page_title: 5th Division (Imperial Japanese Army)
section_title: Battle of Malaya
hierarchical_section_title: 5th Division (Imperial Japanese Army) / Operational history / Pacific War / Battle of Malaya
caption_attribution_description: English: Soldiers of the 5th division of the Imperial Japanese Army landing on a beach during the Malayan invasion, December 1941
context_page_description: The '5th Division' was an infantry division of the Imperial Japanese Army. Its call sign was the Carp Division. The 5th Division was formed in Hiroshima in January 1871 as the Hiroshima Garrison, one of six regional commands created in the fledgling Imperial Japanese Army. Its personnel were drafted from Hiroshima, Yamaguchi and Shimane.
context_section_description: The 5th Division landed on the east coast of Thailand at Singora and Patani on December 8, 1941. The 5th Division fought its way through northern and central Malaya. It was particularly successful at the battle of Jitra on 11 December 1941 and the battle of Slim River on 6 January 1942. In both battles, it defeated the Indian 11th Infantry Division. At the Battle of Slim River, the 5th Division's 41st Infantry Regiment, supported by tanks, swept through sixteen miles of British defenses, shattering the exhausted combatants of the 11th Indian Division and inflicting an estimated 3,000 casualties.
  The 5th Division did not have it all its own way during the Battle of Malaya, suffering heavy casualties during the Battle of Kampar from 30 December 1941. Nonetheless, the division was able to capture Kuala Lumpur 11 January 1942.  After overcoming the stiff resistance of the 8th Australian Division during the Battle of Muar at Gemensah Bridge, the 5th Division has opened the way to Singapore on 22 January 1942.
caption: Soldiers of the 5th division landing on a beach during the Malayan invasion, December 1941
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