In 1942, Imperial General Headquarters re-appraised the situation in Manchuria. Additional attempts would be made to strengthen the defenses of Manchuria. This included some minor return of troops which were sent south in 1941, the reorganization of some smaller units, and an intensive training program. Overall, with the addition of another infantry division and two armored divisions, this constituted an important reinforcement of the Kwantung Army at a time when the Soviets were hard-pressed to maintain their force levels in the theater. Should any attack against the Soviets be executed, the 1942 campaign plan was identical to the 1941 plan. Force improvements in 1942 included the return of elements in May from the 14th Army that had just completed the conquest of the Philippines, the return of elements in April from the 25th Army that had concluded operations in Malaya, and the return of elements in July from the 16th Army, victors in the Dutch East Indies campaign. The 10th Air Brigade returned in July. In May, the formation of a new infantry division (the 71st) was completed in Manchuria from assorted smaller units. During the summer, an extensive command reorganization was carried out. In June, the Kwantung Army was redesignated as General Headquarters, Kwantung Army. In July, two area armies were formed. The First Area Army, under Lieutenant General Yamashita, conqueror of Singapore, assumed responsibility for defense of eastern Manchuria, and the Second Area Army assumed the defense of northern Manchuria. Also, in July, the Mechanized Army Headquarters was created and was assigned the newly formed 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions. Though still tasked with the strict avoidance of conflict with the Soviets, this reinforcement of the Kwantung Army presented the Japanese with the option of initiating offensive operations should the opportunity arise. With the turning of the tide in the west against the Germans, and the maintenance of a strong Soviet force in the Far East, such an opportunity never presented itself. By September 1942, Japanese defeats in the South Pacific would force the first redeployment of forces from Manchuria. The departure of forces from Manchuria eventually became a flood in 1944 and by 1945 the Kwantung Army would be a shell of its former self. The Kwantung Army did eventually see action against the Soviets, but not under the conditions that the IJA had envisioned. In August 1945 it was the Soviets who did the attacking with the result being the utter annihilation of the once proud elite of the Imperial Army. North Wind Rain Japanese Invasion of Manchuria Introduction and Background The Nomohan Incident Preparations for the Next Round Japanese 1941 Campaign Plan Into 1942 and Beyond Kwantung Army Close Up The Soviets Prepare The Red Army and the Far East The Red Army in 1942 Opposing Air Forces Red Army Rifle Division April 1941 TO&E Red Army Rifle Division July 1942 TO&E Red Army Rifle Brigade July 1942 TO&E Red Army Tank Brigade July 1942 TO&E Red Army Far Eastern Front June 1941 Red Army Trans-Baikal Military District June 1941 Large Map: Kwangtung Army Deployment August 1941 (slow: 116K) Jumbo Map: Kwangtung Army Deployment August 1941 (very slow: 397K) Alternative History: 2nd Russo-Japanese War Back to Table of Contents -- Against the Odds vol. 2 no. 1 Back to Against the Odds List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2003 by LPS. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com * Buy this back issue or subscribe to Against the Odds direct from LPS.