12th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
Encyclopedia
was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army
. Its call sign was the .
, based in Kokura
, in northern Kyūshū
. It subsequently relocated to Kurumi
, another city in Fukuoka prefecture
. Most of its troops were drawn from the prefectures in northern Kyūshū.
The 12th Division participated in the Russo-Japanese War
, the Siberian Intervention
.
In 1932 certain elements organized as the 24th Mixed Brigade
participated in the First Shanghai Incident
.
In 1937, it was withdrawn to Manchukuo
and placed under the control of the Kwangtung Army. In 1945, in the final closing stages of the Pacific War
, it was transferred to Taiwan
, where it was assigned garrison duty. It was disbanded at the end of World War II
with the remnants of the Imperial Japanese Army, mostly without having seen combat.
Notable commanders of the 12th Division include: Ando Sadami
, Uchiyama Kojiro, Oi Shigemoto, Shiba Goro
, and Hajime Sugiyama.
with the following organization at the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War
:
12th Division
Later like most square divisions in the late 1930s and early 1940s, it was reorganized as a triangular division
:
The Order of Battle
of the 12th Division included:
Allentown, PA: 1981
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...
. Its call sign was the .
History
The 12th Division was formed on 1 October 1898, as a reserve division after the First Sino-Japanese WarFirst Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
, based in Kokura
Kokura
is an ancient castle town and the center of Kitakyūshū, Japan, guarding, via its suburb Moji, the Straits of Shimonoseki between Honshū and Kyūshū. Kokura is also the name of the penultimate station on the southbound Sanyo Shinkansen line, which is owned by JR Kyūshū and an important part of the...
, in northern Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
. It subsequently relocated to Kurumi
Kurume, Fukuoka
is a city located in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan.The city has an estimated population of 303,277 and a population density of 1,319.51 persons per km²...
, another city in Fukuoka prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
. Most of its troops were drawn from the prefectures in northern Kyūshū.
The 12th Division participated in the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
, the Siberian Intervention
Siberian Intervention
The ', or the Siberian Expedition, of 1918–1922 was the dispatch of troops of the Entente powers to the Russian Maritime Provinces as part of a larger effort by the western powers and Japan to support White Russian forces against the Bolshevik Red Army during the Russian Civil War...
.
In 1932 certain elements organized as the 24th Mixed Brigade
24th Mixed Brigade (Imperial Japanese Army)
The 24th Mixed Brigade was sent by the 12th Division from Japan to the Battle of Shanghai in 1932.*24th Mixed Brigade – ? , 3,000 troops** 2nd Battalion / 14th Infantry Regiment** 1st Battalion / 24th Infantry Regiment...
participated in the First Shanghai Incident
January 28 Incident
The January 28 Incident was a short war between the armies of the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan, before official hostilities of the Second Sino-Japanese War commenced in 1937.- Naming :...
.
In 1937, it was withdrawn to Manchukuo
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
and placed under the control of the Kwangtung Army. In 1945, in the final closing stages of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, it was transferred to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, where it was assigned garrison duty. It was disbanded at the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with the remnants of the Imperial Japanese Army, mostly without having seen combat.
Notable commanders of the 12th Division include: Ando Sadami
Ando Sadami
- Notes :...
, Uchiyama Kojiro, Oi Shigemoto, Shiba Goro
Shiba Goro
-External links:*- Notes :...
, and Hajime Sugiyama.
Organization
12th Division was originally a square divisionSquare division
A square division is a designation given to the way military divisions are organized. In a square organization, the division's main body is composed of four regimental elements. Since a regiment could be split into separate battalions for tactical purposes, the natural division within a division...
with the following organization at the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
:
12th Division
- 12th Infantry Brigade
- 14th Infantry Regiment
- 47th Infantry Regiment
- 24th Infantry Brigade
- 46th Infantry Regiment
- 48th Infantry Regiment
- 24th Field Artillery Regiment
- 12th Cavalry Regiment
- 18th Engineer Regiment
- 18th Transport Regiment
Later like most square divisions in the late 1930s and early 1940s, it was reorganized as a triangular division
Triangular division
A triangular division is a designation given to the way divisions are organized. In a triangular organization, the division's main body is composed of three regimental maneuver elements. These regiments may be controlled by a brigade headquarters or directly subordinated to the division commander...
:
The Order of Battle
Order of battle
In modern use, the order of battle is the identification, command structure, strength, and disposition of personnel, equipment, and units of an armed force participating in field operations. Various abbreviations are in use, including OOB, O/B, or OB, while ORBAT remains the most common in the...
of the 12th Division included:
- 24th Infantry Regiment (FukuokaFukuoka, Fukuokais the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...
) - 46th Infantry Regiment (Omura)
- 48th Infantry Regiment (Kurume)
Reference and further reading
- Madej, W. Victor. Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945 [2 vols]
Allentown, PA: 1981