|
The "Korea Independence Army"
of the Korean Provisional Government was
established
in Chungching China, the temporary capital of Korea,
on
September 17th 1940. Actual master plan of the
Army was made in 1937,
but the Army Headquarters
was not incorporated until 1940 due to the
Sino-Japanese
War. Kim, Koo, the President of the Provisional Government
clarified the purpose of the Army by "The Declaration
of Korea
Independence Army"; Korea and China
would establish a united relation
for confronting
Japan to achieve the independence of two countries.
The
establishment ceremony of "Korea Independence
Army" was held in
Karoongbinkwan in Chungching.
Staffs were appointed ; the Supreme
Commander, Lee,
Chong-Chon(another name, Ji, Chang-Chon, real name,
Ji,
De-Hyung), the Chief Staff, Lee, Bum-Seok, the
general director, Choi,
Yong-Duk, the Vice-Chief
of Staff, Chae, Hyung-Sae, the Adjutant
General,
Hwang, Hak-Soo, the Chief of Fiscal and Public Relations,
An,
Hoon(real name Cho, Kyok-Wi), the Chief of Military
Training, Song,
Ho(real name, Song, Ho-Seong), and
the Chief of Military Affairs
Division, Yu, Jin-Dong.
The Army was organized into four battalions ;
the
1st battalion commander, Lee, Jun-Sik, the 2nd, Kim,
Hak-Kyu, the
3rd, Kong, Jin-Won, and the 5th, Na,
Wol-Hwan. The 5th battalion
commander, however,
was assassinated in Sian and two other commander's
activities made little progress that results in recruitment
of 300
soldiers for the first year. In November
1941, Chinese Government
enacted the law of Assistance
to "Korea Independence Army". On the 8th
of December, 20 days after the Law was legislated, Japanese
attacked the
Pearl Harbor in USA, and Chinese government
proclaimed war against
Japan. The Provisional Government
of Korea also proclaimed war against
Japan on December
10, 1941, and in April 20, 1942, Kim, Won-Bong's
Chosun Volunteer Army was organized into the 1st battalion,
and then
reorganized into 2nd battalions. The plans
of military activities were;
recruitment of soldiers,
combat unit and home resistance organization,
training,
maneuvering subversive activities against Japan, and
establishment of expeditionary army headquarters in
the Pacific region,
etc. Many Korean guerrilla units
were active in Hwabei, Reoheo, Hoobei,
Sansi, Sandong,
Anhui, and Jangsi, and a troop of 3000 independence
soldiers were working with Chinese guerrilla units around
Chingbai
Mountain. And in Russia, Middle Asia and
Siberia, there were 300,000
well trained soldiers
hoping to participate in the Independence Army.
Meanwhile, the Independence Army entered into an agreement
with the
office of Strategic Service of U.S.A in
China for special training of
military operations.
At that time, Japan was forced to enroll young
Koreans
for her army and they posted in the war front of the
South Sea
Islands and China. And later some of them
were escaped and joined the
Independence Army and
received 3 months special training for military
campaign in Sian. The mission of this unit was to destruct
and occupy
strategic points and to transport weapons
by US airplane. But the plan
was not actually carried
out due to Japanese surrender. After Korean's
Independence
achieved, the Independence Army was disarmed by the
request
of USA and got back home.
|
|
