Homma, Masaharu (1888–1946)

Japanese general. He spent most of his military career in intelligence duties and had little experience of field command. He unwisely boasted he could complete the invasion of the Philippine Islands in 1941 within 45 days. MacArthur withdrew into the Bataan Peninsula, prolonging the defence considerably, and Homma was reprimanded and replaced in all but name by General Yamashita. Homma was recalled to Japan and held administrative posts for the rest of the war. He was arrested by US troops in September 1945, tried for his part in the ‘Bataan Death March’, and executed in Manila in 1946.