26th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)

IJA Twenty Sixth Division (第26師団 Niju-roku Shidan?) was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Spring Division (泉兵団 Izumi Heidan?).

Contents

History

The 26th Division was raised in September 1937 out of the three independent infantry regiments from the original 11th Independent Mixed Brigade and reserve components various divisions based in Manchukuo. It has the distinction of being the first triangular division Japan formed. Intended initially as a garrison force to provide security for central Manchukuo, on July 4, 1938 it was attached to the forming Mongolia Garrison Army in Inner Mongolia. With the situation in the Pacific War against the United States becoming critical, in July 1944 it was transferred to the Japanese 14th Area Army based in Manila, Philippines. There it was largely annihilated at the subsequent Battle of Leyte, and continued from the battles by joint Filipino and American troops by liberated the Philippines against the Japanese from 1944 to 1945.

Organization

The order of battle for the 26th Division included:

IJA 26th Division

See also

Reference and further reading

Allentown, PA: 1981