59th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
| 59th Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1942 - 1945 |
| Country | Empire of Japan |
| Branch |
 Imperial Japanese Army
|
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | 12080 |
| Garrison/HQ | Jinan |
| Nickname(s) | Robe Division |
| Engagements |
Second Sino-Japanese War Battle of Central Henan |
The 59th Division (第59師団 Dai-gojūkyū Shidan?) was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Robe Division (衣兵団 Koromo Heidan?). It was formed on 2 February 1942 at Jinan as a security (class C) division, simultaneously with 58th and 60th divisions. The nucleus for the formation was the 10th Independent Mixed Brigade. As a security division, the 59th Division's backbone consisted of independent infantry battalions, and it did not include an artillery regiment. Its men were drafted from Chiba Prefecture, with reinforcements office located in Kashiwa. The division was initially assigned to the 12th army
Upon formation, the 59th division assumed the security duties of the 10th Independent Mixed Brigade. First fighting against Chinese guerrilla started at Guantao County in June 1942. From August 1942, the division was engaged in attempt to defeat forces of Yu Xuezhong. From middle November 1942, the division participated in the thrust to the east of Jinan, isolating the elements of the Chinese army on the Shandong Peninsula.
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