Thirty-First Army (Japan)

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Japanese Thirty First Army
Japanese POWs at Guam at time of the surrender of Japan
ActiveFebruary 18, 1944 - August 15, 1945
CountryEmpire of Japan
BranchImperial Japanese Army
TypeInfantry
RoleCorps
Garrison/HQTruk
EngagementsOperation Hailstone
Battle of Saipan
Battle of Guam

The Japanese 31st Army (第31軍, Dai-sanjyū-ichi gun) was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

History

The Japanese 31st Army was formed on February 18, 1944 under the

Japanese home islands. The South Seas Mandate was divided into three sections (Northern Mariana Islands, southern Mariana Islands, and Truk
). The 80,000 man Japanese 31st Army was initially headquartered on Truk.

After Operation Hailstone, the Japanese garrison on Truk was isolated as American forces continued their advance towards Japan by invading other Pacific islands. Cut off, the Japanese forces on Truk and other central Pacific islands ran low on food and faced starvation before Japan surrendered in August 1945. (Stewart, 1986)

The garrisons in the Marianas were largely annihilated at the Battle of Saipan and Battle of Guam.

Structure

Thirty-First Army

List of commanders

Commanding officer

Name From To
1 General Hideyoshi Obata 25 February 1944 11 August 1944
2 Major General Yoshitomo Tamura 11 August 1944 22 August 1944
3 Lieutenant General Toshisaburo Mugikura 22 August 1944 1 September 1945

Chief of Staff

Name From To
1 Major General Keiji Igeta 25 February 1944 6 July 1944
2 Major General Yoshitomo Tamura 14 July 1944 11 August 1944

References