8th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 8th Infantry Division


caption=
dates= 1898- 1945
country=Empire of Japan
allegiance=
branch=Imperial Japanese Army
type=Infantry
role=
size=
command_structure=
garrison=Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
current_commander=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
notable_commanders=Tatsumi Naofumi
Jinzaburō Mazaki
Toshinari Maeda
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_2=
nickname=Cedar Division
patron=
motto=
colors=
colors_label=
march=
mascot=
battles=Russo-Japanese War
Manchurian Incident
Pacific War
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

nihongo|IJA Eighth Division|歩兵第8師団|Hohei Dai-hachi Shidan was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call-sign was the nihongo|Cedar Division|杉兵団|Sugi-heidan.

History

The 8th Infantry Division was formed on 1 October 1898, as one of the six new reserve divisions created after the First Sino-Japanese War. It consisted of troops from the Tōhoku region of Japan, primarily Aomori Prefecture, Akita Prefecture and Yamagata Prefecture. Its first commander was General Tatsumi Naofumi, formerly commander of the Sendai Garrison.

The 8th Infantry Division became infamous in history over a winter training accident in the Hakkōda Mountains in January 1902, where 199 of 210 members of the 5th Infantry Regiment froze to death. The story was immortalized in a novel by the famous author Jirō Nitta.

During the Russo-Japanese War, the 8th Infantry Division distinguished itself at the Battle of Sandepu and the subsequent Battle of Mukden. From 1910, it was assigned to garrison duties in Korea, and it also participated in the Siberian Intervention.

After the Manchurian Incident of 1931, the 8th Infantry Division sent its 4th Brigade to participate in the Invasion of Manchuria with the main body joining it in 1932 when it was stationed in Manchuria under the control of the Kwangtung Army. There it participated in the pacification of the newly formed Manchukuo. Its 32nd Infantry Regiment was transferred to the newly formed 24th Division in 1937.

In September 1944, the 8th Infantry Division was re-assigned to the Philippines under the command of General Yamashita Tomoyuki's 14th Area Army, where it was divided between Luzon and Leyte islands. Following the Battle of Leyte and the Battle of Manila by joint Filipino and American troops, the 8th Infantry Division was almost completely annihilated and ceased to exist as an operational unit.

Noteworthy commanders in the history of the 8th Division included Tatsumi Naofumi, Jinzaburō Mazaki, and Toshinari Maeda.

Organization

The 8th Division was first raised as a square Division in 1895.

8th Division
* 4th Infantry Brigade
** 5th Infantry Regiment
** 31st Infantry Regiment
* 16th Infantry Brigade
** 17th Infantry Regiment
** 32nd Infantry Regiment
* 8th Mountain Artillery Regiment
* 8th Cavalry Regiment
* 8th Engineer Regiment
* 8th Transport Regiment

Later in 1937 this division was reorganized as a triangular division:

8th Division
* 5th Infantry Regiment (Aomori)
* 17th Infantry Regiment (Akita)
* 31st Infantry Regiment (Hirosaki)
* 8th Artillery Regiment
* 8th Recon Regiment
* 8th Engineer Regiment
* 8th Transport Regiment

ee also

* List of Japanese Infantry Divisions

References

* Madej, W. Victor. "Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945" [2 vols] . Allentown, PA: 1981