Archibald Sugiyama: Difference between revisions
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Field Marshal Sir Archibald Sugiyama KG, GCB, CLE (25 May 1900 - 20 October 1994) 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
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 generals 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 tough and quiet, he was the most 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."