Country Empire of Japan Role Field Army Nickname(s) 岡 (Oka = "hill") Founded 19 March 1944 | Type Infantry Garrison/HQ Singapore Headquarters Singapore Branch Imperial Japanese Army | |
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Active March 19, 1944 - August 15, 1945 Engagements Borneo campaign, Operation Tiderace Similar Imperial Japanese Army, Japanese Eighteenth Area Army, Japanese Twelfth Area Army, Japanese Seventeenth Area Army, Japanese Eighth Area Army | ||
The Japanese Seventh Area Army (第7方面軍, Dai nana hōmen gun) was a field army of the Imperial Japanese Army formed during final stages of the Pacific War and based in Japanese-occupied Malaya, Singapore and Borneo, Java, and Sumatra.
History
The Japanese 7th Area Army was formed on March 19, 1944 under the Southern Expeditionary Army Group for the specific task of opposing landings by Allied forces in Japanese-occupied Malaya, Singapore and Borneo, Java, Sumatra and to consolidate a new defense line after the loss of the Solomon Islands, New Guinea and eastern portions of the Netherlands East Indies. It had its headquarters at Singapore.
The units initially assigned to the Area Army were the 16th, 25th and 29th Army's. Units stationed in Borneo were also transferred to the Area Army's control.
The Army was demobilized at Singapore on the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II.