154th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)

The 154th Division was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Shinko Division (新興兵団, Shinkō Heidan). It was formed on July 10, 1945, in Taonan, Manchukuo, as part of the last group of emergency reinforcement divisions created in the closing stages of World War II.

The division's creation was a direct response to the worsening war situation for Japan, particularly the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan and the subsequent Soviet invasion of Manchuria in August 1945. It was intended to bolster defenses in the region, but its organization and training were incomplete at the time of the Soviet offensive.

The 154th Division was composed primarily of poorly trained reservists and replacements, and lacked sufficient heavy equipment. Its structure typically included:

• Infantry Regiments: Composed of several battalions of infantry. Specific regiments assigned to the 154th Division are not well documented.
• Artillery Regiment: A regiment equipped with artillery pieces, though often undersized and under-equipped compared to divisions formed earlier in the war.
• Engineer and Transport Units: Necessary for logistical support and infrastructure maintenance.

Due to the speed of the Soviet advance and the division's incomplete state of readiness, the 154th Division saw limited combat before the surrender of Japan on August 15, 1945. Details of its engagements are scarce. Following the surrender, the division was dissolved, and its surviving personnel were either repatriated or captured by Soviet forces.