Fifty-First Army (Japan) Explained

Unit Name:Japanese Fifty-First Army
Dates:April 18, 1945 – August 15, 1945 
Country:Empire of Japan
Branch:Imperial Japanese Army
Type:Infantry
Role:Corps
Garrison:Tsuchiura, Ibaraki
Battles:Operation Downfall

The was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

History

The Japanese 51st Army was formed on April 8, 1945, under the Japanese Twelfth Area Army as part of the last desperate defense effort by the Empire of Japan to deter possible landings of Allied forces in central Honshū during Operation Downfall. The Japanese 51st Army was based in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki Prefecture and was thus intended to guard the northern beachhead to Tokyo and the Kantō region. It consisted mostly of poorly trained reservists, conscripted students and Volunteer Fighting Corps home guard militia. The Japanese 51st Army was demobilized at the surrender of Japan on August 15, 1945, without having seen combat.

List of Commanders

Name From To
Commanding officerLieutenant General Kengoro Noda8 April 1945 15 August 1945
Chief of StaffMajor General Yoshio Sakai6 April 1945 1 September 1945

References

External links