▁recommend ations ▁influenced ▁the ▁decision ▁of ▁the ▁Japanese ▁General ▁Staff ▁to ▁author ize ▁the ▁land ings ▁of ▁the ▁Japanese ▁T enth ▁Army ▁at ▁the ▁start ▁of ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Shang hai . ▁he ▁was ▁assigned ▁command ▁of ▁Tokyo ▁Bay ▁Fort ress ▁in ▁September ▁ 1 9 3 8 . ▁ ▁Sh im om ura ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁lieutenant ▁general ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 9 3 9 . ▁He ▁was ▁appointed ▁command ant ▁of ▁the ▁Art illery ▁School ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 0 , ▁and ▁of ▁the ▁Army ▁Staff ▁College ▁in ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁He ▁was ▁given ▁a ▁field ▁command ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁in ▁the ▁form ▁of ▁the ▁Japanese ▁Th ir teenth ▁Army , ▁a ▁g arrison ▁force ▁based ▁in ▁Shang hai ▁and ▁surrounding ▁provinces ▁primarily ▁to ▁d eter ▁the ▁possible ▁land ings ▁of ▁the ▁Al lies ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁in ▁the ▁lower ▁Yang t ze ▁River ▁area ▁of ▁east ▁central ▁China . ▁ ▁In ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁Sh im om ura ▁was ▁with dra wn ▁to ▁the ▁Japanese ▁home ▁islands ▁and ▁became ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁Western ▁District ▁Army , ▁another ▁force ▁intended ▁to ▁defend ▁against ▁Al lied ▁land ings . ▁However , ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁he ▁was ▁sent ▁back ▁to ▁China ▁as ▁commander ▁of ▁the ▁North ▁China ▁Area ▁Army . ▁ ▁In ▁May ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁Sh im om ura ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁full ▁general , ▁and ▁on ▁ 2