Thirty-Eighth Army (Japan)
Encyclopedia
The was an army
of the Imperial Japanese Army
during World War II
.
following the Japanese invasion and occupation of French Indochina.
On November 12, 1944, with the threat of possible landings of Allied forces
to retake French Indochina
increasing, the organizational structure of the Southern Expeditionary Army changed, and the Indochina Garrison Army was re-designated the Japanese Thirty-Eighth Army. It remained stationed in French Indochina
as a garrison
force as before.
The Japanese 38th Army was involved in the Second French Indochina Campaign
of March 1945, which resulted in the proclamation of the Empire of Vietnam
independent from French rule.
The Japanese 38th Army was demobilized
at the surrender of Japan
on August 15, 1945 at Hanoi
.
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
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...
during 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...
.
History
The was formed on September 9, 1942 under the Southern Expeditionary Army GroupSouthern 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....
following the Japanese invasion and occupation of French Indochina.
On November 12, 1944, with the threat of possible landings of 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...
to retake French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
increasing, the organizational structure of the Southern Expeditionary Army changed, and the Indochina Garrison Army was re-designated the Japanese Thirty-Eighth Army. It remained stationed in French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
as a garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
force as before.
The Japanese 38th Army was involved in the Second French Indochina Campaign
Second French Indochina Campaign
The Second French Indochina Campaign, also known as the Japanese coup of March 1945, was a Japanese military operation in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, then a French colony and known as French Indochina, during the final months of the Second World War. Vietnam was not a real colony at this time. The...
of March 1945, which resulted in the proclamation of the Empire of Vietnam
Empire of Vietnam
The Empire of Vietnam was a short-lived puppet state of Imperial Japan governing the whole of Vietnam between March 11 and August 23, 1945.-History:...
independent from French rule.
The Japanese 38th Army was demobilized
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
at the surrender of Japan
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
on August 15, 1945 at Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
.
Commanding officer
| Name | From | To | ||
| 1 | Lieutenant General Viscount Kazumoto Machijiri Kazumoto Machijiri -External links:**... |
10 November 1942 | 22 November 1944 | Indochina Garrison Army |
| 2 | Lieutenant General Yuitsu Tsuchihashi | 22 November 1944 | 20 December 1944 | Indochina Garrison Army |
| 3 | Lieutenant General Yuitsu Tsuchihashi | 20 December 194] | September 1945 | Japanese 38th Army |
Chief of Staff
| Name | From | To | ||
| 1 | Lieutenant General Saburo Kawamura | 5 December 1942 | 22 November 1944 | Indochina Garrison Army |
| 2 | Lieutenant General Saburo Kawamura | 20 December 1944 | 2 June 1945 | Japanese 38th Army |
| 3 | Major General Teiji Koudo | 2 June 1945 | September 1945 | Japanese 38th Army |