106th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
Encyclopedia
The 106th Division was a B-class division of the Imperial Japanese Army
during the Second Sino-Japanese War
. Formed in Central China
in 1937-1938, under the Central China Expeditionary Force in the Nanjing
, Shanghai
area. The majority of the soldiers in this division were reservists, merchants and employees from Osaka
. Its first division commander was Lieutenant General Matsuura Junrokuro, a graduate from Japanese Army War College.
:
106th Division
during which it was heavily engaged in the Battle of Wanjialing
. From 1939 to 1940 the 106th Division was commanded by Lieutenant General Nakai Ryotaro. Under his command the division was in the Battle of Nanchang and the First Changsha Campaign
. The 106th was then sent to hold positions along the south bank of the Yangtze River between Wuhu and Hukou
and stood off the attacks of the Chinese 1939-40 Winter Offensive
. Afterward the division was returned to Japan and disbanded on March 9, 1940.
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 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...
. Formed in Central 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 1937-1938, under the Central China Expeditionary Force in the Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
area. The majority of the soldiers in this division were reservists, merchants and employees from Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
. Its first division commander was Lieutenant General Matsuura Junrokuro, a graduate from Japanese Army War College.
Regiments
The division was organized as a square divisionSquare division
A square division is a designation given to the way military divisions are organized. In a square organization, the division's main body is composed of four regimental elements. Since a regiment could be split into separate battalions for tactical purposes, the natural division within a division...
:
106th Division
- 111th Infantry Brigade
- 113th Infantry Regiment
- 147th Infantry Regiment
- 136th Infantry Brigade
- 125th Infantry Regiment
- 145th Infantry Regiment
- 106th Field Artillery Regiment
- 106th Cavalry Regiment
- 106th Engineer Regiment
- 106th Transport Regiment
History
The 106th Division participated in the Wuchang-Hankou CampaignBattle 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...
during which it was heavily engaged in the Battle of Wanjialing
Battle of Wanjialing
Battle of Wanjialing, well known in Chinese text as the Victory of Wanjialing refers to the Chinese Army's successful engagement during the Wuhan theatre of the Second Sino-Japanese War against the Japanese 101st and 106th Divisions around the Wanjialing region in 1938.-Chinese:In the Battle of...
. From 1939 to 1940 the 106th Division was commanded by Lieutenant General Nakai Ryotaro. Under his command the division was in the Battle of Nanchang and the First Changsha Campaign
Battle of Changsha (1939)
Battle of Changsha was the first attempt by Japan to take the city of Changsha, China, during the second Sino-Japanese War. It was the first major battle of the war to fall within the timeframe of what's widely considered World War II.- Background and strategy :The war had already reached a...
. The 106th was then sent to hold positions along the south bank of the Yangtze River between Wuhu and Hukou
Hukou
A Hukou or huji refers to the system of 'class system' residency permits which dates back to ancient China, where household registration is required by law in People's Republic of China and Republic of China ....
and stood off the attacks of the Chinese 1939-40 Winter Offensive
1939-40 Winter Offensive
The 1939–40 Winter Offensive was one of the major engagements between the National Revolutionary Army and Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
. Afterward the division was returned to Japan and disbanded on March 9, 1940.
Sources
- Madej, W. Victor, Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945 [2 vols], Allentown, PA: 1981.
- Hsu Long-hsuen and Chang Ming-kai, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) 2nd Ed. ,1971. Translated by Wen Ha-hsiung , Chung Wu Publishing; 33, 140th Lane, Tung-hwa Street, Taipei, Taiwan Republic of China.