Northern District Army (Japan)

The Northern District Army (北部軍, Hokubugun) 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.

Northern District Army
ActiveDecember 2, 1940 – December 1, 1945
CountryEmpire of Japan
BranchImperial Japanese Army
TypeInfantry
RoleCorps
Garrison/HQSapporo
EngagementsSoviet invasion of Manchuria

History

On August 1, 1935 the Japanese home territories were divided administratively into six geographical regions for the purposes of recruiting, organizing civil defense and fortifications. On December 2, 1940, the Northern Army was raised under the overall jurisdiction of the General Defense Command. 1 August 1941, the Northern Army has lost the 57th division which was sent to Manchukuo.

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 Fifth Area Army

List of commanders

Commanding officers
NameFromTo
1Lieutenant General Kisaburo Hamamoto2 December 19401 August 1942
2General Kiishiro Higuchi1 August 194210 March 1944
3General Kiishiro Higuchi1 February 19451 December 1945

Chief of staff
NameFromTo
1Lieutenant General Matsujiro Kimura2 December 194010 March 1944

References
  • Madej, Victor (1981). Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937–1945. Game Publishing Company. ASIN: B000L4CYWW.
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