Organization of Volunteer Citizen Corps

In Japan during World War II, many laws and decrees, including the National Mobilization Law, National Mobilization Order, and decrees for volunteer labor of students and women were enacted in order to ensure that all citizens joined the war effort.

In the cabinet meeting on March 23, 1945, “Matters regarding Volunteer Citizen Corps” was established and the volunteer citizen corps were scheduled to be formed. Volunteer citizen corps were responsible for the systematic enhancement of production and defense for the time being. In an emergency, members were to take up arms in preparation for combat. Except for invalids, pregnant women and nursing mothers, all citizens who had completed lower-level grades of elementary schools were subject to the formation of the volunteer citizen corps⎯up to age 65 for men and up to age 45 for women. Since young men were conscripted into the military in those days, most members of the volunteer citizen corps were men in their forties or older, and women.

Hiroshima Prefecture promulgated “Notice of Order regarding the Management of Volunteer Citizen Corps” for all municipality heads as of May 7, and instructed them to form volunteer citizen corps by May 20.

Notice of Order regarding the Management of Volunteer Citizen Corps

Notice of Order regarding the Management of Volunteer Citizen Corps This document was issued by the Hiroshima Prefectural Government to each municipality head as of May 7, 1945 ordering the formation of volunteer citizen corps by May 20.

General Principles of Hiroshima Prefecture Volunteer Citizen Corps

In this document, the expression “We members of the ranks” appears repeatedly.

Organization of Volunteer Citizen Corps in Hiroshima Prefecture

In Hiroshima Prefecture the headquarters of the Volunteer Citizen Corps was established, in which the governor issued marching orders as the headquarters chief. Community Volunteer Citizen Corps were formed for each municipality, and each one’s head served as the commander. Workplace Volunteer Citizen Corps were organized by individual companies, and the head or the manager of the workplace served as the commander. Each community and workplace volunteer citizen corps ensured proper management and command according to their own rules.

Volunteer Corps Service Law

In June 1945 after the volunteer citizen corps were formed through the cabinet’s decision, the Volunteer Corps Service Law was promulgated.
The law stipulated that male citizens aged from 15 to 60 and female citizens aged 17 to 40 should serve in the volunteer corps, be drafted as required, and be incorporated in the Volunteer Fighting Corps. World War II, however, ended with few Volunteer Fighting Corps having actually been formed.