The Japanese 17th Area Army was formed on January 22, 1945, under the
Imperial General Headquarters as the successor to the
Chosen Army of Japan as part of the last desperate defense effort by the
Empire of Japan to deter possible landings of
Allied forces on the
Korean peninsula during
Operation Downfall (or in Japanese terminology). It was headquartered in
Keijō. However, the actual administrative structure of the former Chosen Army remained in place, and thus the leadership of the 17th Area Army concurrently held the equivalent posts within the Chosen Army, which was also called the Korean District Army. As with the field armies raised on the
Japanese home islands it consisted mostly of poorly trained
reservists,
conscripted students and
home guard militia, as most of the veteran, trained troops of the Chosen Army had already been transferred to other fronts in the
Pacific War. In addition, the Japanese had organized the
Patriotic Citizens Fighting Corps—which included all healthy men aged 15–60 and women 17–40—to perform combat support, and ultimately combat jobs. Weapons, training, and uniforms were generally lacking: some men were armed with nothing better than muzzle-loading
muskets,
longbows, or bamboo spears; nevertheless, they were expected to make do with what they had. On August 10, 1945, the 17th Area Army was transferred to the control of the
Kwantung Army and ordered north to oppose the
Soviet Red Army forces advancing southward in
Manchukuo. However, the war came to an end before the 17th Area Army could cross the
Yalu River. The 17th Area Army was thus
demobilized without having seen combat, and units remained armed and in their
garrisons until
Red Army and
United States Army forces arrived in Korea. ==List of Commanders==