The was formed on September 9, 1942 under the
Southern Expeditionary Army Group following the Japanese invasion and occupation of
French Indochina. On November 12, 1944, with the threat of possible landings of
Allied forces to retake
French Indochina increasing, the organizational structure of the
Southern Expeditionary Army changed, and the Indochina Garrison Army was re-designated the
Japanese Thirty-Eighth Army. It remained stationed in
French Indochina as a
garrison force as before. The Japanese 38th Army was involved in the
Meigo Sakusen (Operation Bright Moon) of March 1945, which resulted in the proclamation of the
Empire of Vietnam independent from French rule. The Japanese 38th Army was
demobilized at the
surrender of Japan on August 15, 1945 at
Hanoi. ==List of commanders==