Archibald Sugiyama
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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. Sugiyama's theory on the need for an ERUAC formation was therefore cemented, seeing that Regnitz and Testarossa has served as his men for offensive actions. Sugiyama was recognised as the commander who had it all; He had 3 offensive generals, 3 defensive generals (himself included), and 4 special operations commanders. His successful Middle East Winter Offensive of 1939 pushed the Imperials into Syrianna. He also managed to breakthrough at Bustarke in order to arrive in Syrianna.
Throughout the Syrianna Campaign, his formation was subjected to numerous Imperial counterattacks and offensives aimed at undermining Sugiyama's abilities in the field. Although the Imperials managed to bog down his movements for a short amount of time, he regained the initiative and managed to capture the ancient city of Amestria. Sugiyama then sent General Alan MacDonald and Zaw Sein Arkar to attempt to capture the town of Maysashniyah but a heavy Imperial armoured formation threatened his push and subsequently ordered Regnitz to engage them in the Battle of Morana. But poorly coordinated attacks at the major town failed, putting Sugiyama on the defensive once again. Attempting to regain the initiative, Chien ordered Quang to commit a massive push onto Darameir, where Sugiyama was making his stand. The failure at Maysashniyah lost Sugiyama the numbers of defending Darameir. He organised his units to construct lines of defence around Darameir. When 1 October 1940 came, the Imperials were shocked at the tenacity of Allied forces around Darameir. Chien attempted to wear Sugiyama's defences by hurling large formations in and around Darameir. He ordered Generals Liebehenschel and Le to prevent the ERUACs from reinforcing Sugiyama. But this largely failed as Testarossa's formation served as a decoy while Regnitz force was the actual relief force aimed at reinforcing Sugiyama. The arrival of the Erebonians at Darameir subsequently forced Quang to call off his attack on Darameir and was forced to retreat as Regnitz gave chase. Sugiyama subsequently dismantled Chien's control on Syrianna by defeating him during the Euphratean Antioch Offensive.
Sugiyama gave chase to Chien, determined to push the Imperials back to Baghdada in the battles at Serufega and in Media until finally commencing Operation Anicetus, which was realised upon Regnitz victory during Operation Supercharge. Although Chien gave Sugiyama a hard time, the Allies nonetheless reached the Tigris River and subsequently taking the ancient city of Seleucia during the second battle of the eponymous city. Sugiyama's success contributed to Operation Hospitalier in early 1942, the Allied Invasion of Afghania. Chien withdrew to the Elyagan Valley, where he hoped to bog down Sugiyama's push and trap his forces in the valley but with the ZANAK forces retaining their hold at the Battle of Ridge 208 and Sugiyama's successful push at the Battle of the Otakul Highlands, the Imperials were forced off Central Afghania. At this time, Chien was forced out of command after attempting to incriminate Marshal Victor Sazabio, causing him to be replaced by Marshal Mạc Hiếu Quang.
Historians noted that Marshal Quang was the closest that the Imperials ever had of gaining a commander that could defeat Sugiyama. His launching of the Pakistania Offensive against Sugiyama meant that he was forced to take the longer route to Indiae by means of the Nepali Mountains, which Quang had intended. His plan was to deny Sugiyama the ability to wage war in the Pakistanian fields and instead engage him in the Nepali and Tibetian mountains, where Sugiyama can be effectively bogged down to be destroyed. Quang would later take back his plans and opted to encircle Sugiyama's army near Kabul, where it can be effectively destroyed. Sugiyama subsequently dug in at the Afghania capital. Studying Quang's strategies during the previous offensive, Sugiyama noted that his offensive abilities was near to that of Chien, but only smarter. This delegated Sugiyama to wage a war of attrition, which called for several raids against Imperial supply lines. Sugiyama used the Allied air power to wage a psychological war against Quang. Although the latter would be unfazed, Sugiyama's attrition plan was becoming evident when his army could not send enough reinforcements and supplies. Although Quang attempted to counter this by employing the Imperial Quenminese Air Force and several anti-aircraft regiments, Sugiyama would hamper Imperial ground communications by sending in the Special Air Service to commence raids across Quang's lines, something which Quang did not encounter before. The raids caused poor communication with the anti-aircraft regiments on the ground and in the air, prompting RAF squadrons to take down Imperial air and anti-aircraft formations easily.
Sugiyama would bog down Quang's offensives in a series of offensive actions through General Brian Regnitz and Elliot Testarossa. Regnitz commenced his offensives by first organising Operation Black Spear, which saw him deny Quenminese General Phó Minh Duyên's pincer movements against Sugiyama, which turned into an operation designed to force the Imperials into a narrow corridor. This action meant that Sugiyama was free from encirclement, prompting him to launched Operation Curtains, which was an operation aimed to push the Imperials towards Khost from the south and the east by means of using the Afghania-Indiae road. Although Quang attempted to regain the initiative by attempting to destroy the weaker Bethausian southern flank, Sugiyama intercepted Chien whilst ordering Regnitz make haste and reach the city of Khost. In what would be known as the Battle of the Khost Gap, Sugiyama had successfully encircled Quang's forces, trapping at least 200,000 men, an entire army formation. Although Quang attempted to break the encirclement, Sugiyama's encirclement was already too deep that a fight to escape the pocket ensued. The Imperials were finally defeated in 24 December 1942, when Regnitz successfully reinforced Bethausian forces holding Hill 745, which had the last major road leading to safety. This battle lost the Imperials 3/5ths of their initial strength. But true to Quang's plans, Sugiyama chased him into the Nepali and Tibetia region, where Sugiyama's abilities were put to the test against the large sways of competent Imperial commanders.
Imperial commanders gave Sugiyama and his forces a hard time trekking the perilous Northern Indiae and Nepali mountains. His wife wrote in her diary:
"My Husband got fed up of seeing his men marching up the mountains and being in constant engagement with the enemy, who had the advantage in defence and in the heights that he wished that he could surrender."
Despite the Imperials giving the Allies a hard time, Sugiyama chose to wage a war of attrition, ordering commando and SAS formations to conduct raids on Imperial supply lines and depots. In addition, he firmly supported the Utarapunjab cause under Maharaja Tarvinder Samdarani Singh, who pledged his allegiance to the Allied cause. With the Punjabs and the locals firmly on Sugiyama's side, he gained the advantage of knowing vital routes that led to Imperial positions thanks to the locals intelligence. In addition, he gained troops who knew the mountain well. He closely pit Singh's men with Regnitz and Testarossa's forces, of which their men had knowledge in how to conduct mountain warfare. As a result, Sugiyama was able to force the Imperials out of Gaza Dhong and commencing the Himalaeyan offensive, allowing Sugiyama to pour Allied forces into Bhutania. At the same time, Allied forces south of Sugiyama's position were sweeping the lowlands and into Jakar. Sugiyama then decided to blow Quang's forces down by capturing the vital city of Mongar, where the Imperials sourced their oil needed for rapid movements. Quang held the town for a month until Sugiyama finally managed to push him out. But this meant that Sugiyama had strayed too far from the Allied forces in the lowlands, allowing Marshal Quang to launch his ambitious Manas River Offensive in 1 August 1943, which was planned to destroy the weaker Allied forces in the south and attempt to cut-off Sugiyama once and for all. As Sugiyama had no available formations to relieve the Bethausians and the Estharians, he ordered Regnitz and Testarossa as early as 6 August not to cross the border into Bhutania and instead, swing the ERUAC forces south to relieve Allied forces at Jakar. Although the mountainous region proved to be an obstacle, the Erebonians and Rubrumians nonetheless managed to successfully traverse the mountains and finally arriving into the lowlands by 13 August, just in time to relieve the pressure on the Allied forces nearing their breaking point. By 18 August, the ERUACs had finally pushed Quang back to the Manas River while Sugiyama had concluded his liberation of Bhutania. This enabled him to move south in a bid to encircle Marshal Quang's forces at Trashigang. With Regnitz and Testarossa spearheading the Allied advance from the Manas River, Sugiyama arrived on the outskirts of Trashigang by 25 August and swung south of the town, cutting off the Imperials from a retreat. By 31 August, the Imperials surrendered the city with Marshal Mạc Hiếu Quang ordering the surrender as he also included himself with the surrendering Imperial forces. Quang saluted Sugiyama, Regnitz, and Testarossa for offering him the toughest battles of his career. Sugiyama noted in his diary:
"When the Imperials lost Marshal Quang, they have lost their only key to winning this war. Simply the only thing that they had left to stop us... was Duyen. But even so, Chien's return to command will most certainly destroy the Imperial forces from within, that even Duyen alone cannot hold the tide for long."
After this, Chien would regain his command back and Sugiyama continued to engage with him in the field.
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.
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 the best 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."