Kwantung Army

The Kwantung Army was a Japanese military force stationed in northeast China from 1906 to 1945. It was a powerful, semi-autonomous unit responsible for controlling Manchuria, a resource-rich region. The army played a key role in Japan’s expansionist policies, including the 1931 invasion of Manchuria, and became a significant force behind Japan's aggressive actions during World War II. While officially part of the Imperial Japanese Army, it often operated independently, influencing political and military decisions in the region until Japan's defeat in 1945.