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Forty-First Army (Japan)

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Japanese Forty-First Army
Active7 April 1944 – 15 August 1945　
CountryEmpire of Japan
BranchImperial Japanese Army
TypeInfantry
RoleCorps
Garrison/HQManila, Philippines
Military unit
Japanese 41st Army (1945)
Parent unitJapanese Fourteenth Area Army
Components

The Japanese 41st Army (第41軍, Dai-yonjyūichi gun) was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during the final days of World War II.

History

Disposition of Japanese Forces in the northern Philippines, 11 January 1945

As part of the final defenses of the Philippines against invasion and re-occupation by Allied forces in the closing stages of World War II, Imperial General Headquarters issued orders for the strategic island of Luzon to be divided into three defense sectors for defense in depth under the overall command of the Japanese Fourteenth Area Army.

From 17 December 1944, Lieutenant General Shizuo Yokoyama and his "Shimbu Group", an independent detachment, were made wholly responsible for the defense of southern Luzon, from Manila southwards. The Shimbu Group was officially re-designated the Japanese 41st Army on 6 March 1945. Yokoyama commanded Japanese forces defending Manila against the U.S. Sixth and Eighth Armies. Following the Battle of Manila, the Shimbu Group faced the 6th Army in the Battle of Wawa Dam and Battle of Ipo Dam, and lost decisively. Yokohama withdrew his surviving forces into the mountains of southern Luzon for a protracted guerrilla campaign, continuing to harass Allied forces until the surrender of Japan, by which time his army had been reduced to just 6500 men.

List of Commanders

Name From To
Commanding Officer Lieutenant General Shizuo Yokoyama 19 March 1945 September 1945
Chief of Staff Major General Kenishi Sumi 31 March 1945 September 1945

References

  1. Budge, The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia

Sources

  • Frank, Richard B (1999). Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-41424-X.
  • Jowett, Bernard (1999). The Japanese Army 1931–45 (Volume 2, 1942–45). Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-354-3.
  • Madej, Victor (1981). Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937–1945. Game Publishing Company. ASIN: B000L4CYWW.
  • Marston, Daniel (2005). The Pacific War Companion: From Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-882-0.

External links

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