The 106th Division (第106師団, Dai-hyakuroku Shidan) was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army, active from 1938 to 1940 during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It had no call sign, similar to the 101st Division.
Formation and Organization
The division was formed on 15 May 1938 in Kumamoto as a C-class square division. The nucleus for its formation was the 6th Division headquarters. It was originally subordinated to the Central China Expeditionary Army. The division had a strength of approximately 22,000 personnel. Its first commander was Lieutenant General Matsuura Junrokuro, a graduate of the Japanese Army War College.
Operational History
The 106th Division was assigned to the 11th Army. It landed south of Tianjin on 22 July 1938 and soon participated in the Battle of Wuhan, capturing Jiujiang on 26 July 1938. During August 1938, it advanced along the railroad to Nanxun District.
In September 1938, the division was heavily engaged in the Battle of Wanjialing. The 106th artillery regiment became stuck in mountainous terrain and was unable to provide fire support from 20 September 1938. The entire division suffered heavy losses after parts of it were encircled in Lianxi District. Five of its eight regiments were routed between 24 September and 13 October 1938, and the division suffered 11,164 casualties—over half of its total strength.
From 1939, the division was commanded by Lieutenant General Ryotaro Nakai. Under his command, it participated in the Battle of Nanchang (with the divisional artillery acting in the Battle of Xiushui River on 20 March 1939) and the Battle of Changsha (1939). The division was initially planned to be demobilized after completing mop-up operations in the Shantou area.
Due to the ongoing 1939–40 Winter Offensive, the demobilization of the 106th Division was cancelled on 20 December 1939. Instead, it was assigned to the 21st Army and sent to hold positions along the south bank of the Yangtze River between Wuhu and Hukou, where it stood off attacks by Chinese forces.
Demobilization
The division was demobilized on 9 March 1940, with dissolution completed in April 1940. Some soldiers of the 106th Division, particularly those belonging to the 113th Infantry Regiment, were re-employed in the 56th Division, which was formed on 10 July 1940.
Engagements
- Battle of Wuhan (1938)
- Battle of Wanjialing (1938)
- Battle of Nanchang (1939)
- Battle of Xiushui River (1939)
- Battle of Changsha (1939)
- 1939–40 Winter Offensive
Commanders
- Lieutenant General Matsuura Junrokuro (first commander)
- Lieutenant General Ryotaro Nakai (from 1939)
