19th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)

The 19th Division (第19師団) was an infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Tiger Division (虎兵団).

History
The 19th Division and the 20th Division were raised on 24 December 1915 as a garrison force for Korea. After Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War, and subsequent occupation, and then annexation of Korea, the need was felt for a dedicated garrison force, raised from people with local knowledge. The 19th Division was stationed in far northeast Korea, in what is now North Hamgyong Province.

After the Manchurian Incident, the 19th Division was called upon to provide assistance in Invasion of Manchuria, during which it occupied Changchun and Harbin, and in the subsequent Pacification of Manchukuo. It continued to be stationed in Manchuria afterwards.

In July 1938, it was one of the Japanese divisions at the Battle of Lake Khasan against the Soviet Union. Afterwards, with increasing tension and subsequent border clashes the 19th Division had 500 killed and 900 wounded from 6 August to 11 August 1938. It was then recalled to the Korean border area with the Soviet Union.

In May, 1943, the 74th Infantry Regiment was elevated into the 30th Division. In December 1944, the remainder of the 19th Division was transferred to the Japanese Fourteenth Area Army in the Philippines. It was largely annihilated in combat in the mountains of central Luzon by joint the U.S. & Allied Philippine Commonwealth troops during the subsequent Battle of Luzon and ceased to be a functional unit at that time.

Organization
The order of battle for the 19th Division included:
 * 73rd Infantry Regiment
 * 74th infantry Regiment
 * 75th Infantry Regiment
 * 76th Infantry Regiment

Reference and further reading

 * Coox, Alvin D. Nomonhan: Japan Against Russia, 1939. Stanford University Press; Reprint edition (1990). ISBN 0-8047-1835-0
 * Madej, W. Victor. Japanese Armed Forces Order of Battle, 1937–1945 [2 vols] Allentown, PA: 1981