History
The 6th Division (第6師団, Dai-roku shidan) was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Bright Division (明兵団, Akari-heidan).
The 6th Division was formed in Kumamoto City on 12 May 1888, as one of the new divisions to be created after the reorganization of the Imperial Japanese Army away from six regional commands and into a divisional command structure, as per the recommendations of the Prussian military advisor Jakob Meckel to the Japanese government. Its troops were drawn primarily from the southern prefectures of Kyūshū.
With the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War 27 July 1937, the 6th Division was assigned to the Japanese China Garrison Army, and immediately started to act in the ongoing Battle of Beiping–Tianjin. Afterward, it participated in Beiping–Hankou Railway Operation.
In November 1942, the 6th Division was reassigned to the 17th Army on Bougainville Island in the Solomon Islands. The division was defending Cape Torokina when US forces landed there, launching the Bougainville Campaign in November 1943. It was subsequently annihilated on Bougainville in 1945.
The 6th Division was formed in Kumamoto City on 12 May 1888, as one of the new divisions to be created after the reorganization of the Imperial Japanese Army away from six regional commands and into a divisional command structure, as per the recommendations of the Prussian military advisor Jakob Meckel to the Japanese government. Its troops were drawn primarily from the southern prefectures of Kyūshū.
With the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War 27 July 1937, the 6th Division was assigned to the Japanese China Garrison Army, and immediately started to act in the ongoing Battle of Beiping–Tianjin. Afterward, it participated in Beiping–Hankou Railway Operation.
In November 1942, the 6th Division was reassigned to the 17th Army on Bougainville Island in the Solomon Islands. The division was defending Cape Torokina when US forces landed there, launching the Bougainville Campaign in November 1943. It was subsequently annihilated on Bougainville in 1945.
Featured Missions
| Campaign | Mission |
|---|---|
| Battle of Nanking | Yuhuatai Hills Assault |
| Battle of Nanking | The South Gate |
| Battle of Nanking | Breaching the Southern Gate |