IJA 104th Division

104th Division
Active	1937 - 1945
Country	Empire of Japan
Branch	Imperial Japanese Army
Type	Infantry
Size	25000
Garrison/HQ	Osaka
Nickname(s)	Phoenix division
Engagements	Battle of Lake Khasan Canton Operation Operation Ichi-Go
Commanders
Notable commanders

The 104th Division (第104師団, Dai-hyakuyon Shidan) was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Phoenix Division (鳳兵団, Ootori Heidan). It was formed 16 June 1938 in Osaka as a B-class square division. The nucleus for the formation was the 4th division headquarters. The division was originally subordinated to the Northern China Area Army.

Originally the 104th division was sent for the escalating Battle of Lake Khasan on Soviet border, but the battle was finished 11 August 1938. Therefore, the 104th division was attached to 21st Army on 19 September 1938 and sailed from Dalian on 4 October 1938. It arrived in Daya Bay on 12 October 1938. The 137th Infantry Regiment then landed and proceeded inland to isolate Hong Kong, as part of the large-scale Canton Operation. Afterwards, the main garrison of the 104th Division was established in Conghua District. On 9 February 1940 the 21st Army was dissolved and the 104th Division was reassigned to the Southern China Area Army.

The 104th Division was reassigned to the 23rd Army in January 1941, and simultaneously lost the 170th Infantry Regiment, becoming a triangular division. The detached regiment was converted into the 21st Independent Mixed Brigade which was eventually sent to participate in the Invasion of Southern French Indochina.

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