Gando Special Force
Encyclopedia
was an independent battalion
in the Manchukuo Imperial Army
composed primarily of ethnic Koreans, tasked with suppressing anti-Japanese, anti-Manchukuo, and pro-communist militant
groups in border areas between northern Korea
and Manchukuo
.
province in Manchuria
, known in Korean
as “Gando”, was an area that had been inhabited largely by ethnic Koreans since the ancient kingdoms of Goguryeo
and Balhae
. After the Japanese annexation of Korea by the Empire of Japan
in 1905, many Koreans opposed to the annexation relocated from Korea to Gando and established anti-Japanese resistance movements. Many of these movements came later under the control of the Chinese Communist Party via the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army
.
From 1907, the Japanese government claimed jurisdiction over all ethnic Koreans regardless of physical location, and friction increased with the government of Qing dyansty China
over control of the Gando area, cumulating in the Gando Convention
of 1909. After the Manchurian Incident, and the establishment of Japanese control over all of Manchuria in 1931, another wave of Korean immigation occurred, this time with Japanese encouragement, to help cement Japanese claims on the territory.
With the establishment of Manchukuo
in 1932, the situation in Gando was very unstable, with the local population rent into pro-Japanese and anti-Japanese / anti-Manchukuo factions, many of which resorted to guerrilla warfare
tactics. In an effort to subjugate the region, the Kwantung Army recruited pro-Japanese Koreans into a special warfare force, which it incorporated into, and had trained by the Manchukuo Imperial Army primarily in counter insurgency
tactics. A number of ethnic Koreans saw better opportunities for advancement via the Manchukuo military academies which would have been possible in the Imperial Japanese Army
, and joined the new force. These included future Republic of Korea generals Paik Sun-yup. Historian Philip Jowett noted that during the Japanese occupation of Manchuria, the Gando Special Force had "earned a reputation for brutality and was reported to have laid waste to large areas which came under its rule."
After the surrender of Japan
, many members of the Gando Special Force were incorporated into the new Republic of Korea Army
by the United States Army
, for their training and intimate knowledge of the terrain and tactics of the communist North Korean Army
in many northern areas of the Korean peninsula
. Some later rose to high positions within the government of the Republic of Korea. However, for the most part members of the Gando Special Force are regarded as Chinilpa
s in modern Korea for their role in suppressing groups advocating Korean independence.
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...
in the Manchukuo Imperial Army
Manchukuo Imperial Army
The Manchukuo Imperial Army was the armed force of the Japanese dominated puppet state of Manchukuo, serving as the land forces, along with the Manchukuo Imperial Guards...
composed primarily of ethnic Koreans, tasked with suppressing anti-Japanese, anti-Manchukuo, and pro-communist militant
Militant
The word militant, which is both an adjective and a noun, usually is used to mean vigorously active, combative and aggressive, especially in support of a cause, as in 'militant reformers'. It comes from the 15th century Latin "militare" meaning "to serve as a soldier"...
groups in border areas between northern Korea
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
and Manchukuo
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
.
History
The Jiandao region of KirinKirin
Kirin may refer to:People*Ivica Kirin , politician, former Interior Minister of Croatia*Kirin Kiki , Japanese TV and film actressCompanies* Kirin Brewery Company, a Japanese brewing company...
province 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...
, known in Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
as “Gando”, was an area that had been inhabited largely by ethnic Koreans since the ancient kingdoms of Goguryeo
Goguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....
and Balhae
Balhae
Balhae was a Manchurian kingdom established after the fall of Goguryeo. After Goguryeo's capital and southern territories fell to Unified Silla, Dae Jo-yeong, a Mohe general, whose father was Dae Jung-sang, established Jin , later called Balhae.Balhae occupied southern parts of Manchuria and...
. After the Japanese annexation of Korea by the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
in 1905, many Koreans opposed to the annexation relocated from Korea to Gando and established anti-Japanese resistance movements. Many of these movements came later under the control of the Chinese Communist Party via the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army
Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army
The Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army was an anti-Japanese guerrilla army in the Northeast part of China after the occupation of Manchuria by Japan in 1931. It was organized by the Manchuria branches of the Chinese Communist Party . However, it lost direct contact with the CCP headquarter in...
.
From 1907, the Japanese government claimed jurisdiction over all ethnic Koreans regardless of physical location, and friction increased with the government of Qing dyansty 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...
over control of the Gando area, cumulating in the Gando Convention
Gando Convention
The 1909 Gando Convention was a treaty signed between Imperial Japan and Qing China in which Japan recognized China's claims to Jiandao, called Gando in Korean. Japan received railroad concessions in Northeast China...
of 1909. After the Manchurian Incident, and the establishment of Japanese control over all of Manchuria in 1931, another wave of Korean immigation occurred, this time with Japanese encouragement, to help cement Japanese claims on the territory.
With the establishment of Manchukuo
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
in 1932, the situation in Gando was very unstable, with the local population rent into pro-Japanese and anti-Japanese / anti-Manchukuo factions, many of which resorted to guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
tactics. In an effort to subjugate the region, the Kwantung Army recruited pro-Japanese Koreans into a special warfare force, which it incorporated into, and had trained by the Manchukuo Imperial Army primarily in counter insurgency
Counter insurgency
A counter-insurgency or counterinsurgency involves actions taken by the recognized government of a nation to contain or quell an insurgency taken up against it...
tactics. A number of ethnic Koreans saw better opportunities for advancement via the Manchukuo military academies which would have been possible in 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...
, and joined the new force. These included future Republic of Korea generals Paik Sun-yup. Historian Philip Jowett noted that during the Japanese occupation of Manchuria, the Gando Special Force had "earned a reputation for brutality and was reported to have laid waste to large areas which came under its rule."
After 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...
, many members of the Gando Special Force were incorporated into the new Republic of Korea Army
Republic of Korea Army
The Republic of Korea Army is the largest of the military branches of the South Korean armed forces with 520,000 members as of 2010...
by 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...
, for their training and intimate knowledge of the terrain and tactics of the communist North Korean Army
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
in many northern areas of the Korean peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
. Some later rose to high positions within the government of the Republic of Korea. However, for the most part members of the Gando Special Force are regarded as Chinilpa
Chinilpa
Chinilpa is a Korean word that denotes Koreans who collaborated with the Japanese government during its reign over Korea , or shortly before...
s in modern Korea for their role in suppressing groups advocating Korean independence.