Tenth Army (Japan)

Tenth Army (Japan) was a major Imperial Japanese Army formation, established during World War II. The army was formed in 1942, with its headquarters in Nanking, China, and was primarily composed of units from the Japanese Eleventh Army and Japanese Thirteenth Army. The Tenth Army played a significant role in the China Burma India Theater, particularly in the Battle of West Hunan and the Battle of Guilin–Liuzhou. The army was also supported by the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Japanese Air Force.

● Introduction

The Tenth Army was one of the main Imperial Japanese Army formations, along with the Japanese First Army, Japanese Second Army, and Japanese Third Army, that were involved in the Second Sino-Japanese War. The army's primary objective was to secure the Yangtze River valley and protect the Wuhan region, which was a crucial industrial and economic center. The Tenth Army was also tasked with supporting the Japanese Fourteenth Army in its operations in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. The army worked closely with the Japanese Central China Area Army and the Japanese North China Area Army to achieve its objectives.

● History

The Tenth Army was formed on November 6, 1942, with General Yasuji Okamura as its first commander. The army was initially composed of the 114th Division (Japan), 115th Division (Japan), and 116th Division (Japan), which were all experienced units that had fought in the Battle of Nanking and the Battle of Shanghai. The Tenth Army played a key role in the Battle of Changde, where it faced off against the National Revolutionary Army's 74th Corps (China). The army also participated in the Battle of Hengyang, where it clashed with the National Revolutionary Army's 10th Corps (China) and the United States Army Air Forces.

● Organization

The Tenth Army was organized into several divisions, including the 117th Division (Japan), 118th Division (Japan), and 119th Division (Japan). The army also had several independent brigades, such as the 14th Independent Mixed Brigade (Japan) and the 15th Independent Mixed Brigade (Japan). The Tenth Army was supported by the Japanese First Army Tank Brigade and the Japanese Second Army Tank Brigade, which provided armored support. The army also worked closely with the Imperial Japanese Navy's China Area Fleet and the Japanese Air Force's China Air Fleet.

● Commanders

The Tenth Army had several commanders during its existence, including General Yasuji Okamura, General Isamu Yokoyama, and General Jun Ushiroku. These commanders played a significant role in shaping the army's strategy and operations. The Tenth Army also had several notable staff officers, including Lieutenant General Masazumi Inada and Major General Takashi Takashima, who served as the army's chief of staff. The army's commanders worked closely with other senior officers, such as General Shunroku Hata and General Tomoyuki Yamashita, to coordinate operations.

● Operations

The Tenth Army was involved in several major operations, including the Battle of West Hunan and the Battle of Guilin–Liuzhou. The army also participated in the Battle of Changsha (1944), where it faced off against the National Revolutionary Army's 4th Corps (China) and the United States Army Air Forces. The Tenth Army worked closely with the Japanese Eleventh Army and the Japanese Twenty-Third Army to achieve its objectives. The army's operations were supported by the Imperial Japanese Navy's China Area Fleet and the Japanese Air Force's China Air Fleet.

● Dissolution

The Tenth Army was dissolved on September 15, 1945, following the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II. The army's units were disbanded, and its personnel were demobilized. The Tenth Army's legacy is still remembered today, particularly in China and Japan, where it played a significant role in the Second Sino-Japanese War. The army's history is also studied by military historians, who seek to understand the Imperial Japanese Army's strategy and operations during World War II. The Tenth Army's story is also commemorated in various museums, including the Japanese War Museum and the National Museum of China.

Category:Japanese military units