24th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)

IJA 24th Division (第24師団, Hohei Ni-ju-Yon Shidan^?) was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its callsign was the Mountain Division (山兵団, Yamahei-dan^?).

History

The 24th Division was formed in Harbin, Manchukuo on 6 October 1939,as part of the Manchukuo territorial defense force under overall command of the 5th Army group of the Kwangtung Army.

In July 1944, it was withdrawn to Japan, and assigned to Okinawa prefecture as part of the final defense of the Japanese home islands against the American invasion. It was annihilated during the Battle of Okinawa.

Organization

The Order of Battle of the 24th Division included:

IJA 24th Division

• 24th Infantry Brigade
  • 22nd Infantry Regiment (Matsuyama)
  • 32nd Infantry Regiment (Yamagata)
  • 89th Infantry Regiment (Asahikawa)
• 24th Security Regiment
• 42nd Field Artillery Regiment
• 24th Construction Regiment
• 24th Transport Regiment

See also

• List of Japanese Infantry Divisions

Reference and further reading

• Madej, W. Victor, Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945 [2 vols]

Allentown, PA: 1981