By contributing historian and researcher Stefanos Milesis
At the close of World War II, a Greek-American officer made history not with weapons, but with his voice.
Captain Elias Zacharias—better known in the U.S. Navy as Ellis M. Zacharias—played a key role in one of the most delicate operations of the war: convincing the Japanese people, in their own language, to lay down their arms.
A Greek Root, an American Path
Elias Zacharias (Source: Find a Grave)
Born on January 1, 1890, in Jacksonville, Florida, Elias Zacharias was the son of Greek immigrants. From a young age, he developed a deep fascination with Japanese language and culture—a passion that would one day place him at the center of a global conflict.
Naval Career and Early Service
Zacharias entered the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1908, graduating in 1912. During his time there, he famously attended twelve consecutive performances of Madama Butterfly, the opera that sparked his lifelong interest in Japan.
His early naval service placed him on various battleships and cruisers. During World War I, he served as an engineering officer aboard the USS Raleigh and later as a gunnery officer on the USS Pittsburgh.
Japan: From Fascination to Strategic Insight
Elias Zacharias as a Naval Academy Cadet (Source: Find a Grave)
In 1920, Zacharias was appointed Assistant Naval Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, deepening his connection with the country. When a massive earthquake struck Japan on September 1, 1923, he participated in rescue and relief efforts.
He returned to Japan in 1928, this time as Deputy Naval Attaché, and later worked in the Far East Division of Naval Intelligence at the Department of the Navy in Washington. One of his most notable roles was as Naval Aide to Prince Takamatsu, brother of Emperor Hirohito—a rare and prestigious appointment.
Through his years of direct contact, Zacharias gained unparalleled insight into Japanese psychology, values, and societal behavior—knowledge that would become a strategic asset when war broke out.
Voice of Surrender: The Psychological Front
Elias Zacharias, Commander (Stefanos Milesis Archive)
By November 1940, Zacharias was in command of the heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City in the Pacific. He was en route from Wake Island to Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, an event he witnessed firsthand.
In June 1945, he joined the Office of Public Information at the U.S. Navy Department, where he became a central figure in the U.S. psychological warfare campaign against Japan. His role: to break the morale of the Japanese people through carefully crafted radio broadcasts.
Between the fall of Berlin and Japan’s eventual surrender, Zacharias spoke daily in fluent Japanese over the airwaves, urging the population to end a war that was already lost.
Unlike propaganda aimed at other Axis powers, Zacharias’ broadcasts were empathetic, culturally informed, and uniquely effective. The Japanese public, deeply distrustful of Western voices, were willing to listen to him—because he understood them.
Elias Zacharias, Announcer (Stefanos Milesis Archive)
His deep knowledge of their traditions and mindset allowed him to communicate in a way that resonated. As many would later say:
“It took two atomic bombs—and Captain Zacharias—to make Japan surrender.”
Life After War
Zacharias retired from the U.S. Navy on November 1, 1946, with the rank of Rear Admiral, capping a remarkable 34-year active-duty career.
Among his numerous honors were:
Legion of Merit with two gold stars
Mexican Service Medal
Yangtze Service Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
In his post-military life, he brought his wartime knowledge to the public, narrating the NBC television documentary "Behind Closed Doors" (1958–1959) and the radio series "Secret Missions", both inspired by his own writings.
He passed away of a heart attack at his home in West Springfield, New Hampshire, at the age of 71.
Grave of Elias Zacharias (Source: Find a Grave)
Elias Zacharias remains a compelling figure in both military history and the Greek-American legacy. His intelligence, empathy, and command of language made him a uniquely powerful voice during one of the world’s darkest chapters—a man who fought war with words, and helped bring it to an end.
