5th division in Transbaikalia (1919-1920)

[Igor Starikow]

Hello,
I am looking for information about the participation of the 5th division in the fight against partisans and the People's Revolutionary Army on the territory of Transbaikalia in 1919-1920. In particular, I am interested in the command structure of the units of this division and its strength. In Russian publications, the composition of the division is determined from 3 to 12 thousand soldiers and officers.

Who was the commander of the 21st Infantry Brigade? In Russian publications he is called H. Hosono or T. Hasona. Which regiments were part of the 21st Brigade? Was the 71st Regiment among them?

Thanks in advance,
Igor

[Akira Takizawa]

The composition of 5th Division in Siberia is as follows.

9th Infantry Brigade (Major Gen. Takao Ogata)
　11th Infantry Regiment
　22nd Infantry Regiment
　
21st Infantry Brigade (Major Gen. Tatsuo Hosono)
　42nd Infantry Regiment
　71st Infantry Regiment
　
> In Russian publications he is called H. Hosono or T. Hasona.

Both are wrong. He is T. Hosono.
https://kotobank.jp/word/%E7%B4%B0%E9%8 ... 84-1108086

The battle of 5th Division in Siberia is described below.
https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/980716/65

Taki

[Igor Starikow]

Dear Taki,
thank you very much for your help and interesting message!

I am very grateful to you for the information about Major Gen. Tatsuo Hosono! Are you sure the 9th Brigade included the 22nd Infantry Regiment? It is usually indicated that this was the 21st Infantry Regiment. Do you know the names of the commanders of the cavalry and engineering units of the division?

Sorry, I don't know Japanese. I would love to read this book, but I cannot do it.

Best wishes,
Igor

[Akira Takizawa]

> Are you sure the 9th Brigade included the 22nd Infantry Regiment?

It is sure.

> It is usually indicated that this was the 21st Infantry Regiment.

At that time, they were exchanged. See below.
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A9 ... 3%E9%9A%8A
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%A9 ... 3%E9%9A%8A

> Do you know the names of the commanders of the cavalry and engineering units of the division?

The commander of 5th Cavalry Regiment was Lt. Col. Mamoru Sekiya. The commander of 5th Engineer Battalion was Lt. Col. Nobunaga Kuwahara.

Taki

[Igor Starikow]

Dear Taki,
Many thanks for your help! Also, I really appreciate your corrections and clarifications. Now I see that I was wrong with the 21st Infantry Regiment.

May I have another question? Do you know the number of soldiers and officers of the regiments of the 5th division for April-May 1920? In which cities of Transbaikalia were the Japanese units stationed? I only know for sure that the 71st Infantry Regiment was in the city of Nerchinsk.

Best wishes,
Igor

[Akira Takizawa]

> Do you know the number of soldiers and officers of the regiments of the 5th division for April-May 1920?

I don't know.

> In which cities of Transbaikalia were the Japanese units stationed?

They were moving in Siberia. And they were acting with some detachments. So, it is impossible to answer to your question simply. The details of their action is written in above book. But, I cannot translate it, because it is hard work to translate place names from Japanese to English.

Taki

[Igor Starikow]

Thanks a lot! Is there anything you can know about the number of soldiers and officers in the Japanese regiments? I am very interested in the information for April-May 1920. At this time, Japanese troops took part in the battles near Chita and Nerchinsk.

Igor

[Akira Takizawa]

Japanese infantry regiments had approx. 2,000 men in peace time. But, they were reinforced to approx. 3,700 men in wartime. It is unknown how they were reinforced when they went to Siberia.

Taki

[Igor Starikow]

Dear Taki,
Do you have information about these officers of the Imperial Japanese Army: Inoue Daigoro, Shinnosuke Suzuki, Mamoru Sekiya and Nobunaga Kuwahara.

Date and place of birth, military service, and more?

Thanks in advance,
Igor

[Akira Takizawa]

I don' know Inoue Daigoro.

Shinnosuke Suzuki
Probably, he is 鈴木 新之丞. But, his first name seems to be read as Shinnojo. His service is as follows.
http://admiral31.dip.jp/31page/a/px08.htm#m015

No information about Mamoru Sekiya.

Nobunaga Kuwahara
http://admiral31.dip.jp/31page/a/px10.htm#m017

Taki

[Igor Starikow]

Thank you, Taki! I would be very grateful if you could answer some more questions related to the 5th division.

The division also had the 5th Transport Regiment. Did he take part in the Siberian expedition? Who was his commander?

Were air units and armored trains attached to the division? What numbers or names did they have? Who commanded these air units and armored trains?

[Akira Takizawa]

> The division also had the 5th Transport Regiment. Did he take part in the Siberian expedition? Who was his commander?

It was not 5th Transport Regiment, but 5th Transport Battalion. It only sent a detachment to Siberia. The detachment was called 第５師団輜重監視隊 (5th Division Transport Supervising Unit) and the commander was Lt. Kyosuke Matsuo.

> Were air units and armored trains attached to the division?

Armored trains of 5th Division were transferred from 3rd Division. 2 armored trains were formed in 3rd Division at Chita. When 3rd Division returned to Japan, they were transferred to 5th Division. They were called 1st and 2nd Armored Trains. The commanders of them are unknown.

No air unit was attached to 5th Division.

Taki

[Igor Starikow]

Dear Taki,
Thanks a lot for your help! The information you provided is very interesting!

In Russian publications, the names of some officers of the 5th division are found. Perhaps there are mistakes in their writing. I am interested in the command positions of these officers:
1. Major Takeshta - Chief of Staff of the 9th Brigade,
2. Major Otiai (or Ochiai)
3. Colonel Takeuti (or Takeuchi) - cavalry commander,
4. Lieutenant Colonel Matsuo
5. Lieutenant Colonel Kato - officer of the 71st regiment.

Who was the Chief of Staff of the 21st Brigade?

Thanks in advance
Igor

[Akira Takizawa]

> Who was the Chief of Staff of the 21st Brigade?

There was no Chief of Staff in IJA brigades. There was only adjutant. I don't know the adjutant of 21st Brigade.

Taki

[Igor Starikow]

Many thanks, Taki! You helped me a lot!

Best wishes
Igor