Country Empire of Japan Type Infantry Garrison/HQ Manila, Philippines | Branch Imperial Japanese Army Role Corps | |
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Active April 7, 1944 – August 15, 1945 | ||
The Japanese 41st Army (第41軍, Dai-yonjyūichi gun) was an army of the Imperial Japanese Army during the final days of World War II.
History
As part of the final defenses of the Philippines against invasion and re-occupation by Allied forces in the closing stages of World War II, Imperial General Headquarters issued orders for the strategic island of Luzon to be divided into three defense sectors for defense in depth under the overall command of the Japanese Fourteenth Area Army.
From December 17, 1944, Lieutenant General Shizuo Yokoyama and his “Shimbu Group”, an independent detachment, were made wholly responsible for the defense of southern Luzon, from Manila southwards. The Shimbu Group was officially re-designated the Japanese 41st Army on March 6, 1945. Yokoyama commanded Japanese forces defending Manila against the U.S. Sixth and Eighth Armies together with the Philippine Commonwealth troops under the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary including the recognized guerrilla groups. Following the Battle of Manila, Yokohama withdraw his surviving forces into the mountains of southern Luzon for a protracted ongoing Philippine Commonwealth military and guerrilla campaign, continuing to harass Allied forces until the surrender of Japan, by which time his army had been reduced to just 6500 men.