8th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
Encyclopedia
was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army
. Its call-sign was the .
. It consisted of troops from the Tōhoku region of Japan, primarily Aomori Prefecture
, Akita Prefecture
and Yamagata Prefecture
. Its first commander was General Tatsumi Naofumi
, formerly commander of the Sendai Garrison.
The 8th Infantry Division became infamous in history over the Hakkōda Mountains incident
in January 1902, where 199 of 210 members of the 5th Infantry Regiment froze to death. The story was immortalized in a novel by the famous author Jirō Nitta
.
During the Russo-Japanese War
, the 8th Infantry Division distinguished itself at the Battle of Sandepu
and the subsequent Battle of Mukden
. From 1910, it was assigned to garrison duties in Korea
, and it also participated in the Siberian Intervention
.
After the Manchurian Incident of 1931, the 8th Infantry Division sent its 4th Brigade
to participate in the Invasion of Manchuria with the main body joining it in 1932 when it was stationed in Manchuria
under the control of the Kwangtung Army. There it participated in the pacification
of the newly formed Manchukuo
. Its 32nd Infantry Regiment was transferred to the newly formed 24th Division
in 1937.
In September 1944, the 8th Infantry Division was re-assigned to the Philippines
under the command of General Yamashita Tomoyuki's 14th Area Army, where it was divided between Luzon
and Leyte
islands. Following the Battle of Leyte
and the Battle of Manila
by joint Filipino and American troops, the 8th Infantry Division was almost completely annihilated and ceased to exist as an operational unit.
Noteworthy commanders in the history of the 8th Division included Tatsumi Naofumi
, Jinzaburō Mazaki
, and Toshinari Maeda
.
in 1895.
8th Division
Later in 1937 this division was reorganized as a triangular division
:
8th 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 was the .
History
The 8th Infantry Division was formed on 1 October 1898, as one of the six new reserve divisions created 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...
. It consisted of troops from the Tōhoku region of Japan, primarily Aomori Prefecture
Aomori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region. The capital is the city of Aomori.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
, Akita Prefecture
Akita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region of northern Honshu, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Akita.- History :The area of Akita has been created from the ancient provinces of Dewa and Mutsu....
and Yamagata Prefecture
Yamagata Prefecture
-Fruit:Yamagata Prefecture is the largest producer of cherries and pears in Japan. A large quantity of other kinds of fruits such as grapes, apples, peaches, melons, persimmons and watermelons are also produced.- Demographics :...
. Its first commander was General Tatsumi Naofumi
Tatsumi Naofumi
was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during the Meiji period.-Early life:Also known as ' in his youth, Tatsumi was born in the Kuwana domain's Edo residence, to Kuwana retainer Machida Dendayu, and was later adopted by his uncle, Tatsumi Johei...
, formerly commander of the Sendai Garrison.
The 8th Infantry Division became infamous in history over the Hakkōda Mountains incident
Hakkoda Mountains incident
The Hakkōda Mountains incident occurred on January 23, 1902, when a large group of Japanese soldiers on a training exercise became trapped on a mountain range, causing many of them to die....
in January 1902, where 199 of 210 members of the 5th Infantry Regiment froze to death. The story was immortalized in a novel by the famous author Jirō Nitta
Jiro Nitta
is the pen name of popular Japanese historical novelist . He was born in an area that is now part of the city of Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.-Career:...
.
During 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 8th Infantry Division distinguished itself at the Battle of Sandepu
Battle of Sandepu
The Battle of Sandepu, was a major land battle of the Russo-Japanese War. It was fought within a group of villages about 36 miles southwest of Mukden, Manchuria.-Background:...
and the subsequent Battle of Mukden
Battle of Mukden
One of the largest land battles to be fought before World War I, the , the last major land battle of the Russo-Japanese War, was fought from 20 February to 10 March 1905 between Japan and Russia near Mukden in Manchuria...
. From 1910, it was assigned to garrison duties in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, and it also participated in 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...
.
After the Manchurian Incident of 1931, the 8th Infantry Division sent its 4th Brigade
4th Mixed Brigade (Imperial Japanese Army)
The 4th Mixed Brigade of the Imperial Japanese Army was a detachment from the 8th Division, in November 1931 to Heilongjiang province to reinforce the Invasion of Manchuria. It participated in the capture of Harbin in February 1932. It rejoined its parent unit when the 8th Division came to...
to participate in the Invasion of Manchuria with the main body joining it in 1932 when it was stationed in Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
under the control of the Kwangtung Army. There it participated in the pacification
Pacification of Manchukuo
The Pacification of Manchukuo, was a campaign to pacify the resistance to the newly established puppet state of Manchukuo between the Anti-Japanese Volunteer Armies of Manchuria and later the Communist Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army and the Imperial Japanese Army and the forces of the...
of the newly formed 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...
. Its 32nd Infantry Regiment was transferred to the newly formed 24th Division
24th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its callsign was the .-History:The 24th Division was formed in Harbin, Manchukuo on 6 October 1939,as part of the Manchukuo territorial defense force under overall command of the 5th Army group of the Kwangtung Army.In July 1944, it was...
in 1937.
In September 1944, the 8th Infantry Division was re-assigned to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
under the command of General Yamashita Tomoyuki's 14th Area Army, where it was divided between Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
and Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
islands. Following the Battle of Leyte
Battle of Leyte
The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of the island of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Filipino guerrilla forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines led by...
and the Battle of Manila
Battle of Manila
- Land battles :* Battle of Manila - Spanish forces and their various allies drove out the ruling Muslim elite and founded the capital city of the Philippines* Battle of Manila - A British victory in the Seven Years' War* Battle of Manila - U.S...
by joint Filipino and American troops, the 8th Infantry Division was almost completely annihilated and ceased to exist as an operational unit.
Noteworthy commanders in the history of the 8th Division included Tatsumi Naofumi
Tatsumi Naofumi
was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during the Meiji period.-Early life:Also known as ' in his youth, Tatsumi was born in the Kuwana domain's Edo residence, to Kuwana retainer Machida Dendayu, and was later adopted by his uncle, Tatsumi Johei...
, Jinzaburō Mazaki
Jinzaburo Mazaki
- Notes :...
, and Toshinari Maeda
Toshinari Maeda
- Notes :...
.
Organization
The 8th Division was first raised as 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...
in 1895.
8th Division
- 4th Infantry Brigade
- 5th Infantry Regiment
- 31st Infantry Regiment
- 16th Infantry Brigade
- 17th Infantry Regiment
- 32nd Infantry Regiment
- 8th Mountain Artillery Regiment
- 8th Cavalry Regiment
- 8th Engineer Regiment
- 8th Transport Regiment
Later in 1937 this division 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...
:
8th Division
- 5th Infantry Regiment (Aomori)
- 17th Infantry Regiment (Akita)
- 31st Infantry Regiment (Hirosaki)
- 8th Artillery Regiment
- 8th Recon Regiment
- 8th Engineer Regiment
- 8th Transport Regiment