Japanese Forces

Students

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Student_militia_at_Kujukurihama.jpg

Student militia of the IJA 52 Army training on Kujukurihama Beach, Chiba, early 1945. The Japanese 52nd Army was formed on April 7, 1945 under the Japanese 12th Area Army as part of the last desperate defense effort by the Empire of Japan to deter possible landings of Allied forces in central Honshū during Operation Downfall. The Japanese 52nd Army was based in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture and was thus intended to guard the closest beachhead to Tokyo and the Kantō region along the Bōsō Peninsula. It consisted mostly of poorly-trained reservists, conscripted students and Volunteer Fighting Corps home guard militia. It was demobilized at the surrender of Japan on August 15, 1945 without having seen combat. ------------------------ Evillittlekenny