Japanese Eighteenth Area Army

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Japanese 18th Area Army

Active 1943-01-04-1945-08-15
Country Empire of Japan
Branch Imperial Japanese Army
Type Infantry
Role Field Army
Garrison/HQ Bangkok
Nickname 義 (Gi = “righteous”)
18th Area Army (1945)
Parent unit Southern Expeditionary Army
Components

The Japanese Eighteenth Area Army (第18方面軍 Dai jyūhachi hōmen gun?) was a field army of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

Contents

[edit] History

The 18th Area Army was originally formed on 1943-01-04 as the Siam Garrison Command (泰国駐屯軍司令官 Tai-koku Chūtongun shirebu?). It was renamed the Japanese Thirty-ninth Army on 1944-12-14 and became the 18th Area Army on 1945-07-07, shortly before the end of the Pacific War. [1]

The 18th Area Army was under the control of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group as a military reserve and garrison force, ostensibly to help defend the Empire of Japan's nominal ally, the Empire of Siam against possible invasion by the Allies, but in more practical terms, it was present to ensure that Siam remained an ally to Japan. It was headquartered in Bangkok.

The 18th Area Army was demobilized in Bangkok at the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945 without having seen combat.

[edit] List of Commanders

[edit] Commanding officer

Name From To Notes
1 Lieutenant General Aketo Nakamura 4 January 1943 20 December 1944 Siam Garrison Army
x Lieutenant General Aketo Nakamura 20 December 1944 14 July 1945 Japanese 39th Army
x Lieutenant General Aketo Nakamura 14 July 1944 15 August 1945 18th Area Army

[edit] Chief of Staff

Name From To Notes
1 Major General Seiji Moriya 4 January 1943 21 January 1943 Siam Garrison Army
2 Major General Kunitaro Yamada 21 January 1943 22 November 1944 Siam Garrison Army
3 Major General Hitoshi Yamada 22 November 1944 20 December 1944 Siam Garrison Army
1 Major General Hitoshi Yamada 20 December 1944 9 July 1945 Japanese 39th Army
2 Major General Tadashi Hanya 9 July 1945 14 July 1945 Japanese 39th Army
1 Major General Tadashi Hanya 14 July 1945 15 August 1945 Japanese 18th Area Army

[edit] References

[edit] Books

  • Latimer, Jon (2004). Burma: The Forgotten War. London: John Murray. ISBN: 978-0719565762. 
  • Madej, Victor (1981). Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945. Game Publishing Company. ASIN: B000L4CYWW. 

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Madej, Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945
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