Yoshitsugu Saitō
| Yoshitsugu Saitō | |
|---|---|
General Yoshitsugu Saitō
|
|
| Born | November 2, 1890 Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | July 10, 1944 (aged 53) Saipan, Mariana Islands |
| Allegiance |
 Empire of Japan
|
| Service/branch |
 Imperial Japanese Army
|
| Years of service | 1912-1944 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | IJA 5th Division, IJA 43rd Division |
| Battles/wars | |
Yoshitsugu Saitō (斎藤 義次 Saitō Yoshitsugu?, 2 November 1890 – 10 July 1944) was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.
A native of Tokyo, Saitō graduated from the 24th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1912 as a cavalryman. He served in combat very briefly at the very end of the Russo-Japanese War. He graduated from the 36th class of the Army Staff College in 1924. He rose steadily through the ranks with various cavalry regiments in a largely undistinguished career.
In 1938, he became Chief of Staff of the IJA 5th Division, and was promoted to major general the following year when he was reassigned to the Kwangtung Army as chief of cavalry operations. He became a lieutenant general in 1942.
In April 1944, Saitō was appointed commander of the IJA 43rd Division at the time of its deployment to Saipan. As Japan had lost control of the sea lanes by this time in the Pacific War, the division suffered heavy casualties due to submarine attacks on its transports during the move. Saitō was overall commander of all Japanese forces on Saipan. Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, commander of the Central Pacific Area Fleet was also on the island, and was consulted frequently by Saitō.
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