112th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)

112th Division
第112師団
Active 1944–1945
Country Empire of Japan Empire of Japan
Allegiance 3rd army
Branch Imperial Japanese Army
Type Infantry
Size 16218[1]
Garrison/HQ Hunchun
Nickname(s) Public division
Engagements Soviet invasion of Manchuria

The 112th Division (第112師団 Dai-hyakujūni Shidan) was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Public Division (公兵団 Kimi Heidan). It was formed 12 July 1944 in Hunchun as a triangular division. The nucleus for the formation was the remnants of the 28th division been transferred to Miyako-jima. The division was initially assigned to the 3rd army.

Action

The garrison assignment for the 112th division was the Jiandao area. As the Soviet invasion of Manchuria has started 9 August 1945, the 112th division fought a desperate defensive battle meeting Red Army forces south and west of Hunchun[2] while fighting the against Soviet "113th fortified sector" and 88th Rifle Corps. The resistance of 112th division was described as "heavy",[3] despite the estimate by the 1st area army was what the 112th division is only 35% combat effective.[4] 11 August 1945, a frontal attack by the Soviet armour near Michiang was repulsed. The Hunchun itself was lost to Soviet forces 14 August 1945, after Red Army was forced to send in reinforcements in the form of 386th Rifle Division. Another Soviet attack supported by armour was beaten back 15 August 1945 at Unggidong. Although the next soviet attack was expected at Pungni-ju city, 16 August 1945 all of the 112th division units were engaged by Red Army forces simultaneously.[5] The 112th division was ordered to surrender 18 August 1945 as the part of the general surrender of Japan.

The majority of the division was then taken prisoner by the Soviet Union.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ "Records of operations against Soviet Russia, Eastern Front (August 1945)", p. 92
  2. ↑ 112th Division (Kou)
  3. ↑ David Glantz, "The Soviet Strategic Offensive in Manchuria, 1945: 'August Storm'", p. 250
  4. ↑ "Records of operations against Soviet Russia, Eastern Front (August 1945)", p. 57
  5. ↑ "Records of operations against Soviet Russia, Eastern Front (August 1945)", p. 130


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/28/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.