General Tomoyuki Yamashita, also known as the "Tiger of Malaya", was the Japanese army general who masterminded the swift Japanese invasion of Malaya and Singapore during the Second World War.

From Dec. 1941 to Feb. 1942, Yamashita and his forces swept through Malaya in just 55 days and took just another week to conquer Singapore.

Many atrocities were committed by the Japanese forces under Yamashita's command, including the Parit Sulong Massacre in Malaya, and the infamous Sook Ching operation which he ordered shortly after the fall of Singapore on Feb. 15, 1942.

This is the image of Yamashita scarred in the minds of most Singaporeans.

Months after conquering Singapore, Yamashita fell out of the Japanese imperial government's favour and was transferred to Manchuria, before being recalled in 1944 to command the defence of the Philippines against U.S. forces trying to re-take their territory.

At the end of the war, Yamashita was taken prisoner by U.S. forces and put on trial for his involvement in war crimes, including Sook Ching.

Yamashita's trial proceedings and his sentencing were captured on film, and a video of it was posted online recently by The Merlion Press.

In it, Yamashita was recorded denying knowledge of the atrocities committed under his command.

He was also solemn and dejected, looking nothing like the figure that he was during the British surrender at the old Ford Factory.

Yamashita was sentenced to death by hanging. His execution took place on Feb. 23, 1946 at a location near Manila in the Philippines.

Here is the full newsreel video of Yamashita's trial and sentencing.

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Top image screen grabs from here and The Merlion Press.

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