Although the Japanese were able to raise large numbers of new soldiers, equipping them was more difficult. By August, the Japanese Army had the equivalent of 65 divisions in the homeland but only enough equipment for 40 and only enough ammunition for 30.[1]
The Japanese did not formally decide to stake everything on the outcome of the Battle of Kyūshū, but they concentrated their assets to such a degree that there would be little left in reserve. By one estimate, the forces in Kyūshū had 40% of all the remaining ammunition in the Home Islands.[2]
In addition, the Japanese had organized the Patriotic Citizens Fighting Corps—which included all healthy men aged 15–60 and women 17–40—to perform combat support, and ultimately combat jobs. Weapons, training, and uniforms were generally lacking: some men were armed with nothing better than muzzle-loading muskets, longbows, or bamboo spears; nevertheless, they were expected to make do with what they had.[3]
^Frank, Downfall, p. 188–9. Bauer and Coox, OLYMPIC VS KETSU-GO.
Referencesedit
Drea, Edward J. (1998). "Japanese Preparations for the Defense of the Homeland & Intelligence Forecasting for the Invasion of Japan". In the Service of the Emperor: Essays on the Imperial Japanese Army. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN0-8032-1708-0.
Frank, Richard B (1999). Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire. New York: Random House. ISBN0-679-41424-X.
Jowett, Bernard (1999). The Japanese Army 1931–45 (Volume 2, 1942–45). Osprey Publishing. ISBN1-84176-354-3.
Madej, Victor (1981). Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937–1945. Game Publishing Company. ASIN: B000L4CYWW.
Marston, Daniel (2005). The Pacific War Companion: From Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima. Osprey Publishing. ISBN1-84176-882-0.
Skates, John Ray (1994). The Invasion of Japan: Alternative to the Bomb Downfall. New York: University of South Carolina Press. ISBN0-87249-972-3.
External linksedit
Wendel, Marcus. "Axis History Factbook". Japanese Fifty-Seventh Army.
January 01, 1970
fifty, seventh, army, japan, japanese, 57th, army, 第57軍, gojyūnana, army, imperial, japanese, army, during, final, days, world, japanese, fifty, seventh, armyactiveapril, 1945, august, 1945countryempire, japanbranchimperial, japanese, armytypeinfantryrolecorps. The Japanese 57th Army 第57軍 Dai gojyunana gun was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during the final days of World War II Japanese Fifty Seventh ArmyActiveApril 8 1945 August 15 1945CountryEmpire of JapanBranchImperial Japanese ArmyTypeInfantryRoleCorpsEngagementsOperation Downfall Contents 1 History 2 List of Commanders 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThe Japanese 57th Army was formed on April 8 1945 under the Japanese 16th Area Army as part of the last desperate defense effort by the Empire of Japan to deter possible landings of Allied forces in southern Kyushu during Operation Downfall The Japanese 57th Army was based in Takarabe town Kagoshima Prefecture It consisted mostly of poorly trained reservists conscripted students and home guard militia Although the Japanese were able to raise large numbers of new soldiers equipping them was more difficult By August the Japanese Army had the equivalent of 65 divisions in the homeland but only enough equipment for 40 and only enough ammunition for 30 1 The Japanese did not formally decide to stake everything on the outcome of the Battle of Kyushu but they concentrated their assets to such a degree that there would be little left in reserve By one estimate the forces in Kyushu had 40 of all the remaining ammunition in the Home Islands 2 In addition the Japanese had organized the Patriotic Citizens Fighting Corps which included all healthy men aged 15 60 and women 17 40 to perform combat support and ultimately combat jobs Weapons training and uniforms were generally lacking some men were armed with nothing better than muzzle loading muskets longbows or bamboo spears nevertheless they were expected to make do with what they had 3 The 57th Army was demobilized at the surrender of Japan on August 15 1945 without having seen combat List of Commanders editName From To Commanding officer Lieutenant General Kanji Nishihara 6 April 1945 1 September 1945 Chief of Staff Major General Yasumasa Yoshitake 6 April 1945 1 September 1945Notes edit Frank Downfall p 176 Frank Downfall p 177 Frank Downfall p 188 9 Bauer and Coox OLYMPIC VS KETSU GO References editDrea Edward J 1998 Japanese Preparations for the Defense of the Homeland amp Intelligence Forecasting for the Invasion of Japan In the Service of the Emperor Essays on the Imperial Japanese Army University of Nebraska Press ISBN 0 8032 1708 0 Frank Richard B 1999 Downfall The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire New York Random House ISBN 0 679 41424 X Jowett Bernard 1999 The Japanese Army 1931 45 Volume 2 1942 45 Osprey Publishing ISBN 1 84176 354 3 Madej Victor 1981 Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle 1937 1945 Game Publishing Company ASIN B000L4CYWW Marston Daniel 2005 The Pacific War Companion From Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima Osprey Publishing ISBN 1 84176 882 0 Skates John Ray 1994 The Invasion of Japan Alternative to the Bomb Downfall New York University of South Carolina Press ISBN 0 87249 972 3 External links editWendel Marcus Axis History Factbook Japanese Fifty Seventh Army Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fifty Seventh Army Japan amp oldid 989763346, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
