8th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
8th Division | |
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Manchurian Incident Pacific War | |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Tatsumi Naofumi Takashi Hishikari Jinzaburō Masaki Toshinari Maeda Masaki Honda Shizuo Yokoyama |
The 8th Division (第8師団, Dai-hachi Shidan) was an
Division history
As the tensions with Russia grew after the
After the Russo-Japanese War began, the 8th Division was mobilized in June 1904. It was initially earmarked for a projected Japanese invasion of Primorskaya Oblast on the Siberian mainland, but was sent as a reserve force for the Siege of Port Arthur instead after that plan was shelved. It was then earmarked for the proposed invasion of Sakhalin, but the 13th Division was sent instead, The 8th Division remained in reserve until assigned as reinforcements at Battle of Sandepu in January 1905. It acted with distinction, repelling a Russian counterattack together with the 5th Division. In February 1905, the division participated in Battle of Mukden.
From 1910, the 8th Division was assigned to garrison duties in
The 8th Division (initially only the
In February 1944, a three detachments were formed (infantry battalion, artillery battalion and engineers company). These were combined into 11th Independent Mixed Regiment, and sent to Poluwat in June 1944, as the war situation in then Pacific grew increasingly difficult for Japan. Because of the lack of food and large number of wounded due American air raids, two of the three battalions were relocated to Truk in September 1944.
In July 1944, the 8th Division was reassigned from
The remnants of the 8th Division ceased fighting 2 September 1945 in Rodriguez, Rizal due surrender of Japan. Dissolution of the division was completed in December 1947. Notably, the Japanese holdout Hiroo Onoda, was from the 8th Division and did not surrender until 9 March 1974.
See also
- List of Japanese Infantry Divisions
References
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2016) |
- Madej, W. Victor. Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945 [2 vols]. Allentown, PA: 1981
- This article incorporates material from the Japanese Wikipedia page 第8師団 (日本軍)