17th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
Encyclopedia
was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army
. Its call-sign was the .
in November, 1907, together with the 18th Infantry Division. From 1915 to 1927 it was stationed in Manchuria
. It contributed to Japan's efforts against German positions in China
in World War I
, and participated in the Siberian Intervention
.
However, in 1925, the 17th Division was one of the four division dissolved by Minister of War Ugaki Kazushige as part of a cost saving measure during the Kato Takaaki
administration.
The 17th Division was resurrected in April 1938 with the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War
, and as part of the China Expeditionary Army participated in the Battle of Wuhan
.
In 1943 it was re-assigned to the Southern Expeditionary Army Group
, and was transferred to New Britain
under command of the 8th Area Army headquartered in Rabaul
. Its survivors surrendered on New Britain to American forces with the end of the Pacific War
in August 1945.
Some of its more noteworthy commanders included Hyoe Ichinohe, Fusataro Hongo, and Yasushi Sakai.
of the 17th Division included:
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
. Its call-sign was the .
History
The 17th Division was formed in HimeijiHimeji, Hyogo
is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 535,945, with 206,409 households. The total area is 534.43 km².- History :...
in November, 1907, together with the 18th Infantry Division. From 1915 to 1927 it was stationed in Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
. It contributed to Japan's efforts against German positions in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and participated in the Siberian Intervention
Siberian Intervention
The ', or the Siberian Expedition, of 1918–1922 was the dispatch of troops of the Entente powers to the Russian Maritime Provinces as part of a larger effort by the western powers and Japan to support White Russian forces against the Bolshevik Red Army during the Russian Civil War...
.
However, in 1925, the 17th Division was one of the four division dissolved by Minister of War Ugaki Kazushige as part of a cost saving measure during the Kato Takaaki
Kato Takaaki
Count was a Japanese politician and the 24th Prime Minister of Japan from 11 June 1924 to 28 January 1926. He was also known as Katō Kōmei.- Early life :...
administration.
The 17th Division was resurrected in April 1938 with the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, and as part of the China Expeditionary Army participated in the Battle of Wuhan
Battle of Wuhan
The Battle of Wuhan, popularly known to the Chinese as the Defence of Wuhan, and to the Japanese as the Capture of Wuhan, was a large-scale battle of the Second Sino-Japanese War...
.
In 1943 it was re-assigned to the Southern Expeditionary Army Group
Southern Expeditionary Army Group
The was a army group of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. It was responsible for all military operations in South East Asian and South West Pacific campaigns of World War II....
, and was transferred to New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
under command of the 8th Area Army headquartered in Rabaul
Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
. Its survivors surrendered on New Britain to American forces with the end of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
in August 1945.
Some of its more noteworthy commanders included Hyoe Ichinohe, Fusataro Hongo, and Yasushi Sakai.
Organization
The Order of BattleOrder of battle
In modern use, the order of battle is the identification, command structure, strength, and disposition of personnel, equipment, and units of an armed force participating in field operations. Various abbreviations are in use, including OOB, O/B, or OB, while ORBAT remains the most common in the...
of the 17th Division included:
- 53rd Infantry Regiment
- 54th Infantry Regiment
- 2nd Combined Infantry Regiment
- 6th Combined Infantry Regiment
- 23rd Field Artillery Regiment
- 17th Construction Regiment
- 17th Transport Regiment.
Reference and further reading
- Madej, W. Victor, Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945 [2 vols], Allentown, PA: 1981