| 35th Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1939–1945 |
| Country | Japan |
| Branch | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Engagements | Second Sino-Japanese War Battle of Biak Battle of Sansapor |
The 35th Division was a line division of the Imperial Japanese Army which fought in China and western New Guinea during the Pacific War. The division was formed in 1939 and was disbanded in 1945.
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The 35th Division was activated at Higashi in February 1939. Its main subunits were the 219th, 220th and 221st infantry regiments, 35th Infantry Group Tankette Company, 35th Field Artillery Regiment, 35th Engineer Regiment, 35th Transport Regiment, 35th Division Signal Unit and 35th Division Medical Unit.[1]
The division deployed to China in May 1939 to participate in the Second Sino-Japanese War. It initially operated in Shansi and northern Honan. From some time in 1940 to March 1944 the 35th Division was stationed in the Kaifeng area of north China.[2] The division was reorganised between June 1943 and March 1944, and this led to the artillery regiment and tankette company being removed. The engineer and transport regiments were also downgraded to 'units' and the medical unit was replaced by a field hospital.[2]
The 35th Division was selected for service in western New Guinea in early April 1944. The 219th Regiment was detached to garrison the St. Andrew Islands and sailed from Yokohama on 6 April. The divisional headquarters also sailed with the 219th Regiment, but was to trans-ship at Palau and continue to New Guinea.[3] The remainder of the division left Shanghai on 17 April in the Take Ichi convoy.[4] The convoy was attacked by United States Navy submarines on 26 April and 6 May, and was diverted to Halmahera in the Netherlands East Indies to prevent further attacks. Transports carrying elements of the division were sunk during the 6 May attack, and only four of the division's six infantry battalions which embarked in the convoy and a single artillery battery remained at the end of the voyage.[5]
The 35th Division was moved forward from Halmahera to Sorong in small ships during May.[6] The 219th Regiment was also successfully transferred to New Guinea, though a battalion was left behind to garrison the St. Andrew Islands.[3] Elements of the 35th Division subsequently fought in the Battle of Biak and Battle of Sansapor, but most of the division was stationed on the Vogelkop Peninsula and was isolated there from September 1944 until the end of the war.[7]