The "Unit 731" of the Japanese aggressors is notorious for conducting germ warfare experiment in northeast China. But a survey report organized by history professor Jing Shenghong at Nanjing Normal University shows that the Japanese aggressors also conducted the extremely cruel germ tests on living humans in Nanjing. A base built in this city was the Japanese aggressors' largest germ experiment base in China.

The name of the base is Nanjing 1644 germ warfare unit. It was one of the three germ warfare units set up at the same time in north, central and south China.

The headquarters of Unit 1644 was set up in Nanjing Army Central Hospital at the Zhongshan East Road, Nanjing. A four-storied building in the compound was the heart of the whole Unit 1644, where germ weapon and poison gas weapon experiments were carried out. The then Japanese authorities and Shiro Ishii gave high importance to the germ warfare research by Unit 1644. They not only provided the unit with the best camps, buildings, equipment and logistics, but also unusual and sufficient funds. Those working in the headquarters and branches of Unit 1644 exceeded 1,500.

Cultivating deadly bacteria such as cholera, typhoid and plague was a main specialty of Unit 1644 which based its production plant in the northeast corner of Nanjing. The fourth commander of Unit 1644 admitted in court that the unit could mass-produce deadly bacteria. With its enormous production capability Unit 1644 could make 10 kilogram condensed living germ liquid.

According to studies by American professor Harris, the minimum estimate shows that during its 6-year existence the Nanjing germ unit killed at least 1,200 people during tests.

By People's Daily Online