Sōsaku Suzuki

Sōsaku Suzuki (鈴木 宗作, Suzuki Sōsaku, 27 September 1891 – 19 April 1945) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

Biography

Born in Aichi prefecture, Suzuki graduated from the 24th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1912. After leaving 31st class of the Army War College in 1921, he served as a resident officer in Germany from 1922 to 1925. Winning promotion to captain in 1927, Suzuki was assigned to the Army Ministry's Military Affairs Section the following year.

Transferred to the Kwangtung Army in 1933, Suzuki served in Manchuria for three years as Chief of the Kempeitai and, shortly following his promotion to major in 1935, he became commander of the IJA 4th Infantry Regiment until 1937.

Promoted to major general the next year, Suzuki was named Vice Chief of Staff of the Central China Expeditionary Army where he served until 1939.

After a number of staff assignments on the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff, Suzuki was promoted to lieutenant general in March 1941 and reassigned to the IJA 25th Army under General Tomoyuki Yamashita in November.