Thirty-Second Army (Japan)


The Japanese 32nd Army was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during the final stages of World War II. It was annihilated during the Battle of Okinawa.

History

The Japanese 32nd Army was formed on March 13, 1944 as part of the last desperate defense effort by the Empire of Japan to deter possible landings of Allied forces in Okinawa and the surrounding Ryukyu Islands. The Japanese 32nd Army had 77,000 men plus the 10,000 man Okinawa Naval Base Force and 42,000 Okinawan conscripts. However, many of its personnel were poorly trained reservists, conscripted students and home guard militia. It was annihilated during the Battle of Okinawa from April to June, 1945.

Structure

;32nd Army, HQ at Naha, Okinawa