THE STONEMAN GENERAL: YOSHIJIRO UMEZU (JANUARY 4, 1882 TO JANUARY 8, 1949)

            On this date, January 8, 1949, General Yoshijirō Umezu, died from rectal cancer in Prison. I will post information about this IJA General from Wikipedia and other links.

 

Yoshijirō Umezu

Native name	梅津 美治郎
Nickname(s)	Stoneman
Born	January 4, 1882 Nakatsu, Ōita Prefecture, Japan
Died	January 8, 1949 (aged 67) Tokyo, Japan
Allegiance	Empire of Japan
Service/branch	Imperial Japanese Army
Years of service	1903 - 1945
Rank	General
Commands held	Japanese China Garrison Army, IJA 2nd Division, Japanese First Army, Kwangtung Army
Battles/wars	Second Sino-Japanese War World War II
Other work	Chief the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff

Yoshijirō Umezu (梅津 美治郎 Umezu Yoshijirō) (January 4, 1882 – January 8, 1949) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II.

Yoshijirō Umezu on Total War

[PHOTO SOURCE: http://izquotes.com/quote/274558]

Biography

Umezu was born in Nakatsu (Ōita Prefecture) where his family ran a bookstore since the 18th century. During his years at the Seisei Highschool in Kumamoto he decided to pursue a military career. He graduated from the 15th class of the Imperial Japanese Army Academy on November 30, 1903 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry the following February 12. Promoted to lieutenant on June 30, 1905, he entered the 23rd class of the Army Staff College, graduating first in 1911. Following his promotion to captain on March 25, 1912, he was sent to Europe for further studies in Germany and Denmark. While in Denmark, he was also a military observer from Japan during the course of World War I, and was promoted to major on June 1, 1918. From 1919-1921, he was appointed as a military attaché to Switzerland.

Umezu was promoted to lieutenant colonel on February 8, 1922 and to colonel on December 15, 1925. During the 1920s, he was a member of the Tōseiha led by General Kazushige Ugaki along with Gen Sugiyama, Koiso Kuniaki, Tetsuzan Nagata and Hideki Tōjō. They represented a politically moderate line between the armed forces, in opposition to the radical Kōdōha movement guided by Sadao Araki. He served as an instructor at the Army Staff College from 1923–1924, and was commander of the IJA 3rd Infantry Regiment from 1924-1926.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Umezu held a number of staff positions within the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff. He was promoted to major general on August 1, 1930. Umezu returned to the field as a lieutenant general (promoted August 1, 1934) and commander of the Japanese China Garrison Army from 1934–1935 and as commander of the IJA 2nd Division from 1935-1936.

After being recalled to Japan in 1936, Umezu was appointed Vice Minister of War from 1936-1938. He returned to China in 1938 as commander-in-chief of the IJA 1st Army, and subsequently commander-in-chief of the Kwangtung Army from 1939-1944. He was promoted to full General on August 1, 1940.

Surrender of Japan, Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945: Japanese representatives on board USS Missouri (BB-63) during the surrender ceremonies.

Standing in front are:

Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu (wearing top hat) and General Yoshijiro Umezu, Chief of the Army General Staff.

In July 1944, Umezu was appointed as the final Chief of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff and a member of the Supreme War Council. Along with War Minister Korechika Anami and Soemu Toyoda, Chief of Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff, Umezu opposed surrender in August 1945; he believed that the military should fight on, forcing the Allies to sustain such heavy losses in an invasion of Japan, that Japan could negotiate for peace under better terms. He was aware of the planned coup d'état by junior officers opposed to the surrender, but did nothing to either aid or hinder it. He was personally ordered by Emperor Hirohito to sign the instrument of surrender on behalf of the armed forces on September 2, 1945 and thus, was the Army's senior representative during the surrender ceremonies on the battleship USS Missouri at the end of World War II. He entered the reserves on November 30.

Umezu signing the instrument of surrender to the Allied nations

A different perspective of Japanese Gen. Umezu signing the instrument of Japanese surrender. Taken by my grandfather, Sept 2, 1945

After the war, he was arrested by the SCAP authorities and tried as a war criminal at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in Tokyo. He was found guilty of Counts 1, 27, 29, 31 and 32 of waging a war of aggression and sentenced to life imprisonment on November 12, 1948. While in prison, he became a convert to Christianity. Umezu died from rectal cancer in prison in 1949.

Yoshijirō Umezu on Total War

[PHOTO SOURCE: http://izquotes.com/quote/274557]

INTERNET SOURCE: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Yoshijir%C5%8D_Umezu

Yoshijirō Umezu (January 4, 1882 – January 8, 1949) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. In July 1944, Umezu became the final Chief the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff and a member of the Supreme War Council. Along with War Minister Korechika Anami and Soemu Toyoda, Chief of Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff, Umezu opposed surrender in August 1945; After the war, he was tried as a war criminal at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in Tokyo. He was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. Umezu died from rectal cancer in prison in 1949.

Sourced

• Germ warfare against the United States would escalate to war against all humanity.
• Quoted in "The Second Attack on Pearl Harbor" - Page 201 - by Steve Horn - History - 2005.

• With luck we will be able to repulse the invaders before they land. At any rate, I can say that we will be able to destroy the major part of an invading force. That is, we will be able to inflict extremely heavy damage on the enemy.
• Quoted in "The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire" - by John Toland - History - 2003.

• The certain way to victory...lies in making everything on Imperial soil contribute to the war effort...combining the total material and spiritual strength of the nation...
• Quoted in "Suicide Squads: Axis and Allied Special Attack Weapons of World War II" - Page 267 - by Richard O'Neill - History - 1981.

• It is all very well to be cautious, but if we are too cautious we will miss our opportunity.
• Quoted in "The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire" - Page 754 - by John Toland - History - 2003.

• It is not possible to foretell the reaction of certain elements in the Army and Navy.
• Quoted in "The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb" - Page 107 - by Dennis Wainstock - History - 1996.

• I can say with confidence that we will be able to destroy the major part of an invading force.
• Quoted in "A-Bombs Left Top Councils Of Japan Split" - Washington Post article - July 17, 1995.

OTHER LINKS:

http://lib.law.virginia.edu/imtfe/person/168