Who was Lieutenant General Ushijima Mitsuru?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

U.S. Marines on Okinawa — Battle of Okinawa U.S. Marines battling for control of a ridge near Naha, Okinawa, May 1945.

Lieutenant General Ushijima Mitsuru was the Japanese commander responsible for the defense of Okinawa during the Pacific War. He commanded an estimated 75,000 to 100,000 Japanese troops on the island.1

Rather than engaging Allied forces directly at the beaches, Ushijima strategically chose to meet the invaders further inland, where his troops were well-entrenched in the southern part of the island. This decision led to intense and costly fighting for U.S. forces throughout the campaign. Following the conclusion of organized resistance on June 21, 1945, Ushijima took his own life on June 22, 1945.1