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{{Short description|Japanese lieutenant general (1888–1950)}}
{{Infobox Military Person
{{Infobox military person
|name= Masao Watanabe
|name= Masao Watanabe
⚫
|native_name=渡辺 正夫
⚫
|lived= October 10, 1880 – {{Death date and age|1950|10|11|1880|10|10}}
|native_name_lang=jpn
⚫
|placeofbirth=[[Osaka prefecture]], [[Japan]]
|birth_date={{Birth date|1880|10|10}}
|placeofdeath=
⚫
|death_date= {{Death date and age|1950|10|11|1880|10|10}}
|image=[[Image:Replace this image male.svg]]
⚫
|birth_place=[[Osaka prefecture]], Japan
|death_place=
|image=
|caption=
|caption=
|nickname=
|nickname=
|allegiance=[[Empire of Japan]]
|allegiance={{flag|Empire of Japan}}
|branch={{army|Empire of Japan}}
|branch=[[Image:War flag of the Imperial Japanese Army.svg|22x20px|border]] [[Imperial Japanese Army]]
|serviceyears=1909 -1945
|serviceyears=1909 -1945
|rank=[[Lieutenant General]]
|rank=[[File:帝國陸軍の階級―肩章―中将.svg|50px]] [[Lieutenant General]]
|commands=IJA 56th Division, IJA 32nd Army
|commands=IJA 56th Division, IJA 32nd Army
|unit=
|unit=
|battles= [[World War II]]
|battles= [[World War II]]
|awards=[[Order of the Sacred Treasures]] (1st class)<br>[[Order of the Rising Sun]] (1st class)
|awards=[[Order of the Rising Sun]] (1st class)
|family=
|family=
|laterwork=
|laterwork=
}}
}}
⚫
{{nihongo|'''Masao Watanabe'''|渡辺 正夫| Watanabe Masao |extra=10 October 1888 – 11 October 1950}} was a [[lieutenant general]] in the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] during [[World War II]].

⚫
{{nihongo|'''Masao Watanabe'''|渡辺 正夫| Watanabe Masao |extra=10 October 1888 – 11 October 1950}} was a general in the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] during [[World War II]].


==Biography==
==Biography==
Watanabe was the son of a former [[samurai]] retainer of the [[Kishiwada]] domain. His father was an elementary school teacher. Watanabe was a graduate of the 21st class of the [[Imperial Japanese Army Academy]] in 1909, and of the 31st class of the [[Army War College (Japan)|Army Staff College]] in 1919, with a specialty in [[artillery]].
Watanabe was the second son of a former [[samurai]] retainer of the [[Kishiwada Domain]] who became an elementary school teacher after the [[Meiji restoration]]. Watanabe attended military preparatory schools in Osaka and was a graduate of the 21st class of the [[Imperial Japanese Army Academy]] in 1909, specializing in artillery. He graduated from the 31st class of the [[Army War College (Japan)|Army Staff College]] in 1919. After graduation, he held various staff positions, and from 1928 was an instructor of the Army Field Artillery School. In 1928, he was promoted to the honorific title of Senior Sixth [[List of Japanese court ranks, positions and hereditary titles|Court Rank]].<ref>『官報』第535号「叙任及辞令」October 5, 1928</ref> He was on the staff of the [[Hiroshima Port Fortress]], the [[Hōyo Strait Fortress]], and commanded the [[Imperial Guard (Japan)|Guards Field Artillery Battalion]], rising to the position of [[Chief of staff (military)|Chief of Staff]] of the [[14th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|IJA 14th Division]] in 1933,<ref>Ammenthorp, The Generals of World War II</ref> overseeing its withdrawal from [[Manchukuo]] back to Japan.


Watanabe was promoted to [[major general]] in 1937 and was made Chief of Staff of the [[Central District Army]] in Japan. From 1938 to 1940 the head of the Army Armaments Factory. He was promoted to [[lieutenant general]] in 1939. After a brief stint at the Army Aviation Technology Research Institute, he was given a field command as the commander of the newly formed [[IJA 56th Division]] from August 1940.
From 1928 - 1933, Watanabe was an instructor of the Army Field Artillery School. He was assigned a commander of the IJA 10th Field Artillery Regiment from 1933-1936, after which he became [[Chief of staff (military)|Chief of Staff]] of the [[IJA 14th Division]].<ref>Ammenthorp, The Generals of World War II</ref>


Although initially the 56th division was slated as reinforcements for the [[Japanese invasion of Malaya]], the rapid cessation of British resistance resulted in division been attached to [[Twenty-Fifth Army (Japan)|IJA 25th Army]] and sent to [[Myanmar|Burma]] in March 1942, landing in [[Rangoon]] and participating in the [[Battle of Toungoo]]. The 56th Division linked with the [[55th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)|IJA 55th Division]] in [[Toungoo]] on 28 March 1942. Its reconnaissance elements forced the Chinese to evacuate the city opening the way to the east. Later the 56th Division flanked the Allied line to the east, by advancing through the mountains to the Salween River in the [[Karenni States|Karenni]] States. The Division defeated the Chinese 6th Corps in the [[Karen Hills]] area battles of [[Mawchi]] on 13 April 1942, [[Bawlake]], [[Taunggyi]] and [[Loikaw]] on 20 April 1940,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Invasion of Burma |url=https://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=59 |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=WW2DB}}</ref> and forced their retreat eastward to [[Yunnan]]. Advancing north through the [[Shan States]] the 56th Division defeated elements of the Chinese 65th Corps to take the city of [[Lashio]] on the [[Burma Road]]. The fall of [[Lashio]] to the 56th Division on 29 April 1942 cut off much of the local Chinese Army from China and compelled the Allies to evacuate Burma. The Division advanced into Yunnan in pursuit of the Chinese but were halted at the [[Battle of Salween River]] by the Chinese [[36th Division (National Revolutionary Army)|36th]] and [[88th Division (National Revolutionary Army)|88th Divisions]] on 31 May 1942.<ref>Hsu, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)</ref>
Before the start of the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]], Watanabe was promoted to [[major general]] and was Chief of Staff of the Central Defense Army in Japan. He was reassigned to an administrative role when he became head of the Army Armaments Factory from 1938-1940. He was promoted to [[lieutenant general]] in 1939.


⚫
Following this success in combat, Watanabe was recalled to Japan, and from 1942 to 1944, was Commandant of the Army School of Science. However, with the war situation rapidly deteriorating against Japan, he was sent to the field again in March 1944 as the first commander in chief of the newly formed [[Thirty-Second Army (Japan)|IJA 32nd Army]], tasked with the defense of the [[Ryukyu Islands]].<ref>Budge, The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia</ref> Watanabe was recalled to Tokyo in August the same year, and retired from military service.
With the [[Pacific War]], Watanabe was again given a field command as commander in chief of the [[IJA 56th Division]] from 1940-1942. He was awarded the [[Order of the Sacred Treasures]], 1st class, in 1940.


⚫
In the final stages of the war, he was recalled to duty, and assigned as commander of the Osaka region for the expected [[Operation Downfall|American invasion of the Japanese home islands]]. He was awarded with the [[Order of the Rising Sun]], 1st class, just before the [[surrender of Japan]]. He died in 1950.
Under Watanabe, the 56th Division participated in the invasion of [[Burma]]. After landing at [[Rangoon]], the 56th Division raced north and engaged [[Kuomingtang]] Chinese forces at the [[battle of Toungoo]]. After taking the city, the 56th Division flanked the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] line to the east, by advancing through the mountains to the [[Salween River]] in the [[Karenni]] States. The 56th Division then defeated the Chinese 6th Corps in a number of small engagements and forced their retreat eastward into [[Yunnan]]. Advancing north through the [[Shan States]] the 56th Division defeated the Chinese 65th Corps to take the city of [[Lashio]] on the [[Burma Road]]. The 56th Division then advanced into Yunnan in pursuit of the Chinese forces but halted at the Salween River.<ref>Hsu, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)</ref>


==Decorations==
⚫
Following this success in combat, Watanabe was recalled to Japan, and from 1942-1944, was Commandant of the Army School of Science. However, with the war situation rapidly deteriorating against Japan, he was sent to the field again in 1944 as the first commander in chief of the newly formed [[Thirty-Second Army (Japan)|IJA 32nd Army]], tasked with the defense of the [[Ryukyu Islands]].<ref>Budge, The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia</ref>
* 1945 – [[File:JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 1Class BAR.svg|50px|link=Order of the Rising Sun]] Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun<ref>『官報』第5730号「叙任及辞令」February 21, 1946 </ref>

⚫
Watanabe was recalled to Tokyo later the same year, and retired from military service. In the final stages of the war, he was recalled to duty, and assigned as commander of the Osaka region for the expected [[Operation Downfall|American invasion of the Japanese home islands]]. He was awarded with the [[Order of the Rising Sun]], 1st class, just before the [[surrender of Japan]]. He died in 1950. His son, [[Akio Watanabe (politician)|Akio Watanabe]] (born August 13, 1932) is currently a scholar and a politician.


==References==
==References==
*{{cite book| last = Fukagawa | first = Hideki | year = 1981 | title = (陸海軍将官人事総覧 (陸軍篇)) Army and Navy General Personnel Directory (Army) | publisher = Fuyo Shobo | location = Tokyo | isbn = 4829500026}}
===Books===
*{{cite book| last = Dupuy | first = Trevor N. | year = 1992 | title = Encyclopedia of Military Biography | publisher = I B Tauris & Co Ltd | isbn = 1-85043-569-3}}
*{{cite book
*{{cite book | last = Hata | first = Ikuhiko | year = 2005 | title = (日本陸海軍総合事典) Japanese Army and Navy General Encyclopedia| publisher = St. Martin's Press | location = Tokyo| isbn = 4130301357}}
| last = Fuller
*{{cite book | last = Louis | first = Allen | year = 1984 | title = Burma: The longest War | publisher = Dent Publishing | isbn = 0-460-02474-4}}
| first = Richard
*{{cite book | last = Hsu | first = Long-hsuen |author2=Chang Ming-kai | year = 1971 | title = History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) 2nd Ed | publisher = Chung Wu Publishing | location = Taiwan Republic of China }}
| coauthors =

| year = 1992
⚫
==External links==
| title = Shokan: Hirohito's Samurai
*{{cite web| last = Ammenthorp| first = Steen| url = http://www.generals.dk/general/Watanabe/Masao/Japan/1.html| title = Watanabe Masao| work = The Generals of World War II}}
| publisher = Arms and Armor
*{{cite encyclopedia| last = Budge| first = Kent| url = http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/index.htm| title = Watanabe Masao| encyclopedia = Pacific War Online Encyclopedia}}
| location = London
| isbn = 1-85409-151-4
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Louis
| first = Allen
| coauthors =
| year = 1984
| title = Burma: The longest War
| publisher = Dent Publishing
| location =
| isbn = 0-460-02474-4
}}
*{{cite book
| last = Hsu
| first = Long-hsuen
| coauthors = Chang Ming-kai
| year = 1971
| title = History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) 2nd Ed
| publisher = Chung Wu Publishing
| location = Taiwan Republic of China
| id =
}}
⚫
===External links===
*{{cite web
| last = Ammenthorp
| first = Steen
| url = http://www.generals.dk/general/Watanabe/Masao/Japan/1.html
| title = Watanabe Masao
| work = The Generals of World War II
}}
*{{cite web
| last = Budge
| first = Kent
| url = http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/index.htm
| title = Watanabe Masao
| work = Pacific War Online Encyclopedia
}}


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Watanabe, Masao
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1880-10-10
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Osaka prefecture]], [[Japan]]
| DATE OF DEATH = 1950-10-11
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watanabe, Masao}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watanabe, Masao}}
[[Category:1888 births]]
[[Category:1888 births]]
[[Category:1950 deaths]]
[[Category:1950 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Osaka (city)]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Osaka Prefecture]]
[[Category:Japanese generals]]
[[Category:Imperial Japanese Army generals of World War II]]
[[Category:Japanese military personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Grand Cordons of the Order of the Rising Sun]]

⚫
[[ja:渡辺正夫]]
[[vi:Watanabe Masao]]

Latest revision as of 06:58, 28 May 2024

Masao Watanabe
Native name
渡辺 正夫
Born(1880-10-10)October 10, 1880
Osaka prefecture, Japan
DiedOctober 11, 1950(1950-10-11) (aged 70)
Allegiance Empire of Japan
Service / branch Imperial Japanese Army
Years of service1909 -1945
Rank Lieutenant General
CommandsIJA 56th Division, IJA 32nd Army
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsOrder of the Rising Sun (1st class)

Masao Watanabe (渡辺 正夫, Watanabe Masao, 10 October 1888 – 11 October 1950) was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

Biography

[edit]

Watanabe was the second son of a former samurai retainer of the Kishiwada Domain who became an elementary school teacher after the Meiji restoration. Watanabe attended military preparatory schools in Osaka and was a graduate of the 21st class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1909, specializing in artillery. He graduated from the 31st class of the Army Staff College in 1919. After graduation, he held various staff positions, and from 1928 was an instructor of the Army Field Artillery School. In 1928, he was promoted to the honorific title of Senior Sixth Court Rank.[1] He was on the staff of the Hiroshima Port Fortress, the Hōyo Strait Fortress, and commanded the Guards Field Artillery Battalion, rising to the position of Chief of Staff of the IJA 14th Division in 1933,[2] overseeing its withdrawal from Manchukuo back to Japan.

Watanabe was promoted to major general in 1937 and was made Chief of Staff of the Central District Army in Japan. From 1938 to 1940 the head of the Army Armaments Factory. He was promoted to lieutenant general in 1939. After a brief stint at the Army Aviation Technology Research Institute, he was given a field command as the commander of the newly formed IJA 56th Division from August 1940.

Although initially the 56th division was slated as reinforcements for the Japanese invasion of Malaya, the rapid cessation of British resistance resulted in division been attached to IJA 25th Army and sent to Burma in March 1942, landing in Rangoon and participating in the Battle of Toungoo. The 56th Division linked with the IJA 55th Division in Toungoo on 28 March 1942. Its reconnaissance elements forced the Chinese to evacuate the city opening the way to the east. Later the 56th Division flanked the Allied line to the east, by advancing through the mountains to the Salween River in the Karenni States. The Division defeated the Chinese 6th Corps in the Karen Hills area battles of Mawchi on 13 April 1942, Bawlake, Taunggyi and Loikaw on 20 April 1940,[3] and forced their retreat eastward to Yunnan. Advancing north through the Shan States the 56th Division defeated elements of the Chinese 65th Corps to take the city of Lashio on the Burma Road. The fall of Lashio to the 56th Division on 29 April 1942 cut off much of the local Chinese Army from China and compelled the Allies to evacuate Burma. The Division advanced into Yunnan in pursuit of the Chinese but were halted at the Battle of Salween River by the Chinese 36th and 88th Divisions on 31 May 1942.[4]

Following this success in combat, Watanabe was recalled to Japan, and from 1942 to 1944, was Commandant of the Army School of Science. However, with the war situation rapidly deteriorating against Japan, he was sent to the field again in March 1944 as the first commander in chief of the newly formed IJA 32nd Army, tasked with the defense of the Ryukyu Islands.[5] Watanabe was recalled to Tokyo in August the same year, and retired from military service.

In the final stages of the war, he was recalled to duty, and assigned as commander of the Osaka region for the expected American invasion of the Japanese home islands. He was awarded with the Order of the Rising Sun, 1st class, just before the surrender of Japan. He died in 1950.

Decorations

[edit]
  • 1945 – Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun[6]

References

[edit]
  • Fukagawa, Hideki (1981). (陸海軍将官人事総覧 (陸軍篇)) Army and Navy General Personnel Directory (Army). Tokyo: Fuyo Shobo. ISBN 4829500026.
  • Dupuy, Trevor N. (1992). Encyclopedia of Military Biography. I B Tauris & Co Ltd. ISBN 1-85043-569-3.
  • Hata, Ikuhiko (2005). (日本陸海軍総合事典) Japanese Army and Navy General Encyclopedia. Tokyo: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 4130301357.
  • Louis, Allen (1984). Burma: The longest War. Dent Publishing. ISBN 0-460-02474-4.
  • Hsu, Long-hsuen; Chang Ming-kai (1971). History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) 2nd Ed. Taiwan Republic of China: Chung Wu Publishing.
[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ 『官報』第535号「叙任及辞令」October 5, 1928
  2. ^ Ammenthorp, The Generals of World War II
  3. ^ "Invasion of Burma". WW2DB. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  4. ^ Hsu, History of The Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)
  5. ^ Budge, The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia
  6. ^ 『官報』第5730号「叙任及辞令」February 21, 1946
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