For the most part, Suzuki's military-dominated cabinet favored continuing the war. For the Japanese, surrender was unthinkable—Japan had never been successfully invaded or lost a war in its history. Only Mitsumasa Yonai, the Navy minister, was known to desire an early end to the war. According to historian Richard B. Frank: After the war, Suzuki and others from his government and their apologists claimed they were secretly working towards peace, and could not publicly advocate it. They cite the Japanese concept of "haragei"—"the art of hidden and invisible technique"—to justify the dissonance between their public actions and alleged behind-the-scenes work.
Divisions within the Japanese leadership
Surrender of Japan
Surrender of Japan | Divisions within the Japanese leadership
Suzuki's military-dominated cabinet favored continuing the war. For the Japanese, surrender was unthinkable—Japan had never been successfully invaded or lost a war in its history. Only Mitsumasa Yonai, the Navy minister, was known to desire an early end to the war. Japan's leaders were in agreement that the war was going badly, but they disagreed over the best means to negotiate its end. There were two camps: the so-called "peace" camp and the hardliners who favored fighting one last "decisive" battle that would inflict so many casualties on the Allies that they would be willing to offer more lenient terms. The "peace" camp and the "hardliners". By 1945, Japan's leaders were in agreement that the war was going badly, but they disagreed over the best means to negotiate its end - two camps: the so-called "peace" camp and the hardliners
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Both approaches were based on Japan's experience in the Russo–Japanese War, forty years earlier, which consisted of a series of costly but largely indecisive battles, followed by the decisive naval Battle of Tsushima.
Surrender of Japan | Divisions within the Japanese leadership
It meet the day of surrender of Japan 15 August 1945 without engaging in actual combat and was demobilized shortly afterwards.
50th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
During World War II there were six general armies: In April 1945, the "Boei So-Shireibu" (translated as "general defense command" or "home defense general headquarters" and similar names) was split into three general armies: By August 1945, these comprised two million personnel in 55 divisions and numerous smaller independent units. After the surrender of Japan, the Imperial Japanese Army was dissolved, except for the "Dai-Ichi So-Gun", which existed until 30 November 1945 as the 1st Demobilization Headquarters.
Army group | Japan
Few soldiers survived until the surrender of Japan 15 August 1945 in the mountains of Merida and Isabel.
26th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
As a result, the Japanese defenses at Manokwari were isolated as of September 1944. The Japanese forces retreated to a final defensive perimeter around Sorong in May 1945, where they thrived until the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945, thanks to abundant local supplies of Sago-derived foodstuffs.
35th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | History
The first 18 divisions were originally formed as square divisions, and after 1938, and the remainder were formed either as triangular divisions or as binary security divisions. 16 coastal defense divisions with numbers from 140th to 160th (except for 148th and 149th divisions) were also formed as square divisions.
List of Japanese Infantry divisions | Infantry Divisions
In the evening 12 August 1945, the "128th division" fell back to the second line of defenses around Huadian, Jilin where it stayed until surrender of Japan news reached units 16 August 1945.
128th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
Initially, the "143rd division" was assigned to the 13th area army. In June 1945, it was reassigned to 54th army. The "143rd division" headquarters was located at Hamamatsu. It was tasked with the coastal defense. The division did not see any combat until surrender of Japan 15 August 1945.
143rd Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the The "44th division" was organized in 4 April 1944, simultaneously with the 81st and 86th divisions as a defiant action against popular Japanese Tetraphobia superstition. The nucleus was the headquarters of the 4th division. Originally the "44th division" was assigned to Central District Army. In March 1945, the "44th division" was sent to Takahagi, Ibaraki, arriving 8 April 1945. The division was re-subordinated to 51st army 18 April 1945 and assigned to the role of the mobile reserve. The surrender of Japan 15 August 1945 has happened before the "44th division" have any engagement with the enemy.
44th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
On 11 June 1945, the "212th Division" organization and deployment was complete. The 516th and 518th Infantry Regiments, together with service units, were in Tsuno, Miyazaki, while the 517th infantry regiment was in Kurume It did not see any combat by the time of the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945.
212th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | History
The "154th division" was assigned to 57th army. The division spent time from 5 May 1945 until surrender of Japan 15 August 1945 building a coastal defenses in Saito, Miyazaki without engaging in actual combat.
154th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
The was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the .It was created 6 February 1945 in Ranam-guyok and disbanded at Tumen, Jilin in September 1945. It was a triangular division. The men of the division were drafted through Ranam-guyok Korean mobilization district, although the divisional backbone was the men from 19th and 20th divisions.
79th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
30 March 1945 the "121st division" formation was complete and it was assigned to the 58th army. The division travelled overland to south Korea and was transferred to Jejudo island in June 1945. The "121st division" was still building a defenses on the eastern part of the island by the time of the surrender of Japan 15 August 1945. The "121st division" has returned to Japan via Sasebo, Nagasaki in October - November 1945 and dissolved soon afterwards.
121st Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
The "155th division" was assigned to 55th army. The division spent time from 5 May 1945 until surrender of Japan 15 August 1945 building a coastal defenses in and around Kami, Kōchi without engaging in actual combat.
155th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
The 153rd division was assigned to the 13th area army. The division spent time from 5 May 1945 until the surrender of Japan 15 August 1945 building coastal defenses without engaging in actual combat. The 441st infantry regiment was located at the Atsumi Peninsula, the 442nd and 443rd at Ise-Shima, and the 444th infantry regiment at Ise.
153rd Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
During this action, the division suffered heavy losses (the division's infantry group had 1,787 men remaining alive of 4,923 men initially) and ceased to exist as an organized unit. The parts of division cornered in the Buin district of New Guinea suffered heavily from the loss of supplies and food. Losses mounted after the Australians started another offensive in November 1944. The surrender document was signed in September 1945 on the nearby Fauro Island.
6th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | <a href="Pacific%20War">Pacific War</a>
From 8 October 1945, the "77th division" was subordinated to 5th area army and set in charge of the fortifications from west of Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group to Yūfutsu District, Hokkaido on the southern coast of Hokkaido. 11 February 1945, it was moved to reserve in Asahikawa, with newly formed 147th division taking over the Tomakomai fortifications. In May 1945, the division was subordinated to the 16th area army and sent to Satsumasendai, Kagoshima as part of the general buildup of Japanese forces on Kyushu in the wake of defeat in battle of Okinawa. Later the division was transferred to Kajiki, Kagoshima, where it meet the surrender of Japan 15 August 1945.
77th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
To the surprise of the Americans, the Soviet Union immediately accepted the division. The agreement was incorporated into General Order No. 1 (approved on 17 August 1945) for the surrender of Japan.
Division of Korea | World War II
After World War II ended with the surrender of Japan 15 August 1945, a significant fraction of its men have continued to fight under command of the warlord Yan Xishan in the ongoing Chinese Civil War.
114th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Second formation
The 5th Division headquarters buildings in Hiroshima Castle were destroyed by the atomic bomb explosion on 6 August 1945. Loss of life was light because the headquarters had departed in March 1945 to reinforce the 125th Division in Manchukuo.
5th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Divisional headquarters
15 May 1938, the 106th Division was split from the 6th Division. Actions in the Battle of Wuhan began in June 1938, and the division was subsequently withdrawn to Japan. In 1940, the 47th infantry regiment was transferred to the 48th division, converting the 6th Division to the triangular division format.
6th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | <a href="Second%20Sino-Japanese%20War">Second Sino-Japanese War</a>
Initially, the "144th division" was assigned to the Second General Army. Later it was reassigned to 15th area army. The "144th division" headquarters was located at Osaka. It was tasked with the coastal defense. The division did not see any combat until surrender of Japan 15 August 1945.
144th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
Faced with numerically and better equipped enemy in an attrition battle, the 56th Division suffered heavy losses. The remnants of the division were removed from the front line in October 1944, and on the day of the surrender of Japan, 15 August 1945, on the border between South Burma and Thailand.
56th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | History
The "100th division" was assigned to the 35th army upon formation. It garrisoned a large area of Mindanao island centering at Davao. In the course of the Battle of Davao since 27 April 1945, the "100th division" was squeezed to the mountains north-west of Davao and survived until news of the surrender of Japan reached it 18 August 1945. The division officially surrendered to US forces on the 7th of September, 1945. This article incorporates material from the article in the Japanese Wikipedia, retrieved on 24 June 2016.
100th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
The "160th division" was assigned to 17th area army. 9 May 1945, the division was sent to North Jeolla Province to prepare a coastal defenses, performing uneventfully until surrender of Japan 15 August 1945. 461st infantry regiment was in Buan County, 462nd - in Gunsan, 463rd - in Seocheon County, and 464th infantry regiment - in Iksan.
160th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force divisions are combined arms units with infantry, armored, and artillery units, combat support units and logistical support units. They are regionally independent and permanent entities. The divisions strength varies from 6,000 to 9,000 personnel. The division commander is a lieutenant general. JGSDF currently has nine active duty divisions (one armored, eight infantry):
Division (military) | Japan
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed 10 July 1945 in North Hamgyong Province as a triangular division. It was a part of the 8 simultaneously created divisions batch comprising 134th, 135th, 136th, 137th, 138th, 139th, 148th and 149th divisions. The nucleus for the formation was the small parts detached from the 79th division.
137th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed 10 July 1945 in Changchun as a triangular division. It was a part of the 8 simultaneously created divisions batch comprising 134th, 135th, 136th, 137th, 138th, 139th, 148th and 149th divisions. The nucleus for the formation was the garrison of Changchun.
148th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The "157th division" was initially assigned to 11th area army. In June 1945, the division was reassigned to the newly created 50th army. The division spent time from 2 May 1945 until surrender of Japan 15 August 1945 building a coastal defenses in Aomori Prefecture without engaging in actual combat. The 457th and 458th infantry regiments were in Misawa, Aomori, 459th - in Hachinohe, and 460th infantry regiment - in Sanbangi town (now in Towada).
157th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
The "81st division" was assigned to the 36th army 21 July 1944. Because the troops were engaged in farming for self-sustenance, and of the pronunciation of the divisional call sign, the "81st division" was also jokingly called "Agricultural division". The division spent the time until the surrender of Japan 15 August 1945 building fortifications around Yūki, Ibaraki and did not engage in actual combat. This article incorporates material from the article in the Japanese Wikipedia, retrieved on 20 June 2016.
81st Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender of the Empire of Japan to the Allied Powers on 15 August 1945. General Order No. 1 for the surrender of Japan (prepared by the Joint Chiefs of Staff of U.S. military forces and approved on 17 August 1945) prescribed separate surrender procedures for Japanese forces in Korea north and south of the 38th parallel. After Japan's surrender to the Allies (formalised on 2 September 1945), division at the 38th parallel marked the beginning of Soviet and U.S. occupation the North and South, respectively. This division was meant to be temporary, to be replaced by a trusteeship of the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and Republic of China which would prepare for Korean independence.
History of South Korea | U.S. military administration 1945–1948
The division arrived to Fushun 12 August 1945. It was disarmed by Red Army 19 August 1945 in the aftermath of the surrender of Japan.
138th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
Initially, the battalion and division were to be sent to the Pacific theater to take part in Operation Downfall, the assault of inland Japan. Nonetheless, Japan surrendered in August 1945 following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The division returned to the US two days after the surrender. All of its combat elements, as well as the Special Troops Battalion, were disbanded and neutralized on 30 November 1945, at Camp Carson, Colorado.
Special Troops Battalion, 10th Mountain Division | Demobilization
In April 1945, the "118th division" was ordered to strengthen the garrisons in Central China and then in Shanghai area. Therefore, by the day of surrender of Japan 15 August 1945, the division was spread through Tianjin and Zhangjiakou. After the cessation of hostilities, the "118th division" has sailed from Tanggu District 14 April 1946, landed in Sasebo 18 April 1956, and has completed dissolution 21 April 1946.
118th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
The "101st division" has started demobilization 7 November 1939, and was dissolved 25 February 1940.
101st Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
The was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the .It was created July 6 1944 in Himeji. It was a triangular division. The divisional backbone was the 54th Division headquarters. The 84th Division was assigned to the Central District Army upon formation. In the late 1944, the division was considered for sending to Okinawa, but the 62nd Division was selected instead. In April 1945, the 84th Division was assigned to the 53rd Army, taking a positions in Odawara, Kanagawa. The division then spent the time building a fortifications until being demobilized in September 1945, after the surrender of Japan.
84th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The "142nd division" headquarters was located at (now Kurokawa District). It was tasked with the defence of the coasts in and . 407th infantry regiment was severely understrength. The division did not see any combat until surrender of Japan 15 August 1945.
142nd Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
Also, Yoshitsugu Saitō was appointed as divisional commander instead of Prince Kaya Tsunenori.
43rd Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed 28 February 1945 in Utsunomiya as a square division. It was a part of the 16 simultaneously created divisions batch numbering from 140th to 160th.
151st Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed 10 July 1945 in Jiamusi as a triangular division. It was a part of the 8 simultaneously created divisions batch comprising 134th, 135th, 136th, 137th, 138th, 139th, 148th and 149th divisions. The nucleus for the formation were the 14th border guards group, Fujin garrison and 78th Independent Mixed Brigade.
134th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The "109th division" was reformed in May 1944 from 1st Independent Mixed Brigade (Imperial Japanese Army) and other Bonin Islands garrisons reinforced by recruits from Kōfu mobilization district. The "109th Division" was assigned to the 31st army, under Commanding Lieutenant General Hideyoshi Obata. It comprised the bulk of the Japanese garrison on the volcanic islands of Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima which was wiped out by American forces from February to March 1945 in Battle of Iwo Jima. The structure of the 109th was different than most divisions in the IJA. After 1936, the normal make up of a division was the triangular organization, with three infantry regiments to a division.
109th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Second formation
Total amount of IJA divisions, including infantry, armor, parachute, anti-air and air-service, from 1888 to 1945
List of Japanese Infantry divisions | Introduction
Following Japan's surrender on Sept 3, 1945, the 4th Tank Division was officially demobilized with the rest of the Imperial Japanese Army, without having seen combat.
4th Tank Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | History
On 19 June 1945, the "209th Division" organization and deployment was complete. The 513th Infantry Regiment was in Kanazawa, the 514th in Toyama, and the 515th Infantry Regiment was sent to Gifu . Some of its other units were deployed at Sabae, Fukui. It did not see any combat by the time of the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945.
209th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | History
List of Japanese armored divisions of the Imperial Japanese Army. During World War II, the IJA only organized four divisions, these were:
List of Japanese armored divisions | Introduction
In May, 1943, the IJA 74th Infantry Regiment was separated from the 19th Division and was elevated to become the core of the new 30th Division. As the situation for Japan continued to deteriorate for Japan in the Pacific War, a decision was made to trust in the Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact, and reduce forces held back in reserve against the Soviet Union. In December 1944, the remainder of the 19th Division was transferred to the control of Japanese Fourteenth Area Army in the Philippines. The 19th Division was subsequently largely annihilated in combat in the mountains of central Luzon during the subsequent Battle of Luzon from January 1945 and ceased to exist a functional unit at that time.
19th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
The ' was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the '. The 1st Division was formed in Tokyo in January 1871 as the , one of six regional commands created in the fledgling Imperial Japanese Army. The Tokyo Garrison had responsibility for the eastern region of Honshū (Kantō region), centered on the Tokyo metropolitan area. The six regional commands were transformed into divisions under the army reorganization of 14 May 1888, based on recommendations by the Prussian military advisor Jakob Meckel to the Japanese government.
1st Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The "132nd division" was permanently assigned to 6th area army. Upon formation, the "132nd division" took the responsibility on the area previously guarded by the 39th division in Yichang. It stayed in the area of Yichang until surrender of Japan 15 August 1945.
132nd Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
Of the 2500 men who were sent to the Guadalcanal campaign, only 140 returned alive to Japan. The remainder of the division remained as the Asahikawa, Hokkaido garrison until March 1944. At that time it was moved to Obihiro in eastern Hokkaido, relieved by the 77th Division at Asahikawa. The infantry regiments fortified the Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido area, building a network of pillboxes stretching from Nemuro to Kushiro. The division was disbanded with the surrender of Japan in September 1945.
7th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Pacific War
The Hiroshima Garrison had responsibility for the western region of Honshū (Chugoku district), ranging from Hyōgo Prefecture to Yamaguchi Prefecture. The six regional commands were transformed into divisions under the army reorganization of 14 May 1888.
5th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Origin
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed 2 April 1945 in Tokyo as a triangular division. It was one of the batch of eight divisions comprising 201st, 202nd, 205th, 206th, 209th, 212th, 214th and 216th divisions created as part of the Japanese reaction on the Battle of Okinawa.
201st Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The division remained in China through the 1939–40 Winter Offensive under the command of Lieutenant General Harukichi Hyakutake.
18th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed 28 February 1945 in Zentsūji, Kagawa as a square division. It was a part of the 16 simultaneously created divisions batch numbering from 140th to 160th.
155th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. The division was formed in 1939 and was disbanded in 1945. Its call sign was the . The "35th Division" was activated at Tokyo 7 February 1939, simultaneously with 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 36th and 37th divisions.
35th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
During the Battle of the Sittang Bend in July-August 1945, it suffered over 50% losses; from enemy shellfire, air raids, cholera and dysentery. At the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945 the "54th division" was situated on the eastern coasts of the Sittaung River.
54th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The "158th division" was organised from the cadets of the training units during the Soviet invasion of Manchuria. The war ended with the surrender of Japan 15 August 1945 before the "158th division" can complete the organization.
158th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
Maruyama and the survivors of his division were evacuated from Guadalcanal in February, 1943. Maruyama remained in command of 2nd Division until the beginning of June 1943, when he was transferred to the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff under Field marshall Hajime Sugiyama.
Masao Maruyama (Japanese Army officer) | Biography
In September 1907 the divisional headquarters was established in what is now the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi, and its composition totally reorganized. The 53rd Infantry Regiment was transferred to the 16th division in Kyoto and the 54th Infantry Regiment was transferred to the newly created 17th division based in Okayama. The 55th Infantry Regiment and 56th Infantry Regiments were transferred to the newly created 18th division, based in Kurume, Fukuoka. In place of these units, the division gained the Sakura-based 2nd Infantry Regiment (in April 1908 relocated to Mito, Ibaraki), as well as the Takasaki-based 15th Infantry Regiment and the newly created Utsunomiya-based 66th Infantry Regiment.
14th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Reorganization
The division eventually concentrated in Salamaua area, and subsequently took part in the Salamaua–Lae campaign.
51st Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | History
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed 28 February 1945 in Hiroshima as a square division. It was a part of the 16 simultaneously created divisions batch numbering from 140th to 160th.
145th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
On 19 June 1945, the "214th Division" organization and deployment was complete. The 519th Infantry Regiment was in Utsunomiya, 520th - in Yaita, and 521st infantry regiment - in Setagaya. Other smaller sub-units were stationed at Nasushiobara. The "214th division" was assigned to the army mobile reserve and did not see any combat by the time of the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945.
214th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | History
Its divisions were reassigned to other areas.
Twenty-Second Army (Japan) | History
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed 28 February 1945 in Kyoto as a square division. It was a part of the 16 simultaneously created divisions batch numbering from 140th to 160th.
153rd Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. The division was formed in 1939 and was disbanded in 1945. Its call sign was the . The "36th Division" was activated at Hirosaki 7 February 1939, simultaneously with 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th and 37th divisions.
36th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the .It was formed on 10 July 1940 at Kanazawa, simultaneously with 51st, 54th, 55th, 56th, and 57th divisions. The formation nucleus was the headquarters of the 9th division. The men for the "52nd division" were recruited from Ishikawa, Toyama and Nagano prefectures. The "52nd division" was the provisional unit, intended to form sub-units usable by other military units, rather than being used itself. In particular, "16th mountain artillery regiment" and "52nd cavalry regiment" were detached in October 1943. The division was renamed in 1941 (not to be mistaken with the formed in 1945).
52nd Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The shelling of the positions of the 280th Infantry Regiment on the north flank of the "127th Division" started immediately after midnight 9 August 1945. Immediately afterwards, the Third Army reinforced the "127th Division" with the 101st Independent Mixed Regiment. The 280th Infantry Regiment managed to retreat and disengaged on 11 August 1945.
127th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | History
Initially the "119th division" was garrisoning a Hailar, but 25 January 1945 was reassigned to 4th army without changing a location. During Soviet invasion of Manchuria the "119th division" has surrendered 16 August 1945 and was disarmed by 3 September 1945. The last soldiers taking prisoner by Red Army were returned to Japan in 1968.
119th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
Noted commanders in the history of the 4th Division have included Takashima Tomonosuke, Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa, Ichinohe Hyoe, Abe Nobuyuki, Terauchi Hisaichi, Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko and Tomoyuki Yamashita.
4th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Memorial headquarters building
The was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was created 4 April 1944 in Utsunomiya, simultaneously with the 44th and 86th divisions. It was a triangular division. The men of the division were drafted through Utsunomiya mobilization district, although the divisional backbone was the 51st division headquarters.
81st Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
Despite the Japanese attacks, the defensive line held; with food, water and ammunition running out, Percival decided on 15 February that counter-attacks would be fruitless. To spare the civilian population of the city further hardship, the decision was made to surrender the Allied garrison. The order to surrender surprised the men; some fled, fearing that the Japanese would not take prisoners and others had to be pressured into laying down their arms. On 15 February, the division ceased to exist and its men entered Japanese captivity. The division was never reconstituted in the United Kingdom. During the next three years, over one-third of the men died in Japanese captivity; Beckwith-Smith succumbed to diphtheria on 11 November 1942.
18th Infantry Division (United Kingdom) | Surrender, captivity and assessment
From June 1944, the fighting on New Guinea had downgraded to sporadic skirmishes, and the rest of "36th division" have survived until surrender of Japan 15 August 1945 nearly unscathed, coping mostly with the problem of starvation.
36th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed 10 July 1945 in Mishan as a triangular division. It was a part of the 8 simultaneously created divisions batch comprising 134th, 135th, 136th, 137th, 138th, 139th, 148th and 149th divisions. The nucleus for the formation were the 2nd (Suifenhe) (or 3rd), 4th (Hulin) border guards groups, 46th transport guards group and 77th Independent Mixed Brigade.
135th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed 28 February 1945 in Hiroshima as a square division. It was a part of the 16 simultaneously created divisions batch numbering from 140th to 160th.
154th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
In the Battle of Okinawa, the 28th Division main positions were never invaded, but were heavily bombed and subject to coastal bombardment. As all higher-ranking officers of the 32nd Army were killed, the Naumi Toshiro, commander of the 28th Division, signed a surrender document for the 32nd Army after the surrender of Japan. The division was disbanded 13 December 1945.
28th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | History
In June 1945, the "205th Division" was deployed at Kōchi. It did not see any combat, and was disbanded after the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945.
205th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed 28 February 1945 in Seoul as a square division. It was a part of the 16 simultaneously created divisions batch numbering from 140th to 160th.
150th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed 10 July 1945 in Qiqihar as a triangular division. It was a part of the 8 simultaneously created divisions batch comprising 134th, 135th, 136th, 137th, 138th, 139th, 148th and 149th divisions. The nucleus for the formation was the 274th infantry regiment taken from the 125th division.
149th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed on 16 January 1945 in Hunchun as a triangular division. It was a part of the eight simultaneously created divisions including the 121st, 122nd, 123rd, 124th, 125th, 126th, 127th and 128th Divisions. The nucleus for the formation was the 9th Border Guards Group and some personnel from the 112th Division.
127th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
30 July 1945, the "138th division" was assigned to the 30th army. It was nearly unarmed until the end of July 1945, besides the small arms brought by the men transferred from the other units. Even the rifles were issued only shortly before the surrender of Japan. The division was coherent enough to have the first task (the construction of fortifications) issued only by 6 August 1945. Also, the divisional commander did not arrive until 10 August 1945. At the beginning of Soviet invasion of Manchuria 9 August 1945, the "138th division" was ordered to Fushun. The division was immediately reassigned to the 3rd area army.
138th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed on 10 July 1940 at Utsunomiya, Tochigi, simultaneously with 52nd, 54th, 55th, 56th, and 57th divisions. The 51st Division was initially assigned to the Eastern District Army and placed under command of Lieutenant General Kenichiro Ueno.
51st Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the The "47th Division" was formed 14 May 1943 in Hirosaki, simultaneously with 42nd, 43rd and 46th divisions. The nucleus for the division formation was the 67th independent infantry brigade and the headquarters of the 57th division. The "47th division" was initially assigned to Northern District Army. At 13 June 1944, a "12th detachment" comprising three infantry battalions and mountain artillery battalion was separated from "47th division" and sent to Luzon, where it was expanded to 58th Independent Mixed Brigade and fought in Battle of Luzon until surrender of Japan 15 August 1945.
47th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The "151st division" was assigned to 51st army in April 1945 and performed a coastal defense duties in Mito, Ibaraki until surrender of Japan 15 August 1945 without seeing an actual combat. 433rd infantry regiment was garrisoning Hitachi, Ibaraki, 434th and 436th - Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, and 435th infantry regiment - Kasama, Ibaraki.
151st Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
The division nearly completed sea leg of transfer (to Fukuoka) by 18 April 1945. Due to bad developments of Battle of Okinawa, 10 May 1945 the further movement of the "57th division" was cancelled and it was re-subordinated to the 16th Area Army to counter the anticipated Operation Downfall by the US forces. The division has meet the day of surrender of Japan 15 August 1945 at Fukuoka without seeing any combat. Allentown, PA: 1981
57th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | History
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the , after the Aki District, Hiroshima. It was formed on 2 April 1945 in Hiroshima as a triangular division. It was one of a batch of eight divisions comprising the 201st, 202nd, 205th, 206th, 209th, 212th, 214th and 216th Divisions that were created as part of the Japanese reaction to the Battle of Okinawa.
205th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the .
40th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed on 1 May 1943 in Hubei province, simultaneously with the 62nd and 63rd divisions as a security (type C) division. The nucleus for the formation was the 12th from Chuzhou. As a security division, it lacked an artillery regiment. The men of the division were drafted from the Hiroshima mobilization district.
64th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
Later in 1939, the 2nd Division was under 3rd Army which was facing the southern half of the border of the Maritime province of the Soviet Union from Korea northward. The Katayama Detachment from 2nd Division, (consisting of the 15th Infantry Brigade, with 16th and 30th Infantry Regiments, and a field artillery battalion) fought small actions near Akiyama heights, or Heights 997 on 6–10 September 1939, in the closing stages of the Battle of Khalkhin Gol 2nd Division (and the 4th Division) as part of the Japanese Sixth Army. Because the projected counterattack that was canceled when a ceasefire was signed 16 September 1939, the fighting ceased.
2nd Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | <a href="Second%20Sino-Japanese%20War">Second Sino-Japanese War</a> and <a href="Soviet%E2%80%93Japanese%20border%20conflicts">Soviet–Japanese border conflicts</a>
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the .It was formed on 10 July 1940 at Hirosaki, Aomori, simultaneously with 51st, 52nd, 54th, 55th, and 56th divisions, as a reserve and provisional unit. Its call-sign “Oku” was taken from the ancient name of the Tohoku region of northern Honshū, "Oshu". The formation nucleus was the headquarters of the 8th Division. Its manpower came from the Aomori, Iwate, Yamagata and Akita prefectures. The "57th division" was initially assigned to direct command of Emperor Hirohito, but was transferred to Northern District Army as soon as it formed 2 December 1940.
57th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
In World War I the division was strengthened by an additional infantry brigade (the IJA 29th Brigade) and, led by Lieutenant General Kamio Mitsuomi, was given an independent command in the Siege of Tsingtao of the German colony of Tsingtao in the Shandong peninsula, China in October 1914, forcing a surrender of German forces after a week-long assault. Notably, an aircraft from divisional air force has become the first airplane ever downed in the air-to-air combat. However, on 1 May 1925, the division was dissolved by Minister of War Ugaki Kazushige as part of a cost-saving measure during the Kato Takaaki administration, together with the 13th, 15th and 17th divisions.
18th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
The "156th division" was assigned to 57th army. The division spent time from 5 May 1945 until surrender of Japan 15 August 1945 building a coastal defenses in Miyazaki Prefecture without engaging in actual combat. The 453rd infantry regiment was in Sumiyoshi (between Miyazaki and Shintomi), the 454th - in Miyazaki proper, 455th - in Kiyotake (on southern outskirts of Miyazaki), and 456th infantry regiment - in Kunitomi inland.
156th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Action
As the IJA was an infantry force the most common type of division was the infantry division. Later four tank and one parachute division were formed. The first 18 infantry divisions were originally formed as square divisions, and after 1938, most of the remainder were formed as triangular divisions with the security divisions being binary divisions. During the course of its existence the IJA organized three Guards Divisions and over 220 infantry divisions of various types (A/Reinforced, B/Standard, C/Counter-insurgency). On 7 December the IJA had two divisions serving in Japan/Korea and 50 serving abroad, most in China. During the war another 117 were raised for foreign service and 56 were raised for national defense.
Organization of the Imperial Japanese Army | Basic organisational structure
Due to reorganization of the coastal defense, the infantry regiments were disbanded and used to reinforce other units. The Allies never invaded Taiwan, but the division suffered heavy casualties due to malaria, with an 80% casualty rate in the worst-affected 88th Infantry regiment. Following the Surrender of Japan, the majority of personnel were returned from Taiwan to mainland Japan in the first half of 1946.
71st Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Division split
On 11 June 1945, the "206th Division" was deployed in western Kagoshima Prefecture. The 510th Infantry Regiment was in Hioki, the 511th in , and the 512th Infantry Regiment was sent to . Some of its other units were deployed at Fukiage. It did not see any combat by the time of the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945.
206th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | History
The first commander of the 19th Division was Lieutenant General Tachibana Koichirō.
20th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Formation
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the . It was formed 28 February 1945 in Pyongyang as a square division. It was a part of the 16 simultaneously created divisions batch numbering from 140th to 160th.
160th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
Their attacks could not be coordinated with those of the other formations of 33rd Army, and were broken off at the end of the month. During the first week in April, the division suffered further losses in attempts to hold a position near Pyawbwe.
49th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The 4th Division was formed in Osaka City in January 1871 as the , one of six regional commands created in the fledgling Imperial Japanese Army. The Osaka Garrison had responsibility for the central region of Honshū (Kansai district), ranging from Shiga Prefecture to Hyōgo Prefecture. The six regional commands were transformed into divisions under the army reorganization of 14 May 1888.
4th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | History
In the reorganization prior to World War II, the 29th Infantry Regiment (raised in Wakamatsu) was added.
2nd Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | History
The was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the , after the Aoba Castle. It was formed 2 April 1945 in Sendai as a triangular division. It was one of the batch of eight divisions comprising 201st, 202nd, 205th, 206th, 209th, 212th, 214th and 216th divisions created as part of the Japanese reaction on the Battle of Okinawa.
202nd Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction
The was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its tsūshōgō code name was the , and its military symbol was 16D. The 16th Division was one of four new infantry divisions raised by the Imperial Japanese Army in the closing stages of the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905). With Japan's limited resources towards the end of that conflict, the entire IJA was committed to combat in Manchuria, leaving not a single division to guard the Japanese home islands from attack. The "16th Division" was initially raised from men in the area surrounding Kyoto 18 July 1905 under the command of Lieutenant General Yamanaka Nobuyoshi.
16th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) | Introduction