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1st Tank Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
Encyclopedia
The , was one of four armored divisions of the Imperial Japanese Army
in World War II
.
on June 24, 1942. With the addition of one infantry regiment, it was soon raised to the status of a full armored division. Stationed in Ning'an
in northern Manchukuo, it was tasked primarily with border patrol of Manchukuo's eastern frontier with the Soviet Union
under the overall command of the Japanese First Area Army
.
As the situation in the Pacific War
against the Allies
deteriorated for Japan, in April 1944, the IJA 9th Armored Regiment of the 1st Tank Division was reassigned to the IJA 31st Army
, and sent to Saipan
, where it was annihilated at the subsequent Battle of Saipan
and Battle of Guam
. The remaining three regiments participated in Operation Ichi-Go in mainland China
.
In March 1945, the 1st Tank Division was reassigned to the Japanese home islands in preparation for the expected invasion
by Allied forces. It gained the IJA 1st Armored Regiment from the 3rd Tank Division
, and formed part of the IJA 36th Army
under the Japanese Twelfth Area Army. The headquarters unit and IJA 1st Armored Regiment were based in Sano, Tochigi
, with the IJA 5th Armored Regiment stationed at Ōtawara, Tochigi
(and later relocated to Kazo, Saitama
, and the IJA 1st Mechanized Infantry Regiment and the Division’s mechanized artillery stationed at Tochigi
. Anticipating that Allied forces would land at Kujūkuri Beach
, the 1st Tank Division was to hold a defensive line stretching from Mount Tsukuba
to the Tama River
, with forward units deployed to Choshi, Chiba
. The surrender of Japan
came before the landing, and the 1st Armored Division did not see any combat on Japanese soil.
The 1st Tank Division was demobilized
in September 1945 with the rest of the Imperial Japanese Army,
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...
in 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...
.
History
The 1st Tank Brigade was created out of four separate armored regiments based in ManchukuoManchukuo
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...
on June 24, 1942. With the addition of one infantry regiment, it was soon raised to the status of a full armored division. Stationed in Ning'an
Ning'an
Ning’an is a city located approximately 20 km southwest of Mudanjiang, in Heilongjiang province of China. It is located on the Mudanjiang River , which flows north, eventually falling into the Sungari River near Sanxing.Administratively, Ning'an is now a county-level city, and a constituent...
in northern Manchukuo, it was tasked primarily with border patrol of Manchukuo's eastern frontier with the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
under the overall command of the Japanese First Area Army
Japanese First Area Army
The was a field army of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, based in northern Manchukuo and active in combat against the Soviet Union in the closing stages of the war...
.
As the situation in 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...
against the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
deteriorated for Japan, in April 1944, the IJA 9th Armored Regiment of the 1st Tank Division was reassigned to the IJA 31st Army
Thirty-First Army (Japan)
The was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.-History:The Japanese 31st Army was formed on February 18, 1944 under the Imperial General Headquarters as a garrison force to contest landings by Allied forces in the Japanese South Seas Mandate island-by-island, and to inflict...
, and sent to Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
, where it was annihilated at the subsequent Battle of Saipan
Battle of Saipan
The Battle of Saipan was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands from 15 June-9 July 1944. The Allied invasion fleet embarking the expeditionary forces left Pearl Harbor on 5 June 1944, the day before Operation Overlord in Europe was...
and Battle of Guam
Battle of Guam
The Second Battle of Guam was the American capture of the Japanese held island of Guam, a United States territory during the Pacific campaign of World War II.-Background:...
. The remaining three regiments participated in Operation Ichi-Go in mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
.
In March 1945, the 1st Tank Division was reassigned to the Japanese home islands in preparation for the expected invasion
Operation Downfall
Operation Downfall was the Allied plan for the invasion of Japan near the end of World War II. The operation was cancelled when Japan surrendered after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan. The operation had two parts: Operation...
by Allied forces. It gained the IJA 1st Armored Regiment from the 3rd Tank Division
3rd Tank Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
The , was one of four armored divisions of the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II.-History:The 3rd Tank Division was raised in Mengjiang on June 24, 1942 as part of the Japanese Northern China Area Army under the overall aegis of the Mongolia Garrison Army...
, and formed part of the IJA 36th Army
Thirty-Sixth Army (Japan)
The was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during the final days of World War II.-History:The Japanese 36th Army was formed on July 21, 1944 under the Japanese 12th Area Army as part of the last desperate defense effort by the Empire of Japan to counter the projected invasion of the Japanese...
under the Japanese Twelfth Area Army. The headquarters unit and IJA 1st Armored Regiment were based in Sano, Tochigi
Sano, Tochigi
is a city located in Tochigi, Japan.The city took its current form on February 28, 2005 when the old city of Sano merged with the towns of Kuzu and Tanuma from Aso District to form the new city of Sano.The city is known for its Outlet Mall and ramen....
, with the IJA 5th Armored Regiment stationed at Ōtawara, Tochigi
Otawara, Tochigi
is a city located in eastern Tochigi Prefecture, Japan which is in the northern part of the Kantō region north of Tokyo. Otawara is approximately 40 kilometers north of Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi, and approximately 50 km east of the historic city of Nikkō...
(and later relocated to Kazo, Saitama
Kazo, Saitama
is a city located in Saitama, Japan.As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 117,339, with a household number of 42,778, and a density of 879.14 persons per km²...
, and the IJA 1st Mechanized Infantry Regiment and the Division’s mechanized artillery stationed at Tochigi
Tochigi, Tochigi
is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Despite its name, it is not the capital of Tochigi Prefecture; the capital is Utsunomiya.The city took its current form on March 29, 2010 when the old city of Tochigi merged with the towns of Fujioka, Ōhira and Tsuga from Shimotsuga District to form...
. Anticipating that Allied forces would land at Kujūkuri Beach
Kujukuri Beach
is a sandy beach located on the east coast of the Bōsō Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Lying within 60 km of Tokyo and being the second longest beach in Japan, it is a popular swimming and surfing destination for inhabitants of Greater Tokyo....
, the 1st Tank Division was to hold a defensive line stretching from Mount Tsukuba
Mount Tsukuba
Mount Tsukuba is an mountain located near Tsukuba, Japan. It is one of the most famous mountains in Japan, particularly well-known for its double peaks, Nyotai-san and Nantai-san . Many people climb the so-called "purple mountain" every year for the panoramic view of the Kantō plain from the...
to the Tama River
Tama River
The is a major river in Yamanashi, Kanagawa and Tokyo Prefectures on Honshū, Japan. It is officially classified as a Class 1 river by the Japanese government....
, with forward units deployed to Choshi, Chiba
Choshi, Chiba
is a city located on the Pacific Ocean coast of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is the easternmost city in the Greater Tokyo Area. The easternmost point in the Greater Tokyo Area is Cape Inubō....
. The surrender of Japan
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
came before the landing, and the 1st Armored Division did not see any combat on Japanese soil.
The 1st Tank Division was demobilized
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
in September 1945 with the rest of the Imperial Japanese Army,
Commanding officer
| Name | From | To | |
| 1 | Lieutenant General Toshimoto Hoshino | 1 September 1942 | 15 June 1945 |
| 2 | Lieutenant General Nobuo Hosomi | 15 June 1945 | 30 September 1945 |