Japanese Tenth Area Army

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Japanese 10th Area Army
Active 1944-09-29-1945-08-15
Country Empire of Japan
Branch Imperial Japanese Army
Type Infantry
Role Field Army
Garrison/HQ Taipei
Nickname 湾 (Wan = “bay”)
10th Area Army (1945)
Parent unit Imperial General Headquarters
Components
  • Japanese 32nd Army
  • 19th Infantry Division
  • 12th Infantry Division
  • 50th Infantry Division
  • 66th Infantry Division
  • 71st Infantry Division
  • IJA 8th Air Division
  • IJA 61st Independent Mixed Brigade
  • IJA 75th Independent Mixed Brigade
  • IJA 76th Independent Mixed Brigade
  • IJA 100th Independent Mixed Brigade
  • IJA 102nd Independent Mixed Brigade
  • IJA 103rd Independent Mixed Brigade
  • IJA 112th Independent Mixed Brigade
  • Hoko-shoto Garrison Force

The Japanese Tenth Area Army (第10方面軍 Dai-jū hōmen-gun?) was a field army of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

Contents

[edit] History

The 10th Area Army was originally formed out of the Taiwan Army of Japan on 1944-09-29 under the Imperial General Headquarters as part of the last desperate defense effort by the Empire of Japan to deter possible landings of Allied forces in Taiwan during Operation Downfall (or Operation Ketsugō (決号作戦 Ketsugō sakusen?) in Japanese terminology).. It was headquartered in Taipei. [1]

As with similar field armies raised on the Japanese home islands during this time, the 10th Area Army consisted mostly of poorly-trained reservists, conscripted students and home guard militia. In addition, the Japanese had organized the Patriotic Citizens Fighting Corps — which included all healthy men aged 15–60 and women 17–40 — to perform combat support, and ultimately combat jobs. Weapons, training, and uniforms were generally lacking: some men were armed with nothing better than muzzle-loading muskets, longbows, or bamboo spears; nevertheless, they were expected to make do with what they had.[2]

The 10th Area Army was demobilized at the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945 without having seen combat in Taiwan, although units transferred to the Ryukyu islands for the Battle of Okinawa were annihilated by superior American forces.

[edit] List of Commanders

Name From To
Commanding officer General Rikichi Ando 22 September 1944 15 August 1945
Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Haruki Isayama 22 September 1944 15 August 1945

[edit] References

[edit] Books

  • 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
  2. ^ Frank, Downfall, p. 188–9. Bauer and Coox, OLYMPIC VS KETSU-GO.
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