41st Division (Philippines)

The 41st Division was a division of the Philippine Army during World War II. Formed primarily from reservists and trainees in the provinces south of Manila, it was part of the South Luzon Force commanded by Brigadier General Vicente Lim. The division's initial organization was incomplete, lacking adequate training and equipment.

Activated shortly before the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in December 1941, the 41st Division was tasked with defending sectors in the southern part of Luzon Island, specifically the Batangas and Tayabas (now Quezon) provinces. The division faced elements of the Japanese 16th Division during the invasion.

The 41st Division, along with other Philippine Army units, offered resistance against the Japanese advance, but was ultimately forced to retreat under pressure from superior Japanese forces. The division suffered heavy casualties due to the lack of training, equipment, and overwhelming Japanese firepower.

Following the initial battles, remnants of the 41st Division retreated to the Bataan Peninsula, where they joined the defense of Bataan. They fought alongside the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) until the surrender of Bataan in April 1942. Many members of the 41st Division were then subjected to the Bataan Death March and subsequent imprisonment in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps.

The division was not reconstituted after the war. Today, the sacrifices of the men of the 41st Division are remembered as part of the broader history of the defense of the Philippines during World War II.