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===Second Europan War=== | ===Second Europan War=== | ||
====East Africanna==== | |||
In 1935, at the outbreak of the [[Second Europan War]], Archadian and Trabian forces were chewing at Lucian interests in East Africanna, threatening to invade both [[Rhodeia]] and [[Basel-Ebel]]. At that time, the only available group commander available was Basel-Ebelian General [[Kurt Friedricks]]. Not wanting to have the Federals and the Imperials chew on Lucian holdings, the Lucis War Office dispatched General Sugiyama to Basel-Ebel in July 1935. Sugiyama at that time was commanding the VII Corps positioned around Ghirlandaio. He and the rest of his corps were to be reassigned to East Africanna to prepare for a potential Imperial invasion while General [[Brian Edward Horrocks]] took over in his place. | |||
Sugiyama arrived in August 1935 and Friedricks was subsequently placed under his command, forming the [[Lucis 11th Army Group]]. Sugiyama restructured the overall command structure. He was ruthless in sacking many officers that were deemed too political or had played favourites. He also drastically increased the quality of training within the army group. Sugiyama initiated [[Exercise Lion]], involving a 500,000 men strong army group marched for 100 miles and were trained in rapid deployments in both offensive and defensive actions. He often instructed commanders to use nature and the environment to their advantage. By the end of 1935, the 11th Army Group was becoming one of the best army formations in Africanna. His numbers were later supplanted by ZANAK forces led by General [[Edward Samegawa]]. | |||
In 1936, Trabian and Archadian forces attacked Rhodeia in two flanks. Although Sugiyama was attacked on both sides, he was nonetheless determined to defend Lucian holdings to the last shilling. Sugiyama was also determined that the army, navy, and air forces should fight their battles in a unified, focused manner according to a detailed plan with the alertness of being read to shift should plans change. He ordered defensive ground operations to hold their ground and scrap all retreat plans. Sugiyama's reason being that he had restructured logistics to ensure that supplies were getting to the front as fast as possible, something which paid off. Sugiyama scored victories against Trabians and Archadians, preventing any further push within Rhodeian territory. His 11th Army Group was later joined by the [[Free Bethausian Army of the East]] under the command of General [[Zaw Sein Arkar]]. | |||
Sugiyama would constantly train his formations with Arkar's, such that he understood firmly that nations at the same side must know how to reinforce each other at the time of being in constant danger. Sugiyama refused plans that required one formation to break from another, refusing to risk that they would be cut-off from the main force. Instead, Sugiyama plotted division attacks that was often guarded by another division or brigade. Coupled by a constant desire to wage combined arms warfare, Sugiyama would perfect the offensive strategy of waging a defensive warfare. He noted that it was better for a formation to go on the defense while on the move, unless the terrain favours the defenders. | |||
In 1937, Sugiyama launched an Invasion of Archadian-Arithea, eager to have the Allies gain the full support of the democratic [[Archadian Government-in-exile]]. At this time, Sugiyama was becoming a mentor-figure to many potential commanders. He often appeared before his troops to raise their morale and often ensured that they were well-supplied and fed. He also advocated the replacement of many EWI-era vehicles and tanks with more mobile ones. Thus, his army group was the first to use the [[Cromwell tank|Cromwell]], [[Comet tank|Comet]], and [[Theimer tank|M4 Theimer tanks]] in the field. Sugiyama placed emphasis on rapid deployments in a scenario where the enemy would often have the advantage. This often led to his commanders gain strategies of outmaneuvering large formations. Allied commanders were astonished at Sugiyama's efforts of changing the atmosphere within the Allied lines. The success of his commanders at the [[Battle of Ridge 61|Ridge 61]] and in the [[Battle of Keren|Keren]] were made known to the public, that the Allies finally had a commander that was capable of possibly turning the tide of the entire war. | |||
====Middle East Campaign==== | |||
=====Battle of Sania===== | |||
In early 1938, Sugiyama would receive news of his impending transfer to the [[Middle East Campaign|Middle East]] in order to attempt to halt an unstoppable Imperial advance led by Quenminese and East Europan forces under the command of Marshal [[Thạch Hung Sõn Chiến]], whom Sugiyama had served with during the [[First Europan War]]. At that time, the Allies were desperate to halt the Imperial avalanche taking place in the region, seeing that an Imperial controlled North Africanna would subsequently cost the Allies the war and the vital [[Schwarz Canal]]. Sugiyama would nonetheless accept the transfer, eager to face his former ally in the field. | |||
In what would be known as the [[Battle of Sania]], Sugiyama would hold his ground against a numerical and technologically superior adversary for the next 12 months in a series of battles that would decide the fate and outcome of the war. If Sugiyama failed, Africanna would be in danger of being totally controlled by the Imperials. Though Sugiyama had felt the uncertainty of his fate, he was nonetheless ready to accept the fate that was to befall on him. His wife, Brigadier [[Tsukuyo Kushineda]] often described him in those nights as one of his rigorous ones that he almost could not sleep. | |||
In the first weeks of the battle, Sugiyama faced heavy blows from the Imperials but miraculously, his forces had managed to repulse Imperial attacks. Sugiyama immediately took advantage of the situation by launching a counteroffensive in July, putting Chien back by at least 10 miles. Both sides repeatedly came to blows until in [[Operation Clash]], where Sugiyama had managed to deny General [[Kiều Dũng Quang]] the attempt to encircle his northern flank. Though Sugiyama was nearly driven close to defeat in November due to Chien's massive counterattack, he was successful at repulsing this attack, forcing the Imperials to go on the defensive until in the [[Battle of Ardur]] in March 1939. With this, the Imperial forces could no longer mount a successful counteroffensive and were forced off Ardur and Sugiyama gave chase. | |||
Following this, Sugiyama became the talk of Allied High Command and was celebrated in the UK and Nihhon-koku as the Allies most celebrated commander, being able to hold his ground and prevent Imperial expansion into Africanna. The battle also cemented Sugiyama's legacy as the Allies leading commander throughout the war. | |||
=====Subsequent Operations===== | |||
Following Sania, Sugiyama continued his march to liberating Israelia. The Imperials would give him and his forces a hard time marching towards the Holy Land of Israelia. This prompted Sugiyama to pitch the idea of another army group to join and reinforce him and his armies. He requested the Allied High Command in Erebonia to send in a combined army formation to the Middle East to help him deal with the situation. Sugiyama demanded that a mix of Erebonian and Rubrumians compose of this formation. His close friend, Marshal [[Daidoji Kitagawa]] was quick to endorse his idea and subsequently recommended Erebonian General [[Brian Regnitz]] and his Rubrumian counterpart, General [[Elliot Testarossa]]. Kitagawa claimed that Sugiyama needed two men that can carry out offensive strategies in the face of a numerous Imperial formation, being that the Imperials often outnumbered the Allies in the field, and that the two men were perfect for the job. Regnitz had mastered the art of combined warfare while Testarossa led combined infantry and mobile artillery formations. Allied High Command subsequently gave into his demands and ordered Regnitz and Testarossa's formations be amalgamated to form the [[Second Erebonian and Rubrumian Imperial Force]]. | |||
The Erebonians and Rubrumians subsequently landed at Halfid Beach during [[Operation Alderhall]] and managed to outmaneuver the Imperials in the [[Battle of Aleppa]] | |||
===War of Lorican Aggression=== | ===War of Lorican Aggression=== | ||
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Field Marshal Sir Archibald Sugiyama KG, GCB, CLE (25 May 1900 - 20 October 2005) was a senior Lucian-Nihhonese officer and general who served the Lucis Armed Forces and fought during the First Europan War, the Second Europan War, and the War of Lorican Aggression. Sugiyama is best remembered for halting the Archadian and Guadonian expansion during the East Africanna Campaign, and the Quenminese expansion in Africanna. He is also the husband of Brigadier Tsukuyo Kushineda. Together, their opponents described the couple as The Original War Couple since the two never separated their formations throughout the war. The couple had four children. Of their grandchildren, two are decorated military men in their own way; Reiko Sugiyama and Tatsumi Sugiyama. And two served in the ATS; Yukiko Sugiyama and Akiko Sugiyama.
Sugiyama is famous for his adaptive defensive style of warfare, resulting in several victories against numerically superior forces while minimising his own losses. He is regarded as one of the greatest defensive commanders of all time, and many of his tactics and battle plans are still studied in military academies around the world.
Remarkably known for giving the first heavy blows to the Imperials at the Battle of Sania, Sugiyama is placed as one of Lucis' greatest military heroes and as well as being the greatest general the Allies ever had.
Early Life
Military Career
First Europan War
War of Niflheimian Independence
Second Europan War
East Africanna
In 1935, at the outbreak of the Second Europan War, Archadian and Trabian forces were chewing at Lucian interests in East Africanna, threatening to invade both Rhodeia and Basel-Ebel. At that time, the only available group commander available was Basel-Ebelian General Kurt Friedricks. Not wanting to have the Federals and the Imperials chew on Lucian holdings, the Lucis War Office dispatched General Sugiyama to Basel-Ebel in July 1935. Sugiyama at that time was commanding the VII Corps positioned around Ghirlandaio. He and the rest of his corps were to be reassigned to East Africanna to prepare for a potential Imperial invasion while General Brian Edward Horrocks took over in his place.
Sugiyama arrived in August 1935 and Friedricks was subsequently placed under his command, forming the Lucis 11th Army Group. Sugiyama restructured the overall command structure. He was ruthless in sacking many officers that were deemed too political or had played favourites. He also drastically increased the quality of training within the army group. Sugiyama initiated Exercise Lion, involving a 500,000 men strong army group marched for 100 miles and were trained in rapid deployments in both offensive and defensive actions. He often instructed commanders to use nature and the environment to their advantage. By the end of 1935, the 11th Army Group was becoming one of the best army formations in Africanna. His numbers were later supplanted by ZANAK forces led by General Edward Samegawa.
In 1936, Trabian and Archadian forces attacked Rhodeia in two flanks. Although Sugiyama was attacked on both sides, he was nonetheless determined to defend Lucian holdings to the last shilling. Sugiyama was also determined that the army, navy, and air forces should fight their battles in a unified, focused manner according to a detailed plan with the alertness of being read to shift should plans change. He ordered defensive ground operations to hold their ground and scrap all retreat plans. Sugiyama's reason being that he had restructured logistics to ensure that supplies were getting to the front as fast as possible, something which paid off. Sugiyama scored victories against Trabians and Archadians, preventing any further push within Rhodeian territory. His 11th Army Group was later joined by the Free Bethausian Army of the East under the command of General Zaw Sein Arkar.
Sugiyama would constantly train his formations with Arkar's, such that he understood firmly that nations at the same side must know how to reinforce each other at the time of being in constant danger. Sugiyama refused plans that required one formation to break from another, refusing to risk that they would be cut-off from the main force. Instead, Sugiyama plotted division attacks that was often guarded by another division or brigade. Coupled by a constant desire to wage combined arms warfare, Sugiyama would perfect the offensive strategy of waging a defensive warfare. He noted that it was better for a formation to go on the defense while on the move, unless the terrain favours the defenders.
In 1937, Sugiyama launched an Invasion of Archadian-Arithea, eager to have the Allies gain the full support of the democratic Archadian Government-in-exile. At this time, Sugiyama was becoming a mentor-figure to many potential commanders. He often appeared before his troops to raise their morale and often ensured that they were well-supplied and fed. He also advocated the replacement of many EWI-era vehicles and tanks with more mobile ones. Thus, his army group was the first to use the Cromwell, Comet, and M4 Theimer tanks in the field. Sugiyama placed emphasis on rapid deployments in a scenario where the enemy would often have the advantage. This often led to his commanders gain strategies of outmaneuvering large formations. Allied commanders were astonished at Sugiyama's efforts of changing the atmosphere within the Allied lines. The success of his commanders at the Ridge 61 and in the Keren were made known to the public, that the Allies finally had a commander that was capable of possibly turning the tide of the entire war.
Middle East Campaign
Battle of Sania
In early 1938, Sugiyama would receive news of his impending transfer to the Middle East in order to attempt to halt an unstoppable Imperial advance led by Quenminese and East Europan forces under the command of Marshal Thạch Hung Sõn Chiến, whom Sugiyama had served with during the First Europan War. At that time, the Allies were desperate to halt the Imperial avalanche taking place in the region, seeing that an Imperial controlled North Africanna would subsequently cost the Allies the war and the vital Schwarz Canal. Sugiyama would nonetheless accept the transfer, eager to face his former ally in the field.
In what would be known as the Battle of Sania, Sugiyama would hold his ground against a numerical and technologically superior adversary for the next 12 months in a series of battles that would decide the fate and outcome of the war. If Sugiyama failed, Africanna would be in danger of being totally controlled by the Imperials. Though Sugiyama had felt the uncertainty of his fate, he was nonetheless ready to accept the fate that was to befall on him. His wife, Brigadier Tsukuyo Kushineda often described him in those nights as one of his rigorous ones that he almost could not sleep.
In the first weeks of the battle, Sugiyama faced heavy blows from the Imperials but miraculously, his forces had managed to repulse Imperial attacks. Sugiyama immediately took advantage of the situation by launching a counteroffensive in July, putting Chien back by at least 10 miles. Both sides repeatedly came to blows until in Operation Clash, where Sugiyama had managed to deny General Kiều Dũng Quang the attempt to encircle his northern flank. Though Sugiyama was nearly driven close to defeat in November due to Chien's massive counterattack, he was successful at repulsing this attack, forcing the Imperials to go on the defensive until in the Battle of Ardur in March 1939. With this, the Imperial forces could no longer mount a successful counteroffensive and were forced off Ardur and Sugiyama gave chase.
Following this, Sugiyama became the talk of Allied High Command and was celebrated in the UK and Nihhon-koku as the Allies most celebrated commander, being able to hold his ground and prevent Imperial expansion into Africanna. The battle also cemented Sugiyama's legacy as the Allies leading commander throughout the war.
Subsequent Operations
Following Sania, Sugiyama continued his march to liberating Israelia. The Imperials would give him and his forces a hard time marching towards the Holy Land of Israelia. This prompted Sugiyama to pitch the idea of another army group to join and reinforce him and his armies. He requested the Allied High Command in Erebonia to send in a combined army formation to the Middle East to help him deal with the situation. Sugiyama demanded that a mix of Erebonian and Rubrumians compose of this formation. His close friend, Marshal Daidoji Kitagawa was quick to endorse his idea and subsequently recommended Erebonian General Brian Regnitz and his Rubrumian counterpart, General Elliot Testarossa. Kitagawa claimed that Sugiyama needed two men that can carry out offensive strategies in the face of a numerous Imperial formation, being that the Imperials often outnumbered the Allies in the field, and that the two men were perfect for the job. Regnitz had mastered the art of combined warfare while Testarossa led combined infantry and mobile artillery formations. Allied High Command subsequently gave into his demands and ordered Regnitz and Testarossa's formations be amalgamated to form the Second Erebonian and Rubrumian Imperial Force.
The Erebonians and Rubrumians subsequently landed at Halfid Beach during Operation Alderhall and managed to outmaneuver the Imperials in the Battle of Aleppa
War of Lorican Aggression
Post-war Career
Legacy
Image
Sugiyama cultivated an image that of a commander who never left or deserted his troops. Often carrying a .455 Webley Revolver, and sometimes slinging a Lee-Enfield on his shoulders, He would often go down to soldiers of the lower rank and make sure that they were well-fed and cared for. His wife, Tsukuyo often noted his desire that once he was finished with his tactical briefing and meetings, he would visit infirmaries to check on wounded soldiers. He also cultivated a friendly atmosphere with the natives on every places the allies liberated. He frowned upon racism and ensured that all Commonwealth troops were to fight as one, not for the mother country, but for their families and homes. He made sure that soldiers who committed racism were apprehended and received court-martial.
Aside from his native Nihhonese, he admired Commonwealth troops and made sure that the Zanarkian, New Akibander, Basel-Ebelian, Nibelheimian, Tenebraean, and other Commonwealth troops took a lot of credit for their achievements and made sure that they got the rightful recognition they deserved. Because of this, Sugiyama became the general that awarded the most recognitions, including 101 Georgius Crosses, and 421 Distinguished Service Crosses. Many ZANACs, Basel-Ebelians, and other Commonwealth troops admired him for his magnanimity and honesty, often citing him as a fatherly general. Sugiyama cited the Royal Senchi Rifles and 28th Maoru Battalion to be his favourite formations of the war other than the ZANACs. Despite it, he plays no favouritism.
Brigadier Friedrich O'Connelly noted "For him, leadership was not just about directing orders, carrying rifles or trying to win battles, but simply making sure that his troops knew that he was always there for them." Sugiyama mentioned that he never wanted glory nor receiving recognition, but rather being the one who can do something that no one else could. He cemented this when Sugiyama became the first Allied Commander to penetrate Quenmin while the rest of the Allies took another 2 months before being able to land to Quenmin.
Sugiyama was also a calm commander, often bringing a tea set and biscuits. Kushineda noted that tea and biscuits have been his favourite snack ever since he was young because it helps him recover and regain his focus. He would also go to his soldier's barracks and in the ATS tents to have tea breaks with them. He was the complete epitome of a typical Lucian solider despite being Nihhonese in blood.
He is a keen admirer of the Duke of Wellington and spent his high school and college years studying his tactics and putting them into good use in a modern style of warfare. He revised and made a lot of changes to Wellington's tactics so it could be adjusted and be fitted into the changing style of warfare. Zanarkian General Leslie Oliver Morsehead noted that he made use of nature around him. He was fond of studying nature and he considered it to be his best friend.
To enemies, he was chivalrous to those who deserved it, once visiting a prison camp of Archadian prisoners. To the Quenminese however, he often refused and frowned upon at their overly aggressive style of warfare. He did not like the army culture that grew in the ranks and often felt pity to those soldiers who surrendered and interrogated. He was also rare to issue a death warrant. There were only a few times that Sugiyama had issued a death warrant, one of which when the Imperials committed mass killings during the Liberation of Bethausia.
As viewed by the Allies and Imperials
Nihhonese Historian Shinji Okumura noted that "Sugiyama was the finest Nihhonese commander ever born. He surpassed the likes of many previous commanders before him and was at par with the Duke of Wellington and Marlborough."
His wife, Brigadier Tsukuyo Kushineda described him, "while being a funny, kind, cute, and a father figure to his soldiers; He was the most amazing, god-fearing, and brightest general in the Lucis Army. He was genuinely a person who loved to chase a lot in his life. He didn't want to sit down and do nothing.
Lucian Prime Minister, Winston S. Churchill noted on Sugiyama as "the greatest man in the Lucis Army right now." Sugiyama reciprocated it and said about Churchill as "The Spirit and Heart of the Lucis Empire".
Fellow Lucian Field Marshal Daidoji Kitagawa called him an "idol", saying that his strategies are some of the best in the world. His grandson, current Field Marshal Kiriya Kitagawa idolized Sugiyama growing up and became his inspiration to become one of Lucis' best commanders in the 21st Century. Kiriya was 21 when he first met Sugiyama when he was awarded with the DSC. Sugiyama noted that the young Kiriya reminded him of the troops he led during the war, Brave and Tough. His counterparts Field Marshal Makihiro Sagisaka and General Brian Edward Horrocks held high regard for him and concluded that he was the best general they ever had.
Rubrumian General Elliot Testarossa noted that Sugiyama, "while quiet, he was the toughest general I have ever met. He is easily comparable to our own General Murakamo Susaya." Erebonian General Brian Regnitz noted Sugiyama's apparent keen of Commonwealth troops. He admired his kindness and magnanimity. He imitated the same treatment to his troops. From Regnitz, the practices learned from Sugiyama also extended to the rest of the Imperial Army of Erebonia. He noted that "Sugiyama is the epitome of the ideal commander that every soldier wanted and his personality had it.".
Brigadier Friedrich O'Connelly admired Sugiyama's performance in the field and concluded that Sugiyama's taking over of command was a decisive factor in the Battle of Sania. He also cited that Sugiyama was the one who taught him to befriend with a lot of natives in the places they liberated.
Zanarkian General Edward Samegawa cited Sugiyama as a friend and mentor, learning a lot from him during his time in the East Africanna Campaign, when Samegawa was still under Sugiyama's command and often received some of the toughest orders. These lessons proved pivotal in his quest to liberate Joyonghea during the Third Joyonghean-Quenminese War.
His Bethausian counterpart, General Zaw Sein Arkar noted that Sugiyama was responsible for increasing training quality within the Bethausian ranks. He noted that "There's a lot to learn from defensive tactics, and he is an example to all." while General Yarzar Htun Tun Yaza noted that "He certainly knows how to turn the enemy's superior numbers to his own advantage."
On the other hand, some Imperial Generals admired Sugiyama, being one of the most competitive generals the Allies had. Archadian Field Marshal Victor Sazabio was a strong admirer of Sugiyama and held the same amount of respect as he would to a commanding officer. Sazabio often spoke with Lucian POWs to talk about their experience under Sugiyama and made sure to replicate the same treatment to prisoners and his own troops. When Sazabio set POWs free, some of the prisoners spoke about Sazabio's magnanimity and admiration for him. After the war, Sugiyama became Sazabio's own Criminal defence lawyer during the Cao Khoat Trials of 1945 and was able to get the jury to acquit Sazabio. It was also Sugiyama who recommended Sazabio for the establishment of the Royal Hưng Yên Police Force in 1946.
Imperial General Bernard Gregor called him "The Lucian Lodi Jaeger, he often took risks and big opportunities for success." while General Eralda Bles noted "While I have never faced him in battle, his defences are the thickest I have ever seen. When he goes on the offensive, he has an aggressive mannerism and made sure that we wouldn't get away."
Quenminese Emperor Hiep Mang called Sugiyama "That Stubborn Tea Addict of a General" while Prime Minister Ly Hoc Thao Vien noted that "An Imperial Marshal could not even break his defenses. A damn disgrace, that is". Marshal Kiều Hữu Dương noted from the reports that Sugiyama was "Like a man of stone", often receiving battle results where Imperial troops could not prevail against his defences.
His own counterpart, Count Thach Hung Son Chien noted that "Even when showing superior strength, I still couldn't be able to make him retreat from his ground. It's outrageous." On the other hand, his subordinate, General Kiều Dũng Quang noted that "I have never encountered a general who puts defensive tactics to its maximum effect in an efficient matter." while General Vương Thị Lệ noted that "His brilliant display of defense is something to learn from."
Basel-Ebelian general and Sugiyama's colleague, Kurt Friedricks noted that "Without Sugiyama, Africanna would have surely been Imperial and my countrymen would have been Quenminese subjects in a matter of months. We would have lost the war in a few years."