Japanese Fifteenth Area Army

Japanese Fifteenth Area Army
Active	February 1, 1945 - August 15, 1945
Country	Empire of Japan
Branch	Imperial Japanese Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Field Army
Garrison/HQ	Osaka
Nickname(s)	楠 (Kusu = "camphor")
Engagements	Operation Downfall

The Japanese Fifteenth Area Army (第15方面軍, Dai jyūgo hōmen gun^?) was a field army of the Imperial Japanese Army during the closing stages of World War II.

The Japanese 15th Area Army was formed on February 1, 1945 under the General Defense Command as part of the last desperate defense effort by the Empire of Japan to deter possible landings of Allied forces in central Honshū during Operation Downfall (or Operation Ketsugō (決号作戦, Ketsugō sakusen^?) in Japanese terminology). It was transferred to the newly formed Japanese Second General Army on April 8, 1945. The Japanese 15th Area Army was responsible for the Kansai and Chugoku regions of Honshū and the island of Shikoku. It was headquartered in Osaka. The 15th Area Army leadership also held equivalent posts in the Central District Army, and had the honor of receiving their appointments personally from Emperor Hirohito rather than the Imperial General Headquarters.

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