Manchukuo Imperial Army

Manchukuo Imperial Army
滿洲國軍
Mǎnzhōuguó jūn
Active1932–1945
Country Manchukuo
AllegianceManchukuo Manchukuo government (de jure)
 Empire of Japan (de facto)
TypeArmy
Size111,000 (1933)
170,000–220,000 (1945)
EngagementsSecond Sino-Japanese War

Soviet-Japanese Border Wars

World War II

Commanders
Emperor of ManchukuoPuyi
Minister of DefenseSee list
Notable
commanders
Aisin-Gioro Xiqia
Zhang Haipeng
Zhang Jinghui
Yu Zhishan
Insignia
Five-colored star

The Manchukuo Imperial Army (Chinese: 滿洲國軍; pinyin: Mǎnzhōuguó jūn) was the ground force of the military of the Manchukuo, a puppet state established by Imperial Japan in Manchuria, a region of northeastern China. The force was primarily used for fighting against Communist and Nationalist guerrillas in Manchukuo but also took part in battle against the Soviet Red Army on several occasions. It initially consisted of former National Revolutionary Army troops of the "Young Marshal" Zhang Xueliang who were recruited after the Japanese invasion of Manchuria en masse, but eventually expanded to include new volunteers and conscripts. The Imperial Army increased in size from about 111,000 troops in 1933 to an estimated strength of between 170,000 and 220,000 soldiers at its peak in 1945, being composed of Han Chinese, Manchus, Mongols, Koreans, Japanese, and White Russians. Throughout its existence the majority of its troops were considered to be mostly unreliable by their Japanese officers and advisers, due to poor training and low morale.