Imperial Volunteer Corps
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The Imperial Volunteer Corps was created in Japan during 1944-45, as armed civil defense units supporting the Japanese Armed Forces, and for the defense of the country in a last decisive battle on the homeland. It was the Japanese equivalent of the German Volkssturm. Its Commander-in-Chief was General Koiso Kuniaki.
These units were created for Civilians with weapons experience, former military and Army or Navy reservists, recalled to defensive action, along with civilians with knowledge of weapons or possibly training between ages of 14 to 61 years, and unmarried females of 14 to 40 years.
These defensive units used weapons including:
- Type 94 8 mm pistol
- Type 99 rifle
- Type 38 rifle
- TERA rifle
- Type 44 cavalry rifle
- Bergmann sub machine gun
- Type 100 sub machine gun
- Type 1 heavy machine gun
- Type 5 45 mm Recoilless gun
- Type 4 70 mm AT rocket launcher
- Rifle grenade dischargers
- Type 10 grenade discharger
- Type 89 grenade discharger
- Type 99 grenade
- Type 91 grenade
- Ceramic Grenade
- Special anti-tank weapon "Lunge AT Mine" (AT Mine in Bamboo Pole)
Or other less sophisticated arms such as:
- Bottles with gasoline or diesel ("Molotov Cocktails")
- Craftsmanship explosives
- Simple bamboo or wood poles
- Swords, bayonets, knives and white weapons
- Older and antiquated firearms
Training in the use of military weapons was in the charge of retired or active military officers, who were also are their commanders. These groups were subordinated to the Emperor, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief or all Japanese Imperial Forces.
This group was the main reserve along the "second defense line" of Japanese forces to sustain defensive actions and resistance or "guerrilla" actions in cities, towns or mountains. At the same time were organized similar units in exterior provinces, particularly the units in Korea under Japanese rule, Kwantung and Karafuto who sustained heavy resistance on the enemy during the last days of conflict.
These units were linked with Tonarigumi, Imperial Youth Federation and Imperial Youth Corps to coordinate civil defense efforts. In a hypothetical last combat they would have joined the civil police services, Japanese Imperial Army and Japanese Imperial Navy.
