Naruhiko Higashikuni: Difference between revisions
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'''Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni''' (1887 – 1990) was anxtremely influential Japanese aristocrat, usually known as Prince Higashikuni, active in many of the secret political plots leading to [[World War Two in the Pacific]]. He was the uncle of, and an advisor to Emperor [[Hirohito]], a field marshal | {{TOC|right}} | ||
'''Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni''' (1887 – 1990) was anxtremely influential Japanese aristocrat, usually known as Prince Higashikuni, active in many of the secret political plots leading to [[World War Two in the Pacific]]. He was the uncle of, and an advisor to Emperor [[Hirohito]], He was a field marshal in the [[Imperial Japanese Army]], who commanded an army in the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]] and had headed aeronautical defelopment. | |||
In 1945, he took on various senior posts and was briefly [[Prime Minister of Japan]] for the "surrender cabinet". | |||
==Military== | |||
His military assignments were:<ref>{{citation | |||
| url = http://www.generals.dk/general/Higashikuni/Naruhiko_Prince/Japan.html | |||
| title = Higashikuni, Naruhiko, Prince | |||
}}</ref> | |||
*Attached to 1st Division 1928-1929 | |||
*Commanding Officer 3rd Imperial Guards Regiment 1929-1930 | |||
*General staff (1930-1932) | |||
*Commanding 5th Brigade (1932-1933) | |||
*General Staff (1933-1934) | |||
*Commanding 2nd Division (1934-1935) | |||
*General Officer Commanding 5th Division (1937-1938) | |||
*Head of Army Aeronautical Department, Ministry of War, 1938 | |||
*General Officer Commanding 2nd Army, China, 1941-1945 | |||
*Commander in Chief General Defence Command 1945 | |||
*Member of the Supreme War Council 1945 | |||
*Minister of War 1945 | |||
*Prime Minister 1945 | |||
==Under Emperor Taisho== | |||
He accompanied the young Prince Hirohito on his 1921 trip to Europe. Also in 1921, while it has never been absolutely confirmed he was physically present, he definitely sponsored the meeting of [[Three Crows]], a group of influential military attaches that named eleven more officers, the "[[Eleven Reliables]]", for further clandestine work. | He accompanied the young Prince Hirohito on his 1921 trip to Europe. Also in 1921, while it has never been absolutely confirmed he was physically present, he definitely sponsored the meeting of [[Three Crows]], a group of influential military attaches that named eleven more officers, the "[[Eleven Reliables]]", for further clandestine work. | ||
==Showa Period== | |||
On a strategic level, he was associated, in the low-key way of the Palace, with the [[Control Faction]] and [[Strike-South Faction]]. He may have had involvement in the [[Prayer Meeting Plot]] of 11 July 1933, in which the rebels were arrested before they could attack, with swords, the residence of [[Sadao Araki]]. | On a strategic level, he was associated, in the low-key way of the Palace, with the [[Control Faction]] and [[Strike-South Faction]]. He may have had involvement in the [[Prayer Meeting Plot]] of 11 July 1933, in which the rebels were arrested before they could attack, with swords, the residence of [[Sadao Araki]]. In its aftermath, Araki agreed to restore some [[Strike-North Faction]] members to their posts, purge all Marxists from the palace and some academic posts. Two of Higashikuni's [[Three Crows]] allies, [[Tetsuzan Nagata]] and [[Toshiro Obata]], were moved from the Army staff to field commands. [[Hideki Tojo]] formed a Committee for Investigations to monitor Army discipline and morale. <ref>{{citation | ||
| title= Japan's Imperial Conspiracy | | title= Japan's Imperial Conspiracy | ||
| author = David Bergamini | | author = David Bergamini | ||
| date = 1971 | publisher = Morrow}}, pp. 556-561</ref> This was a blow to Higashikuni's allies. | | date = 1971 | publisher = Morrow}}, pp. 556-561</ref> This was a blow to Higashikuni's allies. | ||
==World War II== | |||
He was realistic about the conflict, telling Hirohito, after the American victory at Guadalcanal, that the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] was going to learn a lesson as harsh as they had learned in the [[Nomohan Incident]].ref>{{citation | |||
| title = Soldiers of the Sun: the Rise and Fall of the Imperial Japanese Army | |||
| author = Merion and Susie Harris | |||
| publisher = Random House | year = 1991}}, p. 451</ref> | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist|2}} | |||
Revision as of 15:38, 29 August 2010
Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni (1887 – 1990) was anxtremely influential Japanese aristocrat, usually known as Prince Higashikuni, active in many of the secret political plots leading to World War Two in the Pacific. He was the uncle of, and an advisor to Emperor Hirohito, He was a field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army, who commanded an army in the Second Sino-Japanese War and had headed aeronautical defelopment.
In 1945, he took on various senior posts and was briefly Prime Minister of Japan for the "surrender cabinet".
Military
His military assignments were:[1]
- Attached to 1st Division 1928-1929
- Commanding Officer 3rd Imperial Guards Regiment 1929-1930
- General staff (1930-1932)
- Commanding 5th Brigade (1932-1933)
- General Staff (1933-1934)
- Commanding 2nd Division (1934-1935)
- General Officer Commanding 5th Division (1937-1938)
- Head of Army Aeronautical Department, Ministry of War, 1938
- General Officer Commanding 2nd Army, China, 1941-1945
- Commander in Chief General Defence Command 1945
- Member of the Supreme War Council 1945
- Minister of War 1945
- Prime Minister 1945
Under Emperor Taisho
He accompanied the young Prince Hirohito on his 1921 trip to Europe. Also in 1921, while it has never been absolutely confirmed he was physically present, he definitely sponsored the meeting of Three Crows, a group of influential military attaches that named eleven more officers, the "Eleven Reliables", for further clandestine work.
Showa Period
On a strategic level, he was associated, in the low-key way of the Palace, with the Control Faction and Strike-South Faction. He may have had involvement in the Prayer Meeting Plot of 11 July 1933, in which the rebels were arrested before they could attack, with swords, the residence of Sadao Araki. In its aftermath, Araki agreed to restore some Strike-North Faction members to their posts, purge all Marxists from the palace and some academic posts. Two of Higashikuni's Three Crows allies, Tetsuzan Nagata and Toshiro Obata, were moved from the Army staff to field commands. Hideki Tojo formed a Committee for Investigations to monitor Army discipline and morale. [2] This was a blow to Higashikuni's allies.
World War II
He was realistic about the conflict, telling Hirohito, after the American victory at Guadalcanal, that the Imperial Japanese Army was going to learn a lesson as harsh as they had learned in the Nomohan Incident.ref>Merion and Susie Harris (1991), Soldiers of the Sun: the Rise and Fall of the Imperial Japanese Army, Random House, p. 451</ref>
References
- ↑ Higashikuni, Naruhiko, Prince
- ↑ David Bergamini (1971), Japan's Imperial Conspiracy, Morrow, pp. 556-561