The Dehumanization of Prisoners in Manchuria

To be a spy or dissident in Manchuria was to risk death by firing squad or decapitation. Unsuspecting and innocent people were also tricked into the clutches of unit 731 Some were lured by the prospect of employment young boys mothers and children even pregnant women were trapped. Prisoners were all referred to as maruta, which is the japanese word for a log of wood Although when they arrived they had cards each with their name birthplace reason for arrest and age We simply gave them a number A maruta was just a number a piece of experimental material They were not even regarded as human beings Most were between 20 and 40 years old none were over 50. So you