32nd Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
Encyclopedia
The Imperial Japanese Army's
32nd Division was an infantry
division
during World War II
. The division was raised in February 1939 and was stationed in China from May 1939. In April 1944 it was deployed to Halmahera
in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) and surrendered to the US Army in August 1945.
in February 1939. Its main subunits were the 210th, 211th and 212th infantry regiment
s, the 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 32nd Engineer Regiment, 32nd Division Signal Unit, 32nd Transport Regiment and 32nd Medical Unit. The division also included the 32nd Infantry Group Tankette Company when it was formed, but this was later removed.
The division left Japan in May 1939 to participate in the Second Sino-Japanese War
. It arrived in southeast Shantung in June and saw action in Japanese operations there. The division later moved to Tsinan in north China where it remained until it departed for Mindanao
in April 1944.
The 32nd Division suffered heavy losses from United States Navy
submarine
attacks during its voyage from China in the Take Ichi convoy
. On 26 April almost all the men one of the division's regiments were lost when their transport ship was sunk north west of Luzon
. The convoy carrying the division put in at Manila
between 29 April and 1 May where its destination was changed to Halmahera. The convoy carrying the division was attacked by US submarines near the northeastern tip of Celebes
on 6 May. This and the previous attack reduced the division's strength to just five infantry battalion
s and one and a half artillery battalions. The surviving transports arrived at Halmahera on 9 May.
The division saw action against the United States Army
during the Battle of Morotai
from September 1944 until the end of the war. Two battalions of the 211th Infantry Regiment were sent to Morotai
, which was only a short distance from Halmahera, to develop an airfield in May 1944, but these were withdrawn in July when the airfield was abandoned due to drainage problems. This left Morotai only lightly defended when a large Allied force landed there on 15 September, and the Allies were able to quickly secure their objectives in the island's south west. Elements of the 32nd Division, including the 3rd Battalion of the 210th Infantry Regiment and the entire 211th Infantry Regiment, were transported to Morotai through a US Navy blockade between September and November in an attempt to attack the Allied base which was being developed on the island. The division was not able to launch this attack, however, as sufficient supplies couldn't be brought through the US blockade. As a result, the Japanese troops on Morotai retreated to the center of the island where many died from disease and starvation.
The 32nd Division continued to fight against the US forces on Morotai until the end of the war. In December 1944 the US 136th Infantry Regiment launched an offensive against the 211th Regiment's positions on Morotai. The US force assaulted the main Japanese positions on 3 January 1945, capturing them two days later. Following this the Americans pursued the remnants of the 211th Regiment until 14 January, but which time they claimed to have killed 870 Japanese soldiers and captured ten for a loss of 46 killed and 127 wounded and injured. The US 93rd Infantry Division launched a further offensive against the Japanese on Morotai in April 1945 and captured the 211th Regiment's commander on 6 August. Following the end of the war, the remnants of the 32nd Division on Morotai and Halmahera surrendered to the 93rd Infantry Division on 26 August 1945.
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...
32nd Division was an infantry
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
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
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...
. The division was raised in February 1939 and was stationed in China from May 1939. In April 1944 it was deployed to Halmahera
Halmahera
Halmahera is the largest island in the Maluku Islands. It is part of the North Maluku province of Indonesia.Halmahera has a land area of 17,780 km² and a population in 1995 of 162,728...
in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) and surrendered to the US Army in August 1945.
History
The 32nd Division was activated at TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in February 1939. Its main subunits were the 210th, 211th and 212th infantry regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
s, the 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 32nd Engineer Regiment, 32nd Division Signal Unit, 32nd Transport Regiment and 32nd Medical Unit. The division also included the 32nd Infantry Group Tankette Company when it was formed, but this was later removed.
The division left Japan in May 1939 to participate in 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...
. It arrived in southeast Shantung in June and saw action in Japanese operations there. The division later moved to Tsinan in north China where it remained until it departed for Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
in April 1944.
The 32nd Division suffered heavy losses from United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
attacks during its voyage from China in the Take Ichi convoy
Take Ichi convoy
The convoy was a Japanese convoy of World War II. The convoy left Shanghai on 17 April 1944, carrying two infantry divisions to reinforce Japan's defensive positions in the Philippines and western New Guinea. United States Navy submarines attacked the convoy on 26 April and 6 May, sinking four...
. On 26 April almost all the men one of the division's regiments were lost when their transport ship was sunk north west of Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
. The convoy carrying the division put in at Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
between 29 April and 1 May where its destination was changed to Halmahera. The convoy carrying the division was attacked by US submarines near the northeastern tip of Celebes
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
on 6 May. This and the previous attack reduced the division's strength to just five infantry battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s and one and a half artillery battalions. The surviving transports arrived at Halmahera on 9 May.
The division saw action against the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Battle of Morotai
Battle of Morotai
The Battle of Morotai, part of the Pacific War, began on September 15, 1944, and continued until the war ended in August 1945. The fighting began when United States and Australian forces landed on the south-west corner of Morotai, a small island in the Netherlands East Indies , which the Allies...
from September 1944 until the end of the war. Two battalions of the 211th Infantry Regiment were sent to Morotai
Morotai
Morotai Island Regency is a regency of North Maluku province, Indonesia, located on Morotai Island. The population was 54,876 in 2007.-History:...
, which was only a short distance from Halmahera, to develop an airfield in May 1944, but these were withdrawn in July when the airfield was abandoned due to drainage problems. This left Morotai only lightly defended when a large Allied force landed there on 15 September, and the Allies were able to quickly secure their objectives in the island's south west. Elements of the 32nd Division, including the 3rd Battalion of the 210th Infantry Regiment and the entire 211th Infantry Regiment, were transported to Morotai through a US Navy blockade between September and November in an attempt to attack the Allied base which was being developed on the island. The division was not able to launch this attack, however, as sufficient supplies couldn't be brought through the US blockade. As a result, the Japanese troops on Morotai retreated to the center of the island where many died from disease and starvation.
The 32nd Division continued to fight against the US forces on Morotai until the end of the war. In December 1944 the US 136th Infantry Regiment launched an offensive against the 211th Regiment's positions on Morotai. The US force assaulted the main Japanese positions on 3 January 1945, capturing them two days later. Following this the Americans pursued the remnants of the 211th Regiment until 14 January, but which time they claimed to have killed 870 Japanese soldiers and captured ten for a loss of 46 killed and 127 wounded and injured. The US 93rd Infantry Division launched a further offensive against the Japanese on Morotai in April 1945 and captured the 211th Regiment's commander on 6 August. Following the end of the war, the remnants of the 32nd Division on Morotai and Halmahera surrendered to the 93rd Infantry Division on 26 August 1945.