5th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) - History

History

The 5th Division was formed in Hiroshima in January 1871 as the Hiroshima Garrison (広島鎮台, Hiroshima chindai?), one of six regional commands created in the fledgling Imperial Japanese Army. The Hiroshima Garrison had responsibility for western region of Honshū (Chugoku district), ranging from Hyōgo Prefecture to Yamaguchi Prefecture. The six regional commands were transformed into divisions under the army reorganization of 14 May 1888.

As one of the oldest Divisions in the Imperial Japanese Army, the 5th Division saw combat in the First Sino-Japanese War. Elements of the 5th Division were the first Japanese forces to land in Korea, and the 5th Division was in charge of the southern Korean garrison and participated in the invasion of the Liaodong Peninsula in China. It was the main Japanese element in the multi-national coalition during the Boxer Rebellion, and received praise from foreign observers for its bravery, professionalism and discipline. In the Russo-Japanese War, under the command of General Nozu Michitsura, it saw combat at the Battle of Sandepu and Battle of Mukden.

Assigned to Manchuria from 1911–1913, the bulk of the Japanese forces in the Siberian Intervention came from the 5th Division.

In the Second Sino-Japanese War, it participated in the invasion of Chahar, and the Battle of Xuzhou before being reassigned to the south China front around Guangzhou but was defeated heavily in the Battle of Kunlun Pass where the 21st Brigade was wiped out.

After the start of the Pacific War the 5th Division was reassigned to the southern front under Field Marshal Terauchi Hisaichi's Southern Command based in Saigon. With its combat experience and record in China, it was considered one of the best divisions in the Imperial Japanese Army, and was one of the divisions assigned to the conquest of Malaya and Singapore.