The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Oka Takasumi (original) (raw)
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The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia | |
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Oka Takasumi (1890-1973)
history.gr.jp
Oka Takasumi (Oka Takazumi) graduated from the Naval Academy in 1911 and the Naval Staff College in 1923. He was a submariner but held numerous staff assignments between the wars. He was a vice admiral and political and military specialist in the Navy Ministry and directed the Bureau of Naval Affairs in the period just before the Pacific war broke out. This was a powerful position, since any government agency dealing with the Navy had to go through the Bureau of Naval Affairs, making Oka one of the three most influential staff officers (bakuryu) in Japan.
Oka was opposed to the Tripartite Pact and supported a Japanese withdrawal from China to placate theAmericans, and opposed an immediate decision to go to war in August 1941; but he apparently also told the Army General Staff that the Navy preferred an attack on the Netherlands East Indiesto an attack on Russia. He joined Naganoand Shimadain insisting that diplomacy be sacrificed in order to win the impending war.
After Japan was brought to ruin, Oka was sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes against the peace.
Oka was unmarried, pro-German, and generally a supporter of Army policies. He was unsuccessful in gaining Army support for attacks on the key Allied bases in Hawaii and Australia, but did negotiate Army support for the Port Moresbyoperation that led to the Battle of the Coral Sea.
Service record
| 1890-2-11 | born | |
|---|---|---|
| 1911-7-18 | Midshipman | Graduates from Naval Academy, standing 52nd in a clas of 148. Assigned to CL Soya |
| 1912-3-29 | BB Katori | |
| 1912-12-1 | Ensign | |
| 1914-1-15 | BB Hiei | |
| 1914-12-1 | Lieutenant junior grade | Torpedo School Basic Course |
| 1915-5-26 | GunnerySchool Basic Course | |
| 1915-12-13 | DD Uranami | |
| 1916-4-1 | Submarine Division 1 | |
| 1916-12-1 | Submarine Division 2 | |
| 1917-6-9 | Staff, 2 Special Task Fleet | |
| 1917-9-5 | YokosukaSailor Corps | |
| 1917-12-1 | Lieutenant | Naval College B-Course |
| 1918-4-15 | Torpedo School Advanced Course | |
| 1918-12-1 | Commander, Submarine Division 1 | |
| 1919-11-1 | Commander, Submarine Division 13 | |
| 1919-11-20 | Commander, Submarine Division 1 | |
| 1920-5-29 | Submarine Division 14 | |
| 1920-12-1 | Commander, SS-12 | |
| 1921-6-1 | Commander, SS-29 | |
| 1921-12-1 | Naval College A-Course | |
| 1923-10-15 | Navy General Staff | |
| 1923-12-1 | Lieutenant commander | Instructor, Submarine School |
| 1924-5-20 | Resident Officer, France | |
| 1925-7-13 | Superintendant, Versailles Treaty | |
| 1926-5-31 | Navy General Staff | |
| 1926-9-1 | Staff, Submarine Squadron 1 | |
| 1926-12-1 | Commander, Ro-61 | |
| 1927-5-20 | 1 Naval District | |
| 1927-11-15 | Instructor, Naval College | |
| 1928-12-10 | Commander | |
| 1931-10-10 | Navy General Staff | |
| 1932-10-25 | Attendant to Plenipotentiary, Geneva Conference | |
| 1933-11-15 | Captain | |
| 1934-4-26 | Navy General Staff | |
| 1934-11-15 | Chief, Temporary Construction Bureau, Navy Ministry | |
| 1936-12-1 | Commander, AS Jingei | |
| 1937-12-1 | Navy General Staff | |
| 1938-1-15 | Chief, S1, Bureau of Naval Affairs, Navy Ministry | |
| 1939-10-10 | Chief, N3, Navy General Staff | |
| 1939-11-15 | Rear admiral | |
| 1940-10-15 | Director, Bureau of Naval Affairs, Navy Ministry | |
| 1942-11-1 | Vice admiral | |
| 1944-7-18 | Navy Vice-Minister | |
| 1944-9-9 | Commander, Chinkai Guard District | |
| 1945-4-20 | Navy General Staff | |
| 1945-6-20 | Retires | |
| 1973-12-4 | Dies |
References
Materials of IJN (accessed 2008-6-18)
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2007-2009, 2014 by Kent G. Budge. Index
