我们完全尊重历史 日本虎式的进口计划

  　　ThefollowingparagraphisatranslationabouttheJapaneseTigerfromaJapanesemagazine.Themagazineis:ミリタリー・クラシックスMilitaryClassics,issue21,publishedonJune1st,2008.Theaboveartpictureisalsofromthismagazine.　　ThereisaninterestingstorythatpresentdaytankfansknowwellwhichisthatduringWorldWar2,thegreatEmpireofJapantriedimportingaTigertankfromGermany.ToaJapanArmythathasschemedwaragainsttheSovietUnioninManchuria,theTigerbeingmorepowerfulthananyotherJapanesetank,whileexpensive,wasaveryattractivevehicle.InJuly,Showayear18(1943),throughthePro-GermanLieutenantGeneralHiroshiOshimaatthemilitaryattachéintheJapaneseEmbassy,JapannegotiatedwithGermanyandformallydecidedonimportingtheTiger.ImportationcostwasattwicethecostofdeliverytotheGermanarmy,at640,000marks.InordertodomesticallyproducetheTigerinJapan,blueprints,ammunition,repairparts,andsoonwerearrangedintotheimportplan.Asforthetankitself,itwasplannedtodisassembleitandtransportittoJapanbyGermansubmarine.Howeverplansneverprogressedfurther.Duetotheworseningofthewarsituation,exportingthetigertoJapanbecomeimpossible.　　WhilenotrelatedtotheTigertank,thenextpicturehasbothHiroshiOshimaandwhoiscalled“thefatherofJapanesetanks　(日本戦車の父)”TomioHara.ThepictureisalittlesmallbutHiroshiisintheveryfrontandverycenter.TomioHaraisimmediatelybehindhimtotheleft(Thisphotoisalsoin“TankandGeneral”(戦車と将軍)byShuheiDomon1996includesadescription).Thisphotoisofthe“OshimaMilitaryAffairsInspectionGroup”thatcametoGermanyinlate1935toinspectthebeginningofthere-militarizationofGermany.ThelocationissaidtobeataFensdorftankbase.IamnotsureaboutFensdorfsohereitisaswritteninJapanese:ウェンスドルフ　　Fromthefollowingwebpage:　　PaymentoftheTigertankwasconfirmedbyHenschelonFebruary28th,1944.However,whenthepurchasedTigercouldnotbeshipped,itwasloanedbyJapantotheGermanarmy.Thetankwenttowhatwasbeingformedasthe101stSSheavytankbattalioninBelgium.　　ThewebpagehasthefollowingpicturebelowanddescribesthatitisrumoredthatthemantotherightislikelyHiroshiOshima　　However,thewebpagecontinuesthatthisphotowasnotedtohavebeentakenonJune7th1943andatthattime,HiroshiwasatthewarfrontinnorthernRussiavisitingthe502ndheavytankbattaliondoingafieldvalidationoftheTiger.SoitremainsunknownastowhotheseJapanesepeopleactuallyare.　　Aboutayearago,Ifoundabatchofthesepicturestogetherontheinternet,allconcerningtheJapanesetiger.Ican’tloadupthepagehttp://sspanzer.126.comanymoreandIdon’trememberwhatbriefdescriptionsmighthavecamealongwiththepictures.ButatleastIsavedthepicturesatthattime.Herearetherestofthem.　　Sources:　　1.ミリタリー・クラシックスMilitaryClassics,issue21,publishedonJune1st,2008　　2.“TankandGeneral”(戦車と将軍)byShuheiDomon(土門周平),1996　　3.Webpagepost“日本の「ティーガーⅠ」輸入計画　　2010/07/21″