Imperial Japanese Army

The Imperial Japanese Army (??????? Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was the official armed force of Japan from 1867 to 1945. It was controlled from the Imperial General Headquarters and the Ministry of War of Japan.

History

The Imperial Japanese Army was created to replace the traditional Japanese samurai with a modern European-style conscript army during the chain of events, known as Meiji Restoration, that led to the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate (bakufu) and the restoring of Imperial rule in Japan.

Related Topics:
Samurai - European - Conscript - Meiji Restoration - Tokugawa Shogunate

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The Imperial Japanese Army was initially developed with the assistance of American (post Civil War), then French and finally by German advisors (post Franco-Prussian War); eventually it had grown to become the most modern army in Asia, well-trained, well equipped and high in morale. However, it was at times relatively deficient in artillery, tanks and other armoured vehicles when compared with its European contemporaries. Since Japan had no independent air force, the Imperial Japanese Army also developed a potent air arm, the Army Air Service equipped with modern locally-built aircraft with the primary mission of tactically supporting the ground operations.

Related Topics:
American - Civil War - French - German - Franco-Prussian War - Asia - Artillery - Tank - Air force - Army Air Service - Aircraft

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The Imperial Japanese Army saw combat during the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), the occupation of Formosa in 1895 and the Russo-Japanese War of 1905; during the occupation of Korea in 1910; at the seizing of the German territory at Qingdao during World War I; at the occupation of Manchukuo in 1931; and throughout the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) beginning with the Nanjing Massacre of 1937. From December 1941 the Imperial Japanese Army served as the main instrument in the Japanese Empire's aggressive expansion across East Asia during World War II. It was finally dissolved in September 1945 by the Allied forces, and later replaced by Japan Self-Defense Forces.

Related Topics:
Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) - Formosa - Russo-Japanese War - Korea - Qingdao - World War I - Manchukuo - 1931 - Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) - Nanjing Massacre - 1937 - December 1941 - September 1945 - Allied - Japan Self-Defense Forces

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Throughout the Sino-Japanese War and World War II the Imperial Japanese Army had gained a reputation both for its fanaticism and for its brutality against POWs and civilians alike. After Japan surrendered in the summer of 1945 many of the Imperial Japanese Army's officers were tried and punished for committing numerous atrocities and war crimes.

Related Topics:
POWs - Civilian - Atrocities - War crime

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