Akikaze massacre
| Akikaze massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Pacific War and hell ships | |
The destroyer Akikaze departing Yokosuka, 1923 | |
| Location | Japanese destroyer Akikaze, at the Bismarck Archipelago |
| Date | March 18, 1943 |
Attack type | Mass murder |
| Deaths | ~60 (including 3 infants) |
| Victims | Civilians |
| Perpetrators | Imperial Japanese Navy
|
The Akikaze massacre, was a war crime committed by the Imperial Japanese Navy on March 18, 1943, during the Pacific War.
The massacre took place on board the Minekaze-class destroyer Akikaze, in the waters of the Bismarck Archipelago, approximately 60 civilians were killed. Most of the victims were Catholic and Protestant clergy and missionaries, mostly of German nationality, who served in northeastern New Guinea and the Admiralty Islands, their servants and dependents were also murdered, including three infants. Bishop Josef Lörks, Apostolic Vicar of Central New Guinea was among the massacred.