The Japanese 39th Infantry Division was formed on June 30, 1939 in Hiroshima. On October 2 it joined 11th Army in central China. The division was assigned to 34th Army in July 1944. In late March to late May, 1945 the division participated in the Battle of West Henan–North Hubei. It joined the Thirtieth Army under the Japanese Third Area Army to defend Manchukuo on July 30, 1945 shortly before the Soviet invasion of Manchuria.