58th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
| 58th Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942 - 1945 |
| Country | Empire of Japan |
| Branch |
 Imperial Japanese Army
|
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | 12080 |
| Garrison/HQ | Yingcheng |
| Nickname(s) | Wide Division |
| Engagements |
Battle of West Hubei Operation Ichi-Go |
The 58th Division (第58師団 Dai-gojūhachi Shidan?) was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Wide Division (広兵団 Kou Heidan?). It was formed on 2 February 1942 at Hankou as a security (class C) division, simultaneously with 59th and 60th divisions. The nucleus for the formation was the 18th Independent Mixed Brigade. Also, many of the soldiers of the 136th Infantry Brigade of the 106th Division, demobilized in 1940, were re-employed in the 58th Division. As a security division, the 58th Division's backbone consisted of independent infantry battalions, and it did not include an artillery regiment.
Immediately after been formed in Hankou, the 58th Division was transferred to Yingcheng and continued at first to perform the security duties of the 18th Independent Mixed Brigade.
In May 1943, the 58th Division participated in the inconclusive Battle of West Hubei, helping to temporarily secure the Yichang - Wuhan riverway.
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