Anami Korchika (1887–1945) ANAMI KORCHIKA (1887–1945) Japanese general He was instrumental in framing the policy of military aggression pursued by Japan against China, and a forceful advocate of war with the Western powers He backed General Hideki Toˉjˉ o in the final decision to attack the United States and Great Britain Korchika held active commands in China and Manchuria He took charge of all Japanese forces in New Guinea in November 1943 He returned to Japan to take charge of the Japanese Army Air Force He was minister of war from April 1945 He was intimately involved in high level debate over whether Japan should seek terms, arguing for “honor before surrender.” After failure of an attempted coup by junior officers intent on preventing surrender even after the twin atomic bombings, and after public announcement of the emperor’s call for submission was made, Anami committed ritual suicide (seppuku) ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS British forces withdrew from this Indian Ocean chain once the loss of Burma made them vulnerable Japan occupied the islands in March 1942 Nominal control of the chain was granted to Subhas Chandra Bose in late 1943, though the islands remained under Japanese control rather than that of the Indian National Army Once the Japanese outer defense perimeter was breached and the IJN shredded, the garrison scattered across this chain was totally isolated The Western Allies decided to bomb intermittently but did not invade The Japanese garrison surrendered along with all other Japanese forces in August—September, 1945 ANDERS, WLADYSLAW (1892–1970) Polish general A cavalry officer by training, he was wounded during the Soviet invasion of Poland in September 1939 He was imprisoned in Moscow, but escaped the fate of many thousands of other Polish officers who were murdered by the NKVD in the Katyn Forest Released in 1941 upon the German invasion of the Soviet Union, Anders was appointed to command Polish Army units reconstituted from prisoners released by the Soviets His divisions departed Russia for Iraq and Egypt within a year to join the British in hard fighting in Italy from 1944 to the end of the war “Anders’ Army” saw bitter fighting at Monte Cassino, along the Gothic Line, and at the Argenta Gap Like most of his men, Anders was bitterly opposed to the Soviet-backed government set up under the Lublin Poles Stripped of his citizenship, he spent the rest of his life in exile from the country he served so well ANDERSON SHELTERS Primitive, corrugated-steel, garden air-raid shelters for civilians in Great Britain Kits were issued and construction recommended by Civil Defence authorities The shelters provided more psychological comfort than physical protection ANGAU See New Guinea, Dutch 48