1945년 한반도 남서해안에서의 본토결전 준비와 부산.여수의 일본군 시설지 현황

Abstract

This paper addresses the rough picture of military activities of the Japanese Forces just before the end of the Second World War in Korean Peninsular. In particular, the writer examines the history of the military strategic points and facilities built in the southern parts of Korea, Busan and Yeosu, by Japanese Forces to perform their strategic plan in the Korean territory. The key points in Busan and Yeosu were built in 1940s just after the War broke. Having roughly established for the purpose to fight against Russian Baltic Naval Forces during the Russo-Japanese Wars (1904-1905), the Gadeok-do Island position, Pojinji, were later re-modeled and enlarged in 1940s. And most of the facilities of the Pojinji position were made for the decisive battle against the Allied Forces in 1945. Though these positions were not divisions, they were under control of the Commander, 17th Division, which means the role and the benefits of these positions were not ignorable for the Japanese Forces. To keep Busan and Yeosu, critical channels connecting Japanese islands and the peninsular, under their control means they could secure the channel of transportation of necessary stuffs, or personnel, and it also showed their military strategy they would not allow any possible landing of the enemy in Busan or Yeosu port. In building the facilities many Koreans were forced to provide labour power; Korean soldiers forcefully registered by Japanese Forces and civilian residents in neighborhood as well were forced to build the positions day and night. As the case of Okinawa Battles shows, if any battle broke in the Korean Peninsular then Korean people would have been sacrificed as a shield against the bullets for the Japanese Forces in front of them. There is no any signpost of commemoration in these places. The history is just under way to be forgotten.