The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Umezu Yoshijiro (original) (raw)
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The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia | |
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Umezu Yoshijiro (1882-1949)
Umezu Yoshijiro was born in Oitaprefecture and was commissioned in the infantryin 1904. He graduated from the War College in 1911, studied in Germanyand Denmark, and wasattaché to Switzerland. He was deeply involved in the machinationsthat put Manchuria under Japanese control, and as Army Vice-Minster, he maneuvered the cabinet into appointing China hawk Sugiyama Hajime as Army Minister. Umezu was given command of Kwantung Armyfollowing the battle of Nomonhan, with orders to bring the Army back under Tokyo's control. He was still in this post when war broke out in the Pacific.
Umezu became chief of the Army General Staff in July 1944, replacing Tojo, who vainly hoped to remain in power by giving up some of his posts. Umezu joined with his close friend Anami Korechika, who was also from Oita prefecture, in adamantly opposing any effort to make peace. Instead, Umezu sought Russian intervention, but was reprimanded by the Emperorfor not seeking a speedy end to the war. Umezu continued to demand that Japan fight on even after the nuclear attacks. He was aware of plans for a coup d'etat by junior officers opposed to the surrender but neither joined the cabal nor exposed it, saying he "did not disapprove." On the other hand, he rejected an appeal from Anami to have Hata try to change the Emperor's mind, saying "I'm sorry. I support the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration" (Craig 1967). Ironically, he was personally "requested" by the Emperor to sign the instrument ofsurrender on as the representative of the General Staff on 2 September 1945.
Umezu was a political general who concealed his personal views so well that associates nicknamed him "The Ivory Mask." A rigid martinet, he somewhat resembled a Japanese Mussolini, shaving his head and wearing a perpetual scowl. Sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes against the peace by theAllies, Umezu died of cancer in 1949.
Service record
| 1882 | Born in Oita prefecture | |
|---|---|---|
| 1904 | Second lieutenant | |
| 1910 | War College | |
| 1923 | Colonel | Instructor, War College |
| 1924 | Commander, 3 Regiment | |
| 1926 | Chief, 1 Section (Organization and Mobilization), 1 Bureau, General Staff | |
| 1928 | Chief, Army Affairs Section, Military Affairs Bureau, Ministry of War | |
| 1930 | Major general | Commander, 1 Brigade |
| 1931 | Head, General Military Affairs Bureau, General Staff | |
| 1934 | Lieutenant general | Commander, China Garrison Army |
| 1935-8 | Commander, 2 Division | |
| 1936-3-23 | Vice-minister of war | |
| 1936 | Director, Army Armaments Factory | |
| 1938-5-30 | Commander, 1 Army, China | |
| 1939-9-7 | Commander, Kwantung Army | |
| 1944-7-18 | Chief, General Staff | |
| 1945-9-23 | Commander, 1 General Army | |
| 1945-10-1 | Retires | |
| 1946 | Arrested as Class A war criminal | |
| 1948 | Sentenced to life in prison | |
| 1949 | Dies in prison |
References
Dupuyet al. (1992)
Frank (1999)
Generals.dk (accessed 2008-5-10)
Peattie et al. (2011)
Russell (1958)
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