Fifty-Ninth Army (Japan)

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Japanese Fifty-Ninth Army
Active 1945-06-15-1945-08-15
Country Empire of Japan
Branch Imperial Japanese Army
Type Infantry
Role Corps
Engagements Operation Downfall
Japanese 56th Army (1945)
Parent unit Japanese Sixteenth Area Army
Components

The Japanese 59th Army (第59軍 Dai-gojyūkyu gun?) was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during the final days of World War II.

Contents

[edit] History

The Japanese 59th Army was formed on 1945-06-15 under the Japanese 15th Area Army as part of the last desperate defense effort by the Empire of Japan to deter possible landings of Allied forces in the San'in region of western Honshū during Operation Downfall. The Japanese 59th Army consisted mostly of poorly-trained reservists, conscripted students and home guard militia. It was demobilized at the surrender of Japan on 1945-08-15 without having seen combat.

[edit] List of Commanders

[edit] Commanding officer

Name From To
1 Lieutenant General Yoji Fujii 15 June 1945 6 August 1945
2 Lieutenant General Teiki Nakanishi 6 August 1945 12 August 1945
3 Lieutenant General Jitsuo Tani 12 August 1945 15 August 1945

[edit] Chief of Staff

Name From To
1 Major General Takeo Kaji 15 June 1945 5 July 1945
2 Major General Shuitsu Matsumara 5 July 1945 18 September 1945
3 Lieutenant General Saburo Kawamura 18 August 1945 30 November 1945

[edit] References

  • Drea, Edward J. (1998). "Japanese Preparations for the Defense of the Homeland & Intelligence Forecasting for the Invasion of Japan", In the Service of the Emperor: Essays on the Imperial Japanese Army. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-1708-0. 
  • Frank, Richard B (1999). Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-41424-X. 
  • Jowett, Bernard (1999). The Japanese Army 1931-45 (Volume 2, 1942-45). Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1841763543. 
  • Madej, Victor (1981). Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945. Game Publishing Company. ASIN: B000L4CYWW. 
  • Marston, Daniel (2005). The Pacific War Companion: From Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1841768820. 
  • Skates, John Ray (1994). The Invasion of Japan: Alternative to the Bomb Downfall. New York: University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 0-87249-972-3. 

[edit] External links