The Japanese were able to bring significant troops back to defend the Home Islands?

[Felix C]

I have read the above in a few books.

What year did they begin? Approx. how many were brought home?

Did the mining campaign end the troop transfers?

[Wellgunde]

Several divisions were transferred from China and Manchuria beginning early in 1945. I don't have the exact information available to me at the moment. Troops in other areas of the Japanese sphere of influence were cut off and isolated from the homeland and unable to relocate even if such a movement was justified and desired. The mining campaign had very little influence on troop transfers. The primary impediment to troop transfers were two: One, transferring any troops from an area was seen as a significant and dangerous weakening of that area. Two, there was a lack of suitable shipping due to the success of the U.S. submarine campaign. What ships were left were in a precarious position when moving between Japan and the Asian mainland. This was made even more difficult once U.S. submarines began operating in the Sea of Japan. The great majority of new homeland defense divisions were formed in Japan proper.

[Felix C]

Thanks. Good info.

I take the troops were first from Korea, then either North China or Manchukuo?

[fontessa]

Several divisions were transferred from China and Manchuria beginning early in 1945.

The divisions below were transferred from Kwantung Army to Homeland General Armies. There were no division transferred from China.
- 11th Division (to 55th Army)
- 25th Division (to 16th Area Army)
- 57th Division (to 16th Area Army)
- 1st Tank Division (to 36th Army)

The below is the movements of the divisions above.
◇ 11th Division
Division HQ
- Departed Hulin on 12 April 1945
- Departed Pusan on 22 April 1945
- Arrived at Tsuruga on 23 April 1945
- Arrived at Kochi on 30 April 1945
12th Infantry Regiment
- Departed Paotung on 10 April 1945
- Departed Pusan on 18 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 18 April 1945
- Arrived at Kochi on 5 May 1945
43rd Infantry Regiment
- Departed Hulin on 17 April 1945
- Departed Pusan on 30 April 1945
- Arrived at Tsuruga on 2 May 1945
- Arrived Kochi on 12 May 1945
44th Infantry Regiment
- Departed Dongan on 14 April 1945
- Departed Pusan on 22 April
- Arrived at Tsuruga on 23 April 1945
- Arrived at Kochi on 1 May 1945
11th Cavalry Regiment
- Departed Paotung on 16 April 1945
- Departed Pusan on 30 April 1945
- Arrived at Tsuruga on 2 May 1945
- Arrived at Kochi on 11 May 1945
11th Mountain Artillery Regiment
- Departed Hulin on 6 April 1945
- Departed Pusan on 12 April 1945
- Arrived at Tokushima on 13 April 1945
- Arrived at Kochi on 6 May 1945
11th Engineer Regiment
- Departed Hulin on 6 April 1945
- Departed Pusan on 16 April
- Arrived at Hakata on 17 April 1945
- Arrived at Kochi on 2 May 1945
11th Transport Regiment
- Departed Hulin on 13 April 1945
- Departed Pusan on 22 April 1945
- Arrived at tsuruga on 23 April 1945
- Arrived at Kochi on 1945
◇ 25th Division
Division HQ
- Departed Pingyangcheng on 24 March 1945
- Departed Pusan on 4 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 4 April 1945
- Arrived at Kobayashi Town, Miyazaki Prefecture on 8 April 1945
14th Infantry Regiment
- Departed Didao on 2 April 1945
- Departed Pusan on 10 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 10 April 1945
- Arrived at Takahara Town, Miyazaki Prefecture on 13 April 1945
40th Infantry Regiment
- Departed Pingyangcheng on 28 March 1945
- Departed Pusan on 5 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 5 April 1945
- Arrived at Iino Town, Miyazaki Prefecture on 7 April 1945
70rh Infantry Regiment
- Departed 馬家子 on 29 March 1945
- Departed Pusan on 7 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 7 April 1945
- Arrived at Yukimura Village, Miyazaki Prefecture on 9 April 1945
75th Cavalry Regiment
- Departed Pingyangcheng on 31 March 1945
- Departed Pusan on 11 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 12 April 1945
- Arrived at Kobayashi Town, Miyazaki Prefecture on 14 April 1945
15th Mountain Artillery Regiment
- Departed Linkow on 25 March 1945
- Departed Pusan on 8 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 9 April 1945
- Arrived at Kobayashi Town, Miyazaki Prefecture on 21 April 1945
25th Engineer Regiment
- Departed Pingyangcheng on 25 March 1945
- Departed Pusan on 8 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 9 April 1945
- Arrived at Kobayashi Town, Miyazaki Prefecture on 12 April 1945
25th Transport Regiment
- Departed Linkow on 29 March 1945
- Departed Pusan on 10 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 10 April 1945
- Arrived at Kobayashi Town, Miyazaki Prefecture on 13 April 1945
◇ 57th Division
Division HQ
- Departed 山神府 on 5 April 1945
- Departed Rajin on 9 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 11 April 1945
- Arrived at Sasaguri Town, Fukuoka Prefecture on 11 April 1945
52nd Infantry Regiment
- Departed Aigun on 9 April 1945
- Departed Rajin on 14 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 16 April 1945 (Mainbody)
- Arrived at Maebara Town, Fukuoka Prefecture on 21 April 1945 (Mainbody)
117th Infantry Regiment
- Departed 山神府 on 11 April 1945
- Departed Chongjin on 18 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 22 April 1945
- Arrived at Hisa Village, Fukuoka Prefecture on 25 April 1945
123rd Infantry Regiment
- Departed Shanwutun on 1 April 1945
- Departed Rajin on 9 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 13 April 1945
- Arrived at Kashii Town, Fukuoka Prefecture on 15 April 1945
57th Field Artillery Regiment
- Departed 山神府 on 3 April 1945
- Departed Chongjin on 9 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 12 April 1945
- Arrived at Kashii Town, Fukuoka Prefecture on 28 April 1945
57th Engineer Regiment
- Departed Aigun on 5 April 1945
- Departed Rajin on 10 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 14 April 1945
- Arrived at Fukuoka City on 14 April 1945
57th Transport Regiment
- Departed 山神府 on 14 April 1945
- Departed Rajin on 22 April 1945
- Arrived at Hakata on 25 April 1945
- Arrived at Shinohara Town, Fukuoka Prefecture on 29 April 1945
◇ 1st Tank Division
Division HQ
- Departed Ningan on 21 March 1945
- Departed Pusan on 26 March 1945
- Arrived at Moji on 27 March 1945
- Arrived at Tochigi on 1 April 1945
1st Mobile Infantry Regiment
- Departed Ningan on 20 March 1945
- Departed Pusan on 28 March 1945
- Arrived at Niigata on 1 April 1945
- Arrived at Tochigi Prefecture on 12 May 1945
1st Mobile Artillery Regiment
- Departed Ningan on 20 March 1945
- Departed Pusan on 24 March 1945
- Arrived at Moji on 24 March 1945
- Arrived at Tochigi Prefecture on 28 March 1945
1st Tank Regiement
- Departed Ningan on 22 March 1945
- Departed Pusan on 4 April 1945
- Arrived at Niigata on 7 April 1945
- Arrived at Maebashi City, Gumma Prefecture on 9 April
5th Tank Regiment
- Departeed 愛河 on 23 March 1945
- Departed Pusan 29 March 1945
- Arrived at Fushiki, Toyama Prefecture on 31 March 1945
- Arrived at Tochigi Prefecture on 5 April 1945
Rapid Fireing Unit
- Departed Ningan on 22 March 1945
- Departed Pusan on 29 March 1945
- Arrived at Fushiki, Toyama Prefecture on 31 March 1945
- Arrived at Tochigi Prefecture on 5 April
Engineer Unit
- Departed Ningan on 16 March 1945
- Departed Pusan on 22 March 1945
- Arrived at Moji on 22 March 1945
- Arrived at Gumma Prefecture on 26 March 1945
Transport Unit
- Departed Ningan on 19 March 1945
- Departed Pusan on 9 April 1945
- Arrived at Niigata on 12 April 1945
- Arrived at Tochigi City on 15 April 1945

fontessa

[OpanaPointer]

Thanks!

[Felix C]

Agreed. That is a lot of work there. USN did not know and did not try to interdict with submarines?

[Wellgunde]

Thank you, Fontessa

[Wellgunde]

Agreed. That is a lot of work there. USN did not know and did not try to interdict with submarines?

Yes, the U.S. knew from Ultra intercepts. The troops Fontessa listed were the ones that got through. There were probably many that didn't. Rather than rely on memory and possibly give you incorrect information, I suggest taking a look at Silent Victory by Clay Blair, Jr. This book chronicles the U.S. submarine war against Japan. It discusses strategy, operations, deployment and sinkings. It also gives a list of all World War II Pacific submarine patrols which will provide you with an idea of the effort (time and resources) devoted to cutting off Japan from Manchuria.

[Felix C]

I have and do not recall a concerted effort against these troop movements or concern they may be slipping through to Japan. Maybe I need to read that part again.