20th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
Encyclopedia
was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army
. Its call sign
was the .
were raised on 24 December 1915 as a garrison force for Korea
. After Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War
, and subsequent occupation, and then annexation of Korea
, the need was felt for a dedicated garrison force, raised from people with local knowledge. The 20th Division was stationed in central Korea, in what is now Yongsan-gu
, Seoul
and was responsible for the security of southern Korea. Although officially raised in 1915, due to budgetary issues, the 20th Division existed only on paper until 1918.
After the Manchurian Incident, its strength was increased by the addition of the 29th Infantry Regiment. In 1931, the 20th Division was stationed in the Liaodong Peninsula at Jinzhou
. In 1937 it was present at the Marco Polo Bridge Incident
. However, in July 1937, without having seen any combat, it was withdrawn back to Keijo.
In September, 1942, its 77th Infantry Regiment was elevated into the 30th Division. From 1943, the remainder of the 20th Infantry Division was transferred to the Japanese Eighteenth Army in the Southern Area Command (New Guinea
). Of the approximately 25,000 men dispatched, only 1,711 survived the war. More men died in New Guinea from malaria
and malnutrition
than from combat with the Americans or Australians.
for the 20th Division included:
As of July 1937, the 20th Division was a (Square Division) commanded by Lieutenant-General Bunsaburo Kawakishi:
IJA 20th Division
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
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
was the .
History
The 20th Division and the 19th Division19th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the .-History:The 19th Division and the 20th Division were raised on 24 December 1915 as a garrison force for Korea. After Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War, and subsequent occupation, and then annexation of Korea,...
were raised on 24 December 1915 as a garrison force for Korea
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
. After Japan's victory 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...
, and subsequent occupation, and then annexation of Korea
Eulsa Treaty
The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905, also known as the Eulsa Treaty or Japan–Korea Protectorate Treaty, was made between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire in 1905. Negotiations were concluded on November 17, 1905....
, the need was felt for a dedicated garrison force, raised from people with local knowledge. The 20th Division was stationed in central Korea, in what is now Yongsan-gu
Yongsan-gu
Yongsan-gu is a district of Seoul, South Korea. Its name means "Dragon Hill", derived from the hanja characters for dragon and hill/mountain . It sits to the North of the Han River under the shadow of Seoul Tower. Geographically, it is located right in the center of Seoul. It is home to roughly...
, Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
and was responsible for the security of southern Korea. Although officially raised in 1915, due to budgetary issues, the 20th Division existed only on paper until 1918.
After the Manchurian Incident, its strength was increased by the addition of the 29th Infantry Regiment. In 1931, the 20th Division was stationed in the Liaodong Peninsula at Jinzhou
Jinzhou
Jinzhou , is a prefecture-level city of Liaoning province, China. It is a geographically strategic city located in the "Liaoxi Corridor" , which connects land transportation between North China and Northeast China. Jinzhou is China's northernmost seaport and the coastal economic center of West...
. In 1937 it was present at the Marco Polo Bridge Incident
Marco Polo Bridge Incident
The Marco Polo Bridge Incident was a battle between the Republic of China's National Revolutionary Army and the Imperial Japanese Army, often used as the marker for the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War .The eleven-arch granite bridge, Lugouqiao, is an architecturally significant structure,...
. However, in July 1937, without having seen any combat, it was withdrawn back to Keijo.
In September, 1942, its 77th Infantry Regiment was elevated into the 30th Division. From 1943, the remainder of the 20th Infantry Division was transferred to the Japanese Eighteenth Army in the Southern Area Command (New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
). Of the approximately 25,000 men dispatched, only 1,711 survived the war. More men died in New Guinea from malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
and malnutrition
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is the condition that results from taking an unbalanced diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess , or in the wrong proportions....
than from combat with the Americans or Australians.
Organization
The original order of battleOrder 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...
for the 20th Division included:
- 39th Infantry Regiment
- 40th Infantry Regiment
- 28th Cavalry Regiment
- 26th Field Artillery Regiment
- 20th Engineering Regiment
As of July 1937, the 20th Division was a (Square Division) commanded by Lieutenant-General Bunsaburo Kawakishi:
IJA 20th Division
- 39th Infantry Brigade
- 77th Infantry Regiment
- 78th Infantry Regiment
- 40th Infantry Brigade
- 79th Infantry Regiment
- 80th Infantry Regiment
- 26th Field Artillery Regiment
- 28th Cavalry Regiment
- 20th Engineer Regiment
- 20th Transport Regiment
Reference and further reading
- Madej, W. Victor. Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937–1945 [2 vols], Allentown, PA: 1981