The ''Boeitai'' ( Japanese: 防衛隊, "Defense Corps") was a Japanese force of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. It was established by the War Ministry in June 1944 in response to the worsening war situation facing Japan, and initially comprised all reservists in the 20–40 age group including those who would not normally be liable for military service under the Japanese conscription system. The Imperial Japanese Army's area armies had responsibility for raising and administering ''Boeitai'' units, and there was considerable variation in how these formations were structured and used.Nichols and Shaw (1955), p. 53 ''Boeitai'' units were established in the Japanese home islands, Okinawa, Korea and Formosa.Hayashi (2005), p. 52 Unlike regular Japanese Army soldiers, ''Boeitai'' personnel were not indoctrinated to fight to the death or consider themselves to be imperial subjects. Around 20,000 local ''Boeitai'' were involved in the

Battle of Okinawa The , codenamed Operation Iceberg, was a major battle of the Pacific War fought on the island of Okinawa Island, Okinawa by United States Army and United States Marine Corps forces against the Imperial Japanese Army during the Pacific War, Impe ...

during 1945, with most initially serving as labourers or in support roles but some augmenting frontline Army units. Most of the Okinawan ''Boeitai'' were teenagers or aged in their 30s and 40s. As the fighting continued, many of the support personnel were assigned to combat duties despite not being provided with any training for this role or effective weapons; some ''Boeitai'' personnel were ordered to conduct missions in which they attempted to blow up tanks with satchel charges. In addition, several Okinawan ''Boeitai'' groups fought as partisans armed mainly with spears and grenades.Nichols and Shaw (1955), p. 110 Morale among ''Boeitai'' personnel in Okinawa was low, due to the discrimination they suffered at the hands of Japanese military personnel and a widespread belief that the war was lost. In addition, many ''Boeitai'' conscripts had families to support. As a result, around 20 percent of ''Boeitai'' personnel on Okinawa deserted or surrendered to American forces. However, 50 percent of the personnel became casualties during the battle.Hayashi (2005), pp. 53-54

References

;Citations ;Works consulted * *{{cite book, last1=Nichols, first1=Chas. S., last2=Shaw, first2=Henry I., title=Okinawa: Victory in the Pacific, date=1955, publisher=Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, location=Washington D.C., url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Okinawa/ Imperial Japanese Army 1944 establishments in Japan Military units and formations established in 1944 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 Paramilitary organizations based in Japan Japan campaign

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References