The Sixth Area Army (第6方面軍, Dai roku hōmen gun) was a field army of the Imperial Japanese Army during both the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II.[1]

Sixth Area Army
ActiveAugust 25, 1944 - August 15, 1945
CountryEmpire of Japan
BranchImperial Japanese Army
TypeInfantry
RoleField Army
Garrison/HQHankou
Nickname(s)統 (tō = “unity”)

History

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The Japanese 6th Area Army was formed on August 25, 1944 under the China Expeditionary Army primarily as a military reserve and garrison force for the occupation of the central provinces of China between the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.[2] After the success of Operation Ichi-Go, many veteran units were transferred out of China to fronts in the Pacific War, which left the 6th Area Army to guard gains in central China. The 6th Area Army was demobilized at the surrender of Japan on August 15, 1945 at Hankou (part of modern Wuhan) in China, without having seen significant combat.

List of Commanders

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Commanding officer

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Name From To
1 General Yasuji Okamura 25 August 1944 22 November 1944
2 General Naozaburo Okabe 22 November 1944 15 August 1945

Chief of Staff

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Name From To
1 Major General Shuichi Miyazaki 25 August 1944 12 February 1945
2 Major General Yasuo Karakawa 12 February 1945 23 April 1945
3 Major General Sadatake Nakayama 23 April 1945 15 August 1945

Notes

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  1. ^ Madej, Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945
  2. ^ Dorn, The Sino-Japanese War, 1937-41

References

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  • Dorn, Frank (1974). The Sino-Japanese War, 1937-41: From Marco Polo Bridge to Pearl Harbor. MacMillan. ISBN 0-02-532200-1.
  • Madej, Victor (1981). Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945. Game Publishing Company. ASIN: B000L4CYWW.
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