Organization of the Imperial Japanese Army, Hokkai (North) region
Encyclopedia
The was an army
of the Imperial Japanese Army
, responsible for defense of the northern region of the Japanese home islands, including Hokkaidō
, Karafuto and the Chishima Islands.
and fortifications. On December 2, 1940, the Northern Army was raised under the overall jurisdiction of the General Defense Command. Primarily a garrison
and training force, on February 11, 1943, the Northern Army was renamed the Northern District Army, and came under the direct command of the Imperial General Headquarters
.
Towards the end of World War II
, as the situation looked increasingly desperate for Japan, the Northern Area Army became the Japanese Fifth Area Army on March 10, 1944. It was reactivated as the Northern District Army on February 1, 1945 as a headquarters and administrative command, with its forces concurrent with the Japanese 5th Area Army
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...
, responsible for defense of the northern region of the Japanese home islands, including Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, Karafuto and the Chishima Islands.
History
On August 1, 1935 the Japanese home territories were divided administratively into six geographical regions for the purposes of recruiting, organizing civil defenseCivil defense
Civil defense, civil defence or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state from military attack. It uses the principles of emergency operations: prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, or emergency evacuation, and recovery...
and fortifications. On December 2, 1940, the Northern Army was raised under the overall jurisdiction of the General Defense Command. Primarily 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....
and training force, on February 11, 1943, the Northern Army was renamed the Northern District Army, and came under the direct command of the Imperial General Headquarters
Imperial General Headquarters
The as part of the Supreme War Council was established in 1893 to coordinate efforts between the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy during wartime...
.
Towards the end 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...
, as the situation looked increasingly desperate for Japan, the Northern Area Army became the Japanese Fifth Area Army on March 10, 1944. It was reactivated as the Northern District Army on February 1, 1945 as a headquarters and administrative command, with its forces concurrent with the Japanese 5th Area Army
Commanding officers
| Name | From | To | |
| 1 | Lieutenant General Kisaburo Hamamoto | 2 December 1940 | 1 August 1942 |
| 2 | General Kiishiro Higuchi | 1 August 1942 | 10 March 1944 |
| 3 | General Kiishiro Higuchi | 1 February 1945 | 1 December 1945 |
Chief of staff
| Name | From | To | |
| 1 | Lieutenant General Matsujiro Kimura | 2 December 1940 | 10 March 1944 |