34th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)

The 34th Division (第34師団, Dai-sanjūyon Shidan^?) was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Camellia Division (椿兵団, Tsubaki Heidan^?). The Japanese Imperial Army 34th Division was raised as a triangular division on 2 July 1939 in Osaka, simultaneously with 32nd, 33rd, 35th, 36th and 37th divisions. Its manpower came primarily from Osaka and Wakayama prefecture. It was intended as a garrison force to maintain public order and to cover police duties in Japanese-occupied portions of central China,

The 34th division have left Osaka 3 April 1939 and arrived to Hankou 13 April 1939. Initially the 34th division was assigned to the Wuhan area under control of the Japanese 11th Army. In December 1939, it was transferred to Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi province, where it served as a garrison force. In 1940, it participated in the Battle of Zaoyang-Yichang. In March 1941, it participated in the Battle of Shanggao (part of Battle of Changsha (1941)), and from 24 December 1941 participated in Battle of Changsha (1942).