IJA 33rd Division
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The was an
infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...
division of the
Imperial Japanese Army The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA; , ''Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun'', "Army of the Greater Japanese Empire") was the principal ground force of the Empire of Japan from 1871 to 1945. It played a central role in Japan’s rapid modernization during th ...
. Its
call sign In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally as ...
was the . The 33rd Division was raised in
Utsunomiya is the capital and largest city of Tochigi Prefecture in the northern Kantō region of Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 513,584, and a population density of . The total area of the city is . Utsunomiya is famous for its ''gyoza'' ...
,
Tochigi prefecture is a landlocked Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Tochigi Prefecture has a population of 1,897,649 (1 June 2023) and has a geographic area of 6,408 Square kilometre, km2 (2,474 Square mile, sq mi ...
, simultaneously with 32nd, 34th,
35th Military units *35th Fighter Wing, an air combat unit of the United States Air Force *35th Infantry Division (United States), a formation of the National Guard since World War I *35th Infantry Regiment (United States), a regiment created on 1 July 1 ...
, 36th and 37th Divisions. Its headquarters were initially in
Sendai is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Miyagi Prefecture and the largest city in the Tōhoku region. , the city had a population of 1,098,335 in 539,698 households, making it the List of cities in Japan, twelfth most populated city in Japan. ...
. It was raised from conscripts largely from the northern Kantō prefectures of Tochigi, Ibaraki and
Gunma is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Gunma Prefecture has a population of 1,937,626 (1 October 2019) and has a geographic area of . Gunma Prefecture borders Niigata Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture to t ...
.


Action

Initially the 33rd division was assigned to the 11th army in central China and sent to
Hubei Hubei is a province of China, province in Central China. It has the List of Chinese provincial-level divisions by GDP, seventh-largest economy among Chinese provinces, the second-largest within Central China, and the third-largest among inland ...
. It saw combat at the
First Battle of Changsha The First Battle of Changsha (17 September 1939 – 6 October 1939; ) was the first of four attempts by Japan to take the city of Changsha, Hunan, during the second Sino-Japanese War. Coming two weeks after Germany's invasion of Poland on Septem ...
from 14 September 1939. In April 1941, the 33rd division was transferred to
Shanxi Shanxi; Chinese postal romanization, formerly romanised as Shansi is a Provinces of China, province in North China. Its capital and largest city of the province is Taiyuan, while its next most populated prefecture-level cities are Changzhi a ...
, and its reconnaissance regiment was disbanded. The 33rd division was transferred to the 15th army on 6 November 1941, and took part in the invasion of
British Burma British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and cultur ...
, under Lieutenant General Shozo Sakurai. Initially the 33rd division landed in
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
in January 1942 and proceeded inland. It lost a battalion at the
Battle of Yenangyaung The Battle of Yenangyaung () was fought in Burma (now Myanmar) from 16 to 19 April 1942. As part of the Burma Campaign of World War II, the battle was fought between Chinese and British allied forces on one side and Japanese forces on the other ...
, but completed the conquest of Burma in May 1942 nonetheless. In December 1942, the 33rd division was instrumental in defeating Allied forces in the Arakan campaign.


Battle of Imphal

As the
Burma Railway The Burma Railway, also known as the Siam–Burma Railway, Thai–Burma Railway and similar names, or as the Death Railway, is a railway between Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat, Burma (now called Myanmar). It was built from 1940 to 1943 ...
was officially completed on 25 October 1943, the Japanese command in
Burma Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
had been reorganized. A new headquarters,
Burma Area Army The was a field army of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. History The Japanese Burma Area Army was formed on 27 March 1943, under the control of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group as a garrison force to defend the nominally-ind ...
, was created under Lieutenant General Masakasu Kawabe. One of its subordinate formations, responsible for the central part of the front facing
British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...
in
Nagaland Nagaland () is a States and union territories of India, state in the northeast India, north-eastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, Manipur to the south, and the Naga Sel ...
and
Assam Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . It is the second largest state in Northeast India, nor ...
, was the 15th army, whose new commander was Lieutenant General
Renya Mutaguchi Lieutenant-General was an Imperial Japanese Army officer who served in World War II. He was the field commander of Japanese forces during the Battle of Imphal. Biography Mutaguchi was a native of Saga Prefecture. He graduated from the 22nd cla ...
. At the same time, Lieutenant General Shozo Sakurai was promoted to command the 28th army in southern Burma. His command of the 33rd Division was succeeded by Lieutenant General Motoso Yanagida.
Renya Mutaguchi Lieutenant-General was an Imperial Japanese Army officer who served in World War II. He was the field commander of Japanese forces during the Battle of Imphal. Biography Mutaguchi was a native of Saga Prefecture. He graduated from the 22nd cla ...
’s plan was to have the 33rd Division destroy the Indian 17th Infantry Division at
Tedim Tedim (, , (Tedim language, Zo: ''Tedim Khuapi'', pronounced ; is a town and the administrative seat of Tedim Township in Chin State, Myanmar. It is the second largest town in Chin State, after Hakha (the capital city of Chin State). The town's f ...
, then attack
Imphal Imphal (; , ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (officially known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the former Kingdom of Manipur, surrounded by a ...
from the south - an action known as
Operation U-Go The U Go offensive, or Operation C (, ), was the Japanese offensive launched in March 1944 against forces of the British Empire in the northeast Indian regions of Manipur and the Naga Hills (then administered as part of Assam). Aimed at the Br ...
. The 33rd Division Infantry Group HQ, under Major General Tsunoru Yamamoto, formed the Yamamoto Force, composed of units of the Japanese 33rd and 15th Divisions, which would destroy the
Indian 20th Infantry Division The 20th Indian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army in the Second World War, formed in India, and took part in the Burma Campaign during the Second World War. After the war, the bulk of the division was deployed to Frenc ...
at
Tamu Tamu may refer to: * Texas A&M University or TAMU * Tamu, Myanmar ** Tamu District, Myanmar ** Tamu Township * Ta'mu, rice cooked in woven coconut leaves from the Philippines * Tamu Massif, an inactive underwater volcano in the Pacific * ''Helioph ...
, then attack
Imphal Imphal (; , ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (officially known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the former Kingdom of Manipur, surrounded by a ...
from the east. Meanwhile, the 15th Division under Lieutenant General
Masafumi Yamauchi Masafumi (written: 正文, 正史, 雅文, 雅史, 将史, 真史, 優文) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese tenor singer *, Imperial Japanese Navy admiral *, Japanese musician *, Japanese footba ...
would envelop
Imphal Imphal (; , ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (officially known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the former Kingdom of Manipur, surrounded by a ...
from the north, while in a separate subsidiary operation, the 31st Division under Lieutenant General Kotoku Sato would isolate
Imphal Imphal (; , ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (officially known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the former Kingdom of Manipur, surrounded by a ...
by capturing nearby
Kohima Kohima (; Tenyidie: Kewhira ()) is the capital of the North East Indian state of Nagaland. With a resident population of almost 100,000, it is the second largest city in the state. Kohima constitutes both a district and a municipality. The m ...
. All
Renya Mutaguchi Lieutenant-General was an Imperial Japanese Army officer who served in World War II. He was the field commander of Japanese forces during the Battle of Imphal. Biography Mutaguchi was a native of Saga Prefecture. He graduated from the 22nd cla ...
's divisional commanders disagreed with the plan to some extent, and Motoso Yanagida openly derided him as an "imbecile". In the opening stages of the
Battle of Imphal The Battle of Imphal () took place in the region around the city of Imphal, the capital of the state of Manipur in Northeast India from March until July 1944. Empire of Japan, Japanese armies attempted to destroy the Allied forces at Imphal and ...
, the 33rd Division cut off the Indian 17th Division under Major General Cowan. The Japanese 215th Regiment under Colonel Masahiko Sasahara captured a supply dump at Milestone 109, twenty miles behind Cowan's leading outposts. The Japanese 214th Regiment under Colonel Takanobu Sakuma seized Tongzang and a ridge named Tuitum Saddle across the only road, a few miles behind the Indian 17th Division's position. However, they were unable to dig in properly before they were hit by the Indian 48th Brigade on 18 March 1944, taking heavy casualties. Fighting around Milestone 109 was even more severe. In early April 1944, the 33rd Division attacked from the south at
Bishenpur Bishnupur is a town in Bishnupur district in the state of Manipur, India. It derived its name from an ancient Vishnu temple located in the town. There is no official record of when exactly the town was named but it is likely during the reign o ...
, where they cut a secondary track from
Silchar Silchar is a city and the headquarters of the Cachar district of the state of Assam, India. It is second largest city of Assam after Guwahati in terms of population and GDP. It is also administrative capital of Barak Valley division. It is locate ...
into the plain. Motoso Yanagida was already pessimistic and depressed by his failure to trap the Indian 17th Division. He had also been rattled by a garbled radio message which suggested that one of his regiments had been destroyed at Milestone 109. He, therefore, advanced cautiously. By doing so, he may have lost a chance to gain success as
Bishenpur Bishnupur is a town in Bishnupur district in the state of Manipur, India. It derived its name from an ancient Vishnu temple located in the town. There is no official record of when exactly the town was named but it is likely during the reign o ...
was held only by the Indian 32 Brigade (from 20th Division) and the Indian 17th Infantry Division was resting after its retreat.
Renya Mutaguchi Lieutenant-General was an Imperial Japanese Army officer who served in World War II. He was the field commander of Japanese forces during the Battle of Imphal. Biography Mutaguchi was a native of Saga Prefecture. He graduated from the 22nd cla ...
removed him from command. In early May 1944, the British counter-attacked. None of the Japanese divisions had received adequate supplies since the offensive began (the
Burma Railway The Burma Railway, also known as the Siam–Burma Railway, Thai–Burma Railway and similar names, or as the Death Railway, is a railway between Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat, Burma (now called Myanmar). It was built from 1940 to 1943 ...
was able to transfer only 400 ton supplies per day, out of 3000 ton per day nominal capacity"Hirohito's War: The Pacific War, 1941-1945", by Francis Pike, p. 692), and some of the troops were starving; others were sick with malaria, and most were low on ammunition. Although there was now no realistic hope of success,
Renya Mutaguchi Lieutenant-General was an Imperial Japanese Army officer who served in World War II. He was the field commander of Japanese forces during the Battle of Imphal. Biography Mutaguchi was a native of Saga Prefecture. He graduated from the 22nd cla ...
(and his superior Masakasu Kawabe) ordered renewed attacks. The 33rd Division, reinforced in June 1944 by battalions from the
53rd 53 may refer to: * 53 (number) * one of the years 53 BC, AD 53, 1953, 2053 * FiftyThree, an American privately held technology company that specializes in tools for mobile creation and visual thinking * 53rd Regiment Alabama Cavalry * 53rd Regiment ...
and 54th Divisions and under a new forceful commander, Lieutenant-General Nobuo Tanaka, launched fierce attacks on the Indian 17th Division's positions at
Bishenpur Bishnupur is a town in Bishnupur district in the state of Manipur, India. It derived its name from an ancient Vishnu temple located in the town. There is no official record of when exactly the town was named but it is likely during the reign o ...
20 May 1944, but failed to break through, suffering 70% casualties by the June 1944. By 2 June 1944,
Renya Mutaguchi Lieutenant-General was an Imperial Japanese Army officer who served in World War II. He was the field commander of Japanese forces during the Battle of Imphal. Biography Mutaguchi was a native of Saga Prefecture. He graduated from the 22nd cla ...
's divisional commanders refused to make a renewed attacks on
Imphal Imphal (; , ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (officially known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the former Kingdom of Manipur, surrounded by a ...
, as they were in no condition to comply.
Renya Mutaguchi Lieutenant-General was an Imperial Japanese Army officer who served in World War II. He was the field commander of Japanese forces during the Battle of Imphal. Biography Mutaguchi was a native of Saga Prefecture. He graduated from the 22nd cla ...
finally ordered the offensive to be broken off on 3 July 1944. The Japanese fell back to the
Chindwin River The Chindwin River (), also known as the Ningthi River (), is a river in Myanmar and is the largest tributary of the Irrawaddy River. Sources The Chindwin originates in the broad Hukawng Valley of Kachin State of Burma, roughly , where the Tanai, ...
, abandoning their artillery, transport, and soldiers too sick to walk. The defeat at
Kohima Kohima (; Tenyidie: Kewhira ()) is the capital of the North East Indian state of Nagaland. With a resident population of almost 100,000, it is the second largest city in the state. Kohima constitutes both a district and a municipality. The m ...
and
Imphal Imphal (; , ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (officially known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the former Kingdom of Manipur, surrounded by a ...
was the largest defeat to that date in Japanese history. They had suffered 55,000 casualties, including 13,500 dead.


Later Operations in Burma

The Division was rebuilt to a strength of about 10,000. When the Allies launched their offensive (
Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay The concurrent Battle of Meiktila and Battle of Mandalay were decisive engagements near the end of the Burma campaign during World War II. Collectively, they are sometimes referred to as the Battle of Central Burma. Despite logistical difficultie ...
) into Central Burma, the Japanese withdrew behind the
Irrawaddy River The Irrawaddy River (, , Ayeyarwady) is the principal river of Myanmar, running through the centre of the country. Myanmar’s most important commercial waterway, it is about 1,350 miles (2,170 km) long. Originating from the confluence of the ...
. A rearguard from 33rd Division took heavy losses defending the river port of
Monywa Monywa (; ) is the largest city and capital city of Sagaing Region, Myanmar, located north-west of Mandalay on the eastern bank of the River Chindwin. Monywa is one of the largest economic cities in Myanmar. It is also known as 'Neem City' beca ...
on the
Chindwin River The Chindwin River (), also known as the Ningthi River (), is a river in Myanmar and is the largest tributary of the Irrawaddy River. Sources The Chindwin originates in the broad Hukawng Valley of Kachin State of Burma, roughly , where the Tanai, ...
. During opening stages of the
Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations The Battle of Pakokku and Irrawaddy River operations were a series of battles fought between the British Indian Army and the Imperial Japanese Army and allied forces over the successful Allied Burma campaign on the China Burma India Theater d ...
in February-March 1945 after the Allies crossed the
Irrawaddy River The Irrawaddy River (, , Ayeyarwady) is the principal river of Myanmar, running through the centre of the country. Myanmar’s most important commercial waterway, it is about 1,350 miles (2,170 km) long. Originating from the confluence of the ...
, the 33rd Division defended the vital river port of
Myingyan Myingyan (, ) is a city and district in the Mandalay Division of central Myanmar, previously, it was a district in the Meiktila Division of Upper Burma. It is currently the capital of Myingyan Township and lies along the National Highway 2. ...
. It was not directly attacked, as the Allied bridgeheads were east and west of their positions. The division held
Myingyan Myingyan (, ) is a city and district in the Mandalay Division of central Myanmar, previously, it was a district in the Meiktila Division of Upper Burma. It is currently the capital of Myingyan Township and lies along the National Highway 2. ...
until most of 15th army were already in full retreat. The 33rd division suffered further casualties while retreating southward. At the end of the war, the division had moved to
Moulmein Mawlamyine (also spelled Mawlamyaing; , ; ; , ), formerly Moulmein, is the fourth-largest city in Myanmar (Burma), ''World Gazetteer'' southeast of Yangon and south of Thaton, at the mouth of Thanlwin (Salween) River. Mawlamyine was an ancien ...
in southern Burma.


See also

* List of Japanese Infantry Divisions *
Battle of Imphal The Battle of Imphal () took place in the region around the city of Imphal, the capital of the state of Manipur in Northeast India from March until July 1944. Empire of Japan, Japanese armies attempted to destroy the Allied forces at Imphal and ...


Reference


Further reading

* Madej, W. Victor. ''Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937-1945'' volsAllentown, PA: 1981 * Latimer, Jon. ''Burma: The Forgotten War'', London: John Murray, 2004. * Allen, Louis. ''Burma: The longest War'', Dent Publishing, 1984, * This article incorporates material from the Japanese Wikipedia page 第33師団 (日本軍), accessed 16 March 2016 {{DEFAULTSORT:33rd Division (Imperial Japanese Army) Japanese World War II divisions Infantry divisions of Japan Military units and formations established in 1939 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 1939 establishments in Japan 1945 disestablishments in Japan J