32nd Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
| 32nd Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1939–1945 |
| Country | Japan |
| Branch | Imperial Japanese Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Nickname(s) | Maple Division |
| Engagements |
Second Sino-Japanese War Battle of Morotai |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Heitarō Kimura |
The Imperial Japanese Army's 32nd Division (第32師団 Dai-sanjūni Shidan?) was an infantry division during World War II. Its call sign was the Maple Division (楓兵団 Kaede Heidan?). The division was raised 7 February 1939 in Tokyo, simultaneously with 33rd, 34th, 35th, 36th and 37th divisions.
The 32nd Division was subordinated to the 12th Army and transferred to China in May 1939 to participate in the Second Sino-Japanese War, initially posted to Shanxi. Due to the Japanese defeat in the Battle of Suixian–Zaoyang, the initially assigned positions became unreachable and the 32nd Division arrived in southeast Shantung in June 1939 and saw action in the 1939–40 Winter Offensive, initially protecting the Tai'an - Tengzhou line. The division was able to start a counter-attack on 2 December 1939 as part of the Shandong Operation. After the offensive, the 32nd Division was garrisoned at Jinan.
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