Fortieth Army (Japan)

The Japanese 40th Army (第40軍, Dai-yonjyū gun) was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during the final stages of World War II.

Japanese Fortieth Army
ActiveJanuary 12, 1945 - August 15, 1945　
CountryEmpire of Japan
BranchImperial Japanese Army
TypeInfantry
RoleCorps
Garrison/HQIjuin, Kagoshima
Nickname(s)Yō (陽, positive)
EngagementsOperation Downfall
Planned Allied landings on Kyūshū during Operation Downfall.

History

The Japanese 40th Army was formed on January 8, 1945 in Chiayi, Taiwan, and subordinated to the Japanese 10 Area Army 16 January 1945.

As part of the last desperate defense effort by the Empire of Japan to deter possible landings of Allied forces in southern Kyūshū during Operation Downfall, the 40th Army headquarters were transferred to Kagoshima 14 May 1945. The thus reformed 40th Army consisted mostly of poorly trained and poorly armed 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.[1]

One mobilized high school girl, Yukiko Kasai, found herself issued an awl and told, "Even killing one American soldier will do. … You must aim for the abdomen."[2]

It was demobilized at the surrender of Japan on August 15, 1945 without having seen combat.

List of Commanders
NameFromTo
Commanding officerLieutenant General Mitsuo Nakasawa12 January 194515 August 1945
Chief of StaffMajor General Kyuji Adachi12 January 194515 August 1945
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References
  1. Frank, Downfall, p. 188–9. Bauer and Coox, OLYMPIC VS KETSU-GO.
  2. Frank, Downfall, p. 189.

Books
  • Drea, Edward J. (1998). "Japanese Preparations for the Defense of the Homeland & Intelligence Forecasting for the Invasion of Japan". In the Service of the Emperor: Essays on the Imperial Japanese Army. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-1708-0.
  • Frank, Richard B (1999). Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-41424-X.
  • Jowett, Bernard (1999). The Japanese Army 1931-45 (Volume 2, 1942-45). Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-354-3.
  • Madej, Victor (1981). Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945. Game Publishing Company. ASIN: B000L4CYWW.
  • Marston, Daniel (2005). The Pacific War Companion: From Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-882-0.
  • Skates, John Ray (1994). The Invasion of Japan: Alternative to the Bomb Downfall. New York: University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 0-87249-972-3.
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