40th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
Encyclopedia
was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army
. Its call sign
was the .
on 30 June 1939 in Zentsuji city
Kagawa prefecture
. Its manpower came primarily from the four prefectures of Shikoku
island. Although intended as a garrison force to maintain public order and to cover police duties in Japanese-occupied portions of China
, due to the deteriorating situation in the Second Sino-Japanese War
it was quickly assigned to front-line combat duties.
The 40th Division was initially assigned to the Japanese 11th Army on 2 October 1939 and was stationed from Hankou
to Guangji along the banks of the Yangtze River
, then the Hubei
Xianning
area.
It was involved in combat during the Battle of Zaoyang-Yichang
, Central Hopei Operation and Battle of South Henan
in 1940, and in the Second Battle of Changsha
in 1941 and Third Battle of Changsha
in 1942.
In April 1942, the 40th Division was one of the units assigned to capturing the downed American airmen of the Doolittle Mission
in what came to be known as the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Campaign. From April 1944, it was assigned to Operation Ichi-go
.
In January 1945, the 40th Division was assigned to guard the Canton - Hankou Railway. Afterwards, it came under the command of the Japanese 23rd Army and stationed in the Guangdong
-Macau
area to counter anticipated of landings by Allied forces.
However, in April 1945, as American forces invaded Okinawa, and the 40th Division received orders to withdraw from Guangdong to Shanghai
. In route, while in Nanchang
, Jiangxi
province, the war came to an end. The 40th Division's final orders were to withdraw from Nanchang to Nanjing
, where it was demobilized, and its surviving troops were returned to Sasebo
, Japan by May 1946.
Noted commanders in the history of the 40th Division have included Lt-General Naojikiro Amaya, (Manchuria 10/2/39 - 8/25/1941)
.
40th Division -
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
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 Japanese Imperial Army 40th Division was raised as a triangular divisionTriangular 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...
on 30 June 1939 in Zentsuji city
Zentsuji, Kagawa
is a city in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan.As of June 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 34,114 with 13,079 householdd and a population density of 855.42 persons per km². The total area is 39.88 km²....
Kagawa prefecture
Kagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island. The capital is Takamatsu.- History :Kagawa was formerly known as Sanuki Province.For a brief period between August 1876 and December 1888, Kagawa was made a part of Ehime Prefecture.-Battle of Yashima:...
. Its manpower came primarily from the four prefectures of Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
island. Although intended as a garrison force to maintain public order and to cover police duties in Japanese-occupied portions of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, due to the deteriorating situation in 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...
it was quickly assigned to front-line combat duties.
The 40th Division was initially assigned to the Japanese 11th Army on 2 October 1939 and was stationed from Hankou
Hankou
Hankou was one of the three cities whose merging formed modern-day Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei province, China. It stands north of the Han and Yangtze Rivers where the Han falls into the Yangtze...
to Guangji along the banks of the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
, then the Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
Xianning
Xianning
Xianning is a prefecture-level city in China's Hubei province. It is known as the "City of Osmanthus".-Geography and climate:Xianning is located in southeastern Hubei province, just south of Wuhan, between the southern bank of the Yangtze River in the north and the Mufu Mountains in the south. It...
area.
It was involved in combat during the Battle of Zaoyang-Yichang
Battle of Zaoyang-Yichang
The Battle of Zaoyang–Yichang , also known as the Battle of Zaoyi was one of the 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War....
, Central Hopei Operation and Battle of South Henan
Battle of South Henan
The Battle of South Henan , was one of the 22 major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War.This battle was the first time the NRA engaged the Japanese in southern Henan....
in 1940, and in the Second Battle of Changsha
Battle of Changsha (1941)
The Battle of Changsha was Japan's second attempt at taking the city of Changsha, China, the capital of Hunan Province, as part of the Second Sino-Japanese War.-Overview:...
in 1941 and Third Battle of Changsha
Battle of Changsha (1942)
The third Battle of Changsha was the first major offensive in China by Imperial Japanese forces following the Japanese attack on the Western Allies....
in 1942.
In April 1942, the 40th Division was one of the units assigned to capturing the downed American airmen of the Doolittle Mission
Doolittle Raid
The Doolittle Raid, on 18 April 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese Home Islands during World War II. By demonstrating that Japan itself was vulnerable to American air attack, it provided a vital morale boost and opportunity for U.S. retaliation after the...
in what came to be known as the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Campaign. From April 1944, it was assigned to Operation Ichi-go
Battle of Henan-Hunan-Guangxi
Operation Ichi-Go was a campaign of a series of major battles between the Imperial Japanese Army forces and the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China, fought from April to December 1944...
.
In January 1945, the 40th Division was assigned to guard the Canton - Hankou Railway. Afterwards, it came under the command of the Japanese 23rd Army and stationed in the Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
-Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
area to counter anticipated of landings by Allied forces.
However, in April 1945, as American forces invaded Okinawa, and the 40th Division received orders to withdraw from Guangdong to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. In route, while in Nanchang
Nanchang
Nanchang is the capital of Jiangxi Province in southeastern China. It is located in the north-central portion of the province. As it is bounded on the west by the Jiuling Mountains, and on the east by Poyang Lake, it is famous for its scenery, rich history and cultural sites...
, Jiangxi
Jiangxi
' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...
province, the war came to an end. The 40th Division's final orders were to withdraw from Nanchang to Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, where it was demobilized, and its surviving troops were returned to Sasebo
Sasebo, Nagasaki
is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 259,800 and the density of 609 persons per km². The total area is 426.47 km². The locality is famed for its scenic beauty. The city includes a part of Saikai National Park...
, Japan by May 1946.
Noted commanders in the history of the 40th Division have included Lt-General Naojikiro Amaya, (Manchuria 10/2/39 - 8/25/1941)
Organization
The 40th Division was organized as a triangular divisionTriangular 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...
.
40th Division -
- 40th Infantry Brigade group:
- 234th Infantry regiment (Marugame)
- 235th Infantry regiment (Tokushima)
- 236th Infantry regiment (Kochi)
- 40th Cavalry regiment
- 40th mountain artillery regiment
- 40th military engineer regiment
- 40th Transport regiment
Reference and further reading
- Madej, W. Victor. Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945 [2 vols]
Allentown, PA: 1981