel. 
In July 1945, Kasahara Yukio ordered him to remain in Wuhan and not to surrender bedore he returned to Japan. He promoted him to Major General. In September 1945, Chinese forces closed in on Wuhan. Sakuma and his men made a last stand before he commited Seppuku.