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38th Infantry Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
Encyclopedia
The was a line infantry
division of the Imperial Japanese Army
. The division saw heavy action during the Pacific campaign
of World War II
, including the conquest of Hong Kong
in 1941, the Dutch East Indies
in early 1942, and the Guadalcanal Campaign
from October 1942 to February 1943. The division took heavy losses in the failed attempt to retake Guadalcanal from Allied forces
and was thereafter assigned to the defense of the Admiralty Islands
, New Britain
, and New Ireland until the end of the war.
The division's main line units were the 228th, 229th, and 230th Infantry regiments. The 228th consisted mainly of conscripts from Nagoya, Japan, the 229th from Gifu Prefecture
, and the 230th from Shizuoka Prefecture
. The division was disbanded at the end of World War II with the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Army.
The division's soldiers were often accused of committing war crimes
during their operations in the Pacific theater. One of the division's senior officers, Takeo Itō
, was convicted of war crimes by an Allied military tribunal
after the war.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
division of the Imperial Japanese Army
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...
. The division saw heavy action during the Pacific campaign
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...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, including the conquest of Hong Kong
Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong took place during the Pacific campaign of World War II. It began on 8 December 1941 and ended on 25 December 1941 with Hong Kong, then a Crown colony, surrendering to the Empire of Japan.-Background:...
in 1941, the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies campaign
The Dutch East Indies campaign of 1941–1942 was the conquest of the Dutch East Indies by forces from the Empire of Japan in the early days of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Forces from the Allies attempted unsuccessfully to defend the islands. Indonesia was targeted by the Japanese for its...
in early 1942, and the Guadalcanal Campaign
Guadalcanal campaign
The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by Allied forces, was a military campaign fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9, 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theatre of World War II...
from October 1942 to February 1943. The division took heavy losses in the failed attempt to retake Guadalcanal from Allied forces
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
and was thereafter assigned to the defense of the Admiralty Islands
Admiralty Islands
The Admiralty Islands are a group of eighteen islands in the Bismarck Archipelago, to the north of New Guinea in the south Pacific Ocean. These are also sometimes called the Manus Islands, after the largest island. These rainforest-covered islands form part of Manus Province, the smallest and...
, 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...
, and New Ireland until the end of the war.
The division's main line units were the 228th, 229th, and 230th Infantry regiments. The 228th consisted mainly of conscripts from Nagoya, Japan, the 229th from Gifu Prefecture
Gifu Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
, and the 230th from Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
. The division was disbanded at the end of World War II with the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Army.
The division's soldiers were often accused of committing war crimes
Japanese war crimes
Japanese war crimes occurred during the period of Japanese imperialism, primarily during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. Some of the incidents have also been described as an Asian Holocaust and Japanese war atrocities...
during their operations in the Pacific theater. One of the division's senior officers, Takeo Itō
Takeo Ito
was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.-Biography:Takeo Itō was born in the city of Fukuoka in the Fukuoka prefecture The commanding officer of the IJA 228th Infantry Regiment at the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, he assumed command of 114th Infantry Regiment on...
, was convicted of war crimes by an Allied military tribunal
Military tribunal
A military tribunal is a kind of military court designed to try members of enemy forces during wartime, operating outside the scope of conventional criminal and civil proceedings. The judges are military officers and fulfill the role of jurors...
after the war.