Japanese Eighteenth Area Army

The Japanese Eighteenth Area Army (第18方面軍, Dai jyūhachi hōmen gun) was a field army of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

Japanese 18th Area Army
Japanese troops in Burma
ActiveJanuary 4, 1943 - August 15, 1945
CountryEmpire of Japan
BranchImperial Japanese Army
TypeInfantry
RoleField Army
Garrison/HQBangkok
Nickname(s)義 (Gi = “righteous”)

History

The 18th Area Army was originally formed on January 4, 1943, as the Thailand Garrison Command (泰国駐屯軍司令官, Tai-koku Chūtongun shirebu). It was renamed the Japanese Thirty-ninth Army on December 14, 1944, and became the 18th Area Army on July 7, 1945, shortly before the end of the Pacific War.[1]

The 18th Area Army was under the control of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group as a military reserve and garrison force, ostensibly to help defend the Empire of Japan's nominal ally, the Kingdom of Thailand against possible invasion by the Allies, but in more practical terms, it was present to ensure that Thailand remained an ally to Japan. It was headquartered in Bangkok.

The 18th Area Army was demobilized in Bangkok at the surrender of Japan on August 15, 1945, without having seen combat.

List of Commanders

Commanding officer

NameFromToNotes
1Lieutenant General Aketo Nakamura4 January 194320 December 1944Siam Garrison Army
xLieutenant General Aketo Nakamura20 December 194414 July 1945Japanese 39th Army
xLieutenant General Aketo Nakamura14 July 194515 August 194518th Area Army

Chief of Staff

NameFromToNotes
1Major General Seiji Moriya4 January 194321 January 1943Siam Garrison Army
2Major General Kunitaro Yamada21 January 194322 November 1944Siam Garrison Army
3Major General Hitoshi Hamada22 November 194420 December 1944Siam Garrison Army
1Major General Hitoshi Hamada20 December 19449 July 1945Japanese 39th Army
2Major General Tadashi Hanaya9 July 194514 July 1945Japanese 39th Army
1Major General Tadashi Hanaya14 July 194515 August 1945Japanese 18th Area Army

References

Citation

  1. Madej, Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945

Books

  • Latimer, Jon (2004). Burma: The Forgotten War. London: John Murray. ISBN 978-0-7195-6576-2.
  • Madej, Victor (1981). Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945. Game Publishing Company. ASIN: B000L4CYWW.
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