Changes

The Japanese set up a covert biological and chemical warfare research and development unit in [[Harbin]]. Unit 731 and its affiliated units  were involved in research, development and experimental deployment of epidemic-creating biowarfare weapons in assaults against the Chinese populace (both military and civilian) throughout World War II. Plague-infected fleas, bred in the laboratories of Unit 731 and Unit 1644, were spread by low-flying airplanes upon Chinese cities, including coastal Ningbo and Changde, [[Hunan]] Province, in 1940 and 1941.<ref name="ciadoc" /> This military aerial spraying killed tens of thousands of people with [[bubonic plague]] epidemics. An expedition to [[Nanjing|Nanking]] involved spreading [[Typhoid fever|typhoid]] and paratyphoid germs into the wells, marshes, and houses of the city, as well as infusing them into snacks to be distributed among the locals. Epidemics broke out shortly after, to the elation of many researchers, where it was concluded that paratyphoid fever was "the most effective" of the pathogens.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://the-eye.eu/public/concen.org/Sheldon%20H.%20Harris%20-%20Factories%20of%20Death%20-%20Japanese%20Biological%20Warfare%2C%201932-1945%2C%20and%20the%20American%20Cover-Up%20%28pdf%29%20-%20roflcopter2110%20%5BWWRG%5D/Sheldon%20H.%20Harris%20-%20Factories%20of%20Death%20-%20Japanese%20Biological%20Warfare%20%28pdf%29%20-%20roflcopter2110%20%5BWWRG%5D.pdf|title=Factories of Death |last=Harris|first=Sheldon|page=77}}</ref><ref>Barenblatt, Daniel. ''A Plague Upon Humanity: the Secret Genocide of Axis Japan's Germ Warfare Operation'', HarperCollins, 2004. {{ISBN|0-06-018625-9}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

The Japanese set up a covert biological and chemical warfare research and development unit in [[Harbin]]. Unit 731 and its affiliated units  were involved in research, development and experimental deployment of epidemic-creating biowarfare weapons in assaults against the Chinese populace (both military and civilian) throughout World War II. Plague-infected fleas, bred in the laboratories of Unit 731 and Unit 1644, were spread by low-flying airplanes upon Chinese cities, including coastal Ningbo and Changde, [[Hunan]] Province, in 1940 and 1941.<ref name="ciadoc" /> This military aerial spraying killed tens of thousands of people with [[bubonic plague]] epidemics. An expedition to [[Nanjing|Nanking]] involved spreading [[Typhoid fever|typhoid]] and paratyphoid germs into the wells, marshes, and houses of the city, as well as infusing them into snacks to be distributed among the locals. Epidemics broke out shortly after, to the elation of many researchers, where it was concluded that paratyphoid fever was "the most effective" of the pathogens.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://the-eye.eu/public/concen.org/Sheldon%20H.%20Harris%20-%20Factories%20of%20Death%20-%20Japanese%20Biological%20Warfare%2C%201932-1945%2C%20and%20the%20American%20Cover-Up%20%28pdf%29%20-%20roflcopter2110%20%5BWWRG%5D/Sheldon%20H.%20Harris%20-%20Factories%20of%20Death%20-%20Japanese%20Biological%20Warfare%20%28pdf%29%20-%20roflcopter2110%20%5BWWRG%5D.pdf|title=Factories of Death |last=Harris|first=Sheldon|page=77}}</ref><ref>Barenblatt, Daniel. ''A Plague Upon Humanity: the Secret Genocide of Axis Japan's Germ Warfare Operation'', HarperCollins, 2004. {{ISBN|0-06-018625-9}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

 

At least 12 large-scale field trials of biological weapons were performed, and at least 11 Chinese cities were attacked with biological agents. An attack on Changda in 1941 reportedly led to approximately 10,000 biological casualties and 1,700 deaths among ill-prepared Japanese troops, with most cases due to cholera.<ref name="histpersp" /> Japanese researchers performed tests on prisoners with [[bubonic plague]], [[cholera]], [[smallpox]], [[botulism]], and other diseases.<ref>[https://fas.org/nuke/guide/japan/bw/ Biological Weapons Program-Japan] Federation of American Scientists</ref> This research led to the development of the defoliation bacilli bomb and the flea bomb used to spread bubonic plague.<ref>[http://www.centurychina.com/wiihist/germwar/731rev.htm Review of the studies on Germ Warfare] Tien-wei Wu ''A Preliminary Review of Studies of Japanese Biological Warfare and Unit 731 in the United States''</ref> Some of these bombs were designed with [[porcelain]] shells, an idea proposed by Ishii in 1938.

At least 12 large-scale field trials of biological weapons were performed, and at least 11 Chinese cities were attacked with biological agents. An attack on Changda in 1941 reportedly led to approximately 10,000 biological casualties and 1,700 deaths among ill-prepared Japanese troops, with most cases due to cholera.<ref name="histpersp" /> Japanese researchers performed tests on prisoners with [[bubonic plague]], [[cholera]], [[smallpox]], [[botulism]], and other diseases.<ref>[https://fas.org/nuke/guide/japan/bw/ Biological Weapons Program-Japan] Federation of American Scientists</ref> This research led to the development of the defoliation bacilli bomb and the flea bomb used to spread bubonic plague.<ref>[http://www.centurychina.com/wiihist/germwar/731rev.htm Review of the studies on Germ Warfare] Tien-wei Wu ''A Preliminary Review of Studies of Japanese Biological Warfare and Unit 731 in the United States''</ref> Some of these bombs were designed with [[porcelain]] shells, an idea proposed by Ishii in 1938.