25th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)

25th Division
Active1940 - 1945
CountryEmpire of Japan
BranchImperial Japanese Army
TypeInfantry
Garrison/HQMudanjiang, Manchukuo
Nickname(s)Country Division
EngagementsSecond Sino-Japanese War

The 25th Division (第25師団, Dai-nijūgo Shidan) was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call-sign was the Country Division (国兵団, Kunihei-dan).

History

The 25th Division was formed in Tonei (東寧), present day Mudanjiang, Manchukuo on 10 July 1940, out of two pre-existing infantry regiments and a number of miscellaneous units and placed under the 5th Army of the Kwantung Army as part of the final defenses of Manchukuo against the Soviet army.

In March 1945, it was withdrawn to Japan, and assigned to Kobayashi, Miyazaki as part of the final defense of the Japanese home islands against the projected American invasion (Operation Downfall). Overall, the 25th division has never seen any combat.

Map of Japan
8
8
7
7
5 6
5
6
4
4
3
3
2
2
1
1
4
4
1GD 2GD 3GD
1GD
2GD
3GD
354
354
344
344
322
322
321
321
316
316
312
312
308
308
303
303
234
234
231
231
230
230
229
229
225 355
225
355
224
224
222
222
221
221
216
216
214
214
212
212
209
209
206
206
202
202
201
201
157
157
156
156
155
155
154
154
153
153
152
152
151
151
150
150
147
147
146
146
145
145
144
144
143
143
142
142
140
140
93
93
89
89
86
86
84
84
81
81
77
77
73
73
72
72
57 351
57
351
44
44
42
42
28
28
25
25
11 205
11
205
7
7
64
64
66
66
67
67
95
95
96
96
97
97
98
98
101
101
107
107
109
109
113
113
114
114
115
115
116
116
117
117
118
118
119
119
120
120
121
121
122
122
123
123
124
124
125
125
126
126
Independent Mixed Brigade
Independent Mixed Brigade
Infantry Division (including guard divisions)
Infantry Division (including guard divisions)
Independent Armored Brigade
Independent Armored Brigade
Armored division
Armored division
class=notpageimage|
Japanese infantry and armored units in Home Islands, 15 August 1945

See also

Reference and further reading

  • Madej, W. Victor. Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945 [2 vols] Allentown, PA: 1981
  • This article incorporates material from the Japanese Wikipedia page 第25師団 (日本軍), accessed 8 March 2016.