Gaash Kenster
| Gaash Kenster | |
|---|---|
 General Gaash Kenster during the First Balakian Campaign of 1949 | |
| Born | October 19, 1899 Gvanieg, Shohuan |
| Died | April 14, 1959 (aged 59) |
| Nationality | Shohuanese |
| Other names | Hero of the Eastern Front The White Wolf |
| Occupation | Shohuanese Armed Forces Officer |
| Years active | 1923 - 1954 |
| Known for | Commanding the Shohuanese 3rd Army |
Gaash Kenster (Shohuanese: /ˈχo:ʃ ˌkɛnstɐ/) was a Shohuanese general, most active during the Great Ekuosian War, where his leadership is considered the turning point for the war in Vaniu, which would inevitably lead to Shohuanese victory against the Unitarian Front of Komania and Balakia. Popularly known as the "White Wolf" during the war, his tactics were unconventional and left an impact of the future of military operations of Sahar. Gaash Kenster was a highly decorated officer of the Armed Forces, as he had received several medals for his operations in the East. His actions gained him a large following as a result of the victory, leaving him constantly used in imagery regarding the GEW, with some scholars debating on the very actions and political views of Kenster.
Early life and Career
Gaash Kenster was born on October 10, 1899 to unknown parents in Gvanieg, though he was placed in an orphanage in 1901. He would remain at this orphanage until the age of 12 when he was adopted by middle class parents; father Delge Kenster and mother Kette Yuunster. He was raised with the intent of improving his limited education as education was still private in many forms, while helping his adopted parents with their business. He would show to have a liking to accounting for the business, and his father with considerations for this, pushed him to go to the university for a Business Degree in 1915. He would graduate with his class in 1921 with a Master's Degree equivalent in Business Management, however, he had a falling out with his father after disagreements on how the business would be run. As a result, Gaash moved to Jgulkeyon for work and found employment with a shipping yard's accounting. By 1923, he would be encouraged by one of his close friends to join the Armed Forces as an officer as his master's degree would elevate him to a better paying position than accounting would. Liking the challenge, he decided to join and graduated the enlistment by late 1923.
Between the Wars
Having been made a captain by 1924, Kenster was moving his way up the ranks of the Shohuanese Armed Forces. However, by this time the Sannists had taken full control of the government in 1924. Some debate amongst scholars regarding his role in this is up for debate, but some believe his quick promotion may have been a result of the purges of the armed forces, where many Balkists were rounded up and imprisoned or executed. Kenster would remain outside of politics publicly and through his time in the armed forces, eventually reached the rank of Major in 1942, prior to the outbreak of the Great Ekuosian War. When tensions began to build in Vaniu, he would be placed in command of the 29th Division, as he was placed in the Southern Sectors. His limited experience in war, outside of wargames, left him appearing as an incapable leader to some officers above his rank. This distrust nearly culminated in his purge, but his quick thinking managed to turn the trial placed against him, against his prosecutor and allowing himself to walk free.
Great Ekuosian War
Participating in the early stages of the war, he led his division with distinction, repulsing several joint Balak-Komanian incursions on Shohuanese territory.
Eastern Front 1944-1946
Commanding the 3rd Army
Vogia 1946–1947
Balakia 1948–1951
Post-War Fame
After the end of the war in Vaniu, himself and his troops remained in Balakia for a year before recalling to Gvanieg to participate in the first anniversary of the victory in Vaniu. The triumph was assembled by the Party, though Gaash Kenster was intentionally placed off to the side of said parade, breaking an over 1,000 year old tradition with prior triumphs. Kenster, not being a politician, was not quick to realize the intent behind the regime's actions. He was extremely popular with soldiers returning from the war, as many began to see him as the symbol of resistance against Unitarianism, though the Sannist regime fearing it'd be used by Balkist or Kuulist leaning factions, began making plans of a smear campaign as early as 1949. The smear campaign began as subtle pushes for the citizen soldier as the focus of the war, and censorship of Kenster's later victories where possible while emphasizing his defeats. Despite this, he remained a popular figure into the post-war period and enjoyed a degree of success in his personal life from this popularity, being welcomed to various businesses and participating in state advertisements until 1953 when Kenster was publicly scolded for abusing his military position. His use of his successes in advertisements led to their censorship and being brought to a military trial.
Mistaking this trial to be fair, he decided to represent himself. This would be his undoing as his limited knowledge of the law led to him being embarrassed before the court and having his rank forcefully taken taken from him. His trial was only a month long, and it would be the first public trial. The trial's broadcast, however, was censored explicitly with cuts between segments with early film editing. As a result, any credit he had for his position was lost in this time, and he became despondent to friends and family while on bail, to the point that doctors were called to his residence regarding his mental health. Because of this, the trial was soundly concluded with his guilt as he had no lawyer to represent him in this state, according to state documents. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, excessive for the time which led to riots in Gvanieg, which were put down with a combination of reducing his sentence to 10 years and cracking down on the capital with martial law.
Kenster was then brought to the Beekendiile Camp in July of 1954, where he was put to forced labor despite his age. He would survive the camp until 1959 when, under the impression he was planning a prison revolt, was executed publicly in front of the camp's prisoners by firing squad. The regime had utilized Ohanian troops to conduct this as, due to their limited understanding of Shohuanese and lack of literacy, were unsympathetic to Kenster's cause. His execution was then covered up by the regime and many of the camp staff were subsequently placed under surveillance to avoid speaking of what had happened. Under Shohuanese burial customs, he was buried in the courtyard of the camp and his family notified that he had "passed away naturally at the age of 59".