44-45. Disarmament

4445

We received the Potsdam Declaration at Hengdaohezi, and the Kwantung Army ordered a cease-fire. On August 16th, our unit had no choice but to face the sad reality of disarmament. One after another, we had to disarm ourselves following the order of our commissioned officer. One by one, we had to give up the equipment and weapons that we had held very close to ourselves, and throw them into one pile. To see the sacred weapons given to us by our Emperor dumped like nothing was such a miserable scene.

Aug.16, 1945