109th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
Encyclopedia
The Imperial Japanese Army
's 109th Division was the main Japanese force on Iwo Jima
during the Battle of Iwo Jima
. During the battle the division was commanded by Lt. General Tadamichi Kuribayashi
at the Battle of Iwo Jima
. Only 216 of the division's 21,000 men survived the battle. 867 Japanese soldiers from other units were also captured during the battle.
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
's 109th Division was the main Japanese force on Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
during the Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima , or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Empire of Japan. The U.S...
. During the battle the division was commanded by Lt. General Tadamichi Kuribayashi
Tadamichi Kuribayashi
General was a haiku poet, diplomat, and General of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff. He is best known for being overall commander of the Japanese garrison during the Battle of Iwo Jima....
at the Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima , or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Empire of Japan. The U.S...
. Only 216 of the division's 21,000 men survived the battle. 867 Japanese soldiers from other units were also captured during the battle.