Japanese Eighteenth Area Army

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Japanese 18th Area Army
Active	1943-01-04-1945-08-15
Country	Empire of Japan
Branch	Imperial Japanese Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Field Army
Garrison/HQ	Bangkok
Nickname	義 (Gi = “righteous”)

18th Area Army (1945)
Parent unit	Southern Expeditionary Army
Components	Japanese 15th Army 15th Infantry Division 22nd Infantry Division IJA 29th Independent Mixed Brigade

The Japanese Eighteenth Area Army (第18方面軍, Dai jyūhachi hōmen gun^?) was a field army of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

Contents 1 History 2 List of Commanders 2.1 Commanding officer 2.2 Chief of Staff 3 References 3.1 Books 3.2 External links 4 Notes

[edit] History

The 18th Area Army was originally formed on 1943-01-04 as the Siam Garrison Command (泰国駐屯軍司令官, Tai-koku Chūtongun shirebu^?). It was renamed the Japanese Thirty-ninth Army on 1944-12-14 and became the 18th Area Army on 1945-07-07, shortly before the end of the Pacific War. ^[1]

The 18th Area Army was under the control of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group as a military reserve and garrison force, ostensibly to help defend the Empire of Japan's nominal ally, the Empire of Siam against possible invasion by the Allies, but in more practical terms, it was present to ensure that Siam remained an ally to Japan. It was headquartered in Bangkok.

The 18th Area Army was demobilized in Bangkok at the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945 without having seen combat.

[edit] List of Commanders

[edit] Commanding officer

	Name	From	To	Notes
1	Lieutenant General Aketo Nakamura	4 January 1943	20 December 1944	Siam Garrison Army
x	Lieutenant General Aketo Nakamura	20 December 1944	14 July 1945	Japanese 39th Army
x	Lieutenant General Aketo Nakamura	14 July 1944	15 August 1945	18th Area Army

[edit] Chief of Staff

	Name	From	To	Notes
1	Major General Seiji Moriya	4 January 1943	21 January 1943	Siam Garrison Army
2	Major General Kunitaro Yamada	21 January 1943	22 November 1944	Siam Garrison Army
3	Major General Hitoshi Yamada	22 November 1944	20 December 1944	Siam Garrison Army
1	Major General Hitoshi Yamada	20 December 1944	9 July 1945	Japanese 39th Army
2	Major General Tadashi Hanya	9 July 1945	14 July 1945	Japanese 39th Army
1	Major General Tadashi Hanya	14 July 1945	15 August 1945	Japanese 18th Area Army

[edit] References

[edit] Books

• Latimer, Jon (2004). Burma: The Forgotten War. London: John Murray. ISBN: 978-0719565762. 
• Madej, Victor (1981). Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945. Game Publishing Company. ASIN: B000L4CYWW. 

[edit] External links

• Wendel, Marcus. Axis History Factbook. Japanese 18th Area Army.

[edit] Notes