Why was the Bataan Death March considered a war crime?
Nov 08, 2009 · Bataan Death March: Aftermath After the April 9, 1942 U.S. surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese during World War II (1939-45), the approximately...
What were the causes of the Bataan Death March?
Apr 02, 2022 · Bataan Death March, march in the Philippines of some 66 miles (106 km) that 76,000 prisoners of war (66,000 Filipinos, 10,000 Americans) were forced by the Japanese military to endure in April 1942, during the early stages of World War II. Mainly starting in Mariveles, on the southern tip of the Bataan Peninsula, on April 9, 1942, the prisoners were …
How many soldiers died in the Bataan Death March?
Mar 03, 2010 · During this infamous trek, known as the “ Bataan Death March ,” the prisoners were forced to march 85 miles in six days, with only one meal of rice during the entire journey. By the end of the...
What was the purpose of the Bataan Death March?
Perhaps no historical event illustrates the potential disaster awaiting military forces put in a hopeless strategic situation than the fall of the Philippines in the spring of 1942. Route of the Bataan Death March. Following strategic surprise and defeats at Pearl Harbor, Guam, Wake Island, the Java Sea, and Singapore, the surrender of tens of thousands of U.S. and Filipino …
What was the Bataan Death March used for?
The Bataan Death March and other Japanese actions were used to arouse fury in the United States. General George Marshall made the following statement: These brutal reprisals upon helpless victims evidence the shallow advance from savagery which the Japanese people have made. ...
Where was the Bataan Memorial?
New Mexico. The 2013 Bataan Memorial Death March at the White Sands Missile Range. The Bataan Death March had a large impact on New Mexico, given that many of the American soldiers in Bataan were from that state, specifically from the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery of the National Guard.
Why did the Japanese have a report on the death rate of prisoners?
In an attempt to counter the American propaganda value of the march, the Japanese had The Manila Times report that the prisoners were treated humanely and their death rate had to be attributed to the intransigence of the American commanders who did not surrender until the men were on the verge of death.
Where was the Death March?
The section from San Fernando to Capas was by rail cars. Following the surrender of Bataan on April 9, 1942, to the Imperial Japanese Army, prisoners were massed in the towns of Mariveles and Bagac.
What was Homma's charge?
In September 1945, General Masaharu Homma was arrested by Allied troops and indicted for war crimes. He was charged with 43 separate counts but the verdict did not distinguish among them, leaving some doubt over whether he was found guilty of them all. Homma was found guilty of permitting members of his command to commit "brutal atrocities and other high crimes". The general, who had been absorbed in his efforts to capture Corregidor after the fall of Bataan, claimed in his defense that he remained ignorant of the high death toll of the death march until two months after the event. Homma's verdict was predicated on the doctrine of respondeat superior, but with an added liability standard, since the latter could not be rebutted. On February 26, 1946, he was sentenced to death by firing squad, and was executed on April 3 outside Manila.
What was the WPO 3?
When General Douglas MacArthur returned to active duty, the latest revision of plans for the defense of the Philippine Islands—called WPO-3—was politically unrealistic, assuming a conflict only involving the United States and Japan , not the combined Axis powers. However, the plan was tactically sound, and its provisions for defense were applicable under any local situation.
How many prisoners did Homma transport?
Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma and his staff encountered almost twice as many captives as his reports had estimated, creating an enormous logistical challenge: the transport and movement of over 60,000 starved, sick, and debilitated prisoners and over 38,000 equally weakened civilian noncombatants who had been caught up in the battle. He wanted to move prisoners and refugees to the north to get them out of the way of Homma's final assault on Corregidor, but there was simply not enough mechanized transport for the wounded, sick, and weakened masses.
Where did the Bataan Death March take place?
Prisoners during the Bataan Death March, 1942. Mainly starting in Mariveles, on the southern tip of the Bataan Peninsula, on April 9, 1942, the prisoners were force-marched north to San Fernando and then taken by rail in cramped and unsanitary boxcars farther north to Capas. From there they walked an additional 7 miles (11 km) to Camp O’Donnell, ...
How many people were in the Bataan Death March?
Bataan Death March, march in the Philippines of some 66 miles (106 km) that 76,000 prisoners of war (66,000 Filipinos, 10,000 Americans) were forced by the Japanese military to endure in April 1942, during the early stages of World War II. Prisoners during the Bataan Death March, 1942.
What happened on December 7, 1941?
Within hours of their December 7, 1941, attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the Japanese military began its assault on the Philippines, bombing airfields and bases, harbours and shipyards .
What is the capital of the Philippines?
Manila, the capital of the Philippines, sits on Manila Bay, one of the best deepwater ports in the Pacific Ocean, and it was, for the Japanese, a perfect resupply point for their planned conquest of the southern Pacific.
Who wrote the book "Tears in the Darkness"?
WRITTEN BY. Michael Norman See All Contributors. Michael Norman, is the co-author of TEARS IN THE DARKNESS: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath (2009), a work of narrative non-fiction that was on the New York Times bestseller... See Article History. Below is the full article.
How long did the Bataan Death March last?
During this infamous trek, known as the “ Bataan Death March ,” the prisoners were forced to march 85 miles in six days, with only one meal of rice during the entire journey.
What happened on April 7th?
Finally, on April 7, with his army crippled by starvation and disease, Wainwright began withdrawing as many troops as possible to the island fortress of Corregidor in Manila Bay. However, two days later, 75,000 Allied troops were trapped by the Japanese and forced to surrender. The next day, the Bataan Death March began.
What was the Bataan Death March?
Known as the Bataan Death March, ThoughtCo describes how thousands of Filipino and American soldiers died during the march to the prison camp, as well as their subsequent imprisonment. And despite the fact that thousands of Filipinos had been promised citizenship in exchange for their service in the war, few who survived ...
What happened at the Battle of Bataan?
Keystone/Getty Images. As Japanese forces attacked the Philippines, Allied soldiers realized that they were severely under-matched. The Filipino defense forces were severely under equipped, and those who had weapons hadn't even fired their guns before.
Why did the US put troops in the Philippines?
Even before joining World War II, the U.S. put troops in the Philippines to " protect its main Pacific possession ," since the Philippines was a U.S. colony at the time. And within hours of attacking Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Japanese forces started an aerial attack on American forces in the Philippines.
What happened in the Philippines in 2021?
In the Philippines, American forces suffered one of their largest military defeats in the Battle of Bataan during World War II. After their surrende r, tens of thousands of soldiers were taken prisoner by Japanese forces and forced to march to their POW camp.
How many US soldiers were in the Philippines?
Out of roughly 150,000 soldiers, 120,000 were Filipino and the remaining 30,000 came from the U.S., "some of whom were Filipino Americans.". Known as the United States Armed Forces in the Far East, or USAFFE, these were the Allied forces initially commanded by MacArthur in the Philippine campaign.
Where were the Filipino and American POWs moved?
After the Allied forces at Bataan surrendered, the Japanese decided to move the Filipino and American POWs from the southern end of the Bataan Peninsula to the north. However, according to " World War II in the Pacific ," by Stanley Sandler, since some of the troops didn't surrender until April 11, the Filipino and American POWs were still being moved to Balanga up to a week after the surrender. Some were collected from as far down on the peninsula as Mariveles.
Who met with Maj. Gen. Kameichiro Nagano?
Disobeying the orders of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Maj. Gen. Edward P. King met with Maj. Gen. Kameichiro Nagano on April 9, 1942. That day, the Allied forces at Bataan surrendered.
What was the Bataan Death March?
Even the Bataan Death March was something of a secret for several years. At first, the American government, fearing that Japanese forces would retaliate against their captives, embargoed news and details of the march. Then, in January 1944, in part to launch a war-bond drive but also to reinflame the fighting spirit of a war-weary United States, the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt released details of the march that had been provided by a handful of captives who had escaped and made their way to Australia. It was in this manner that what quickly became known as the Bataan Death March became a legend of the evils of war.
Who was responsible for the Bataan Death March?
After the end of World War II, the Japanese commander of the invasion forces in the Philippines, Lieut. Gen. Homma Masaharu, was charged with responsibility for the march and widespread abuses at Camp O’Donnell.
Where did the prisoners of war march?
American prisoners of war at a parade ground either before or during the Bataan Death March. Most of the prisoners began the long walk in Mariveles, at the tip of Bataan, and had to march the full 66 miles to the rail head; others joined along the way. One constant was the attitude of the Japanese soldiers, who considered surrender a base act ...
When did the Japanese surrender to the Philippines?
After an intensive aerial and artillery bombardment of Corregidor, the Japanese landed on that island in the night of May 5–6, and Wainwright surrendered on May 6. The southern Philippines, where the Japanese had already seized key ports and airfields, capitulated on…. Harold K. Johnson.
What happened at Camp O'Donnell?
The march and imprisonment at Camp O’Donnell. Japanese military leaders had severely underestimated the number of prisoners that they were likely to capture and were therefore unprepared, logistically and materially, for the tens of thousands taken into captivity. As word spread of King’s decision, Allied troops surrendered in groups large ...
What was the death march in Bataan?
The Bataan Death March. On April 3, the Japanese army launched its final assault on Bataan. Although the starving Allied soldiers fought as best they could, they were no match for the fresh Japanese troops brought in for the attack.
What happened at the Battle of Bataan?
The Battle of Bataan ended on April 9, 1942, when Army Major General Edward P. King surrendered to Japanese General Masaharu Homma. About 12,000 Americans and 63,000 Filipinos became prisoners of war. What followed became known as the Bataan Death March — one of the worst atrocities in modern history.
How many people were in Camp O'Donnell?
When the prisoners got to Camp O’Donnell, the conditions were even worse. The facility was a former Philippine army camp - it was designed to accommodate about 10,000 men, but the Japanese crammed 60,000 Bataan Death March survivors into the camp.
When did Mary Parry volunteer?
Mary Parry’s love for the military started in 1941 when she signed up to volunteer at her hometown USO. For 73 years, her selfless devotion inspired others to serve and support service members in upstate New York.
Who was the German SS guard who escaped?
Willner, a Holocaust survivor, escaped German SS guards while on a three-day march in 1945. After days of running and hiding in ditches, he and another survivor found safety in the company of American soldiers.
How long did the Tank Battalion fight?
During 183 days of continuous combat, the mostly black 761st Tank Battalion of World War II fought all over Europe - from the Battle of the Bulge to the Battle of the Rhine - eventually making it all the way to Austria.
When did Bill Clinton give the Medal of Honor to Baker?
When President Bill Clinton clasped the Medal of Honor around Baker’s neck in the East Room of the White House on January 13, 1997, a lone tear rolling down the recipient’s cheek punctuated a distinguished Army career.
What was the Bataan Death March?
The events surrounding the Bataan Death March in April 1942 are well documented as one of the most harrowing atrocities committed by Japanese forces in the Philippines. [2] . The story of the Bataan Death March is part of a larger one: about the consequences of strategic miscalculation, the centrality of savagery and suffering in war, ...
What would have happened if I had known what was ahead of us at the beginning of the Bataan Death March
If I had known what was ahead of us at the beginning of the Bataan Death March, I would have taken death… When a guy was bayoneted or shot, laying in the road and the convoys were coming along, I saw trucks that would just go out of their way to run over the guy in the middle of the road. And when by the time you have fifteen or twenty trucks run over you, look like a smashed tomato or something.
Who is Jo Brick?
Jo Brick is an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, a member of the Military Writers Guild, and an Associate Editor for The Strategy Bridge. She holds a Master of Laws, and a Master of Military and Defence Studies from the Australian National University.
What happened on April 10th 2018?
April 10, 2018. The Battle of Bataan and the Bataan Death March. Jo Brick. April 10, 2018. For bravery and gallantry in action during the period 19 to 24 January 1942, at Mabatang, Abucay, Bataan…. In utter disregard for his own safety, he personally led his men, under heavy enemy fire and shelling, to the front lines, ...
Who was the commander of the Japanese 14th army?
Masaharu Homma (本間 雅晴) commander of the the Japanese 14th Army which perpetrated the Bataan Death March, on trial after the war. (CambridgeBlog.org) The Tokyo Trials were the most significant post-war tribunals to deal with war crimes in the Pacific War.
What was the Battle of Bataan?
Labanan sa Bataan —The Battle of Bataan. View fullsize. Situation on Bataan, Jan to Apr 1942 [20] From 8 December 1941, Japanese forces focused on neutralizing United States’ aircraft and airfields in Luzon, with two Japanese task forces arriving in Luzon on 10 December.
What happened in the Philippines in 1941?
By 13 December, virtually all US Army Air Force and Navy planes in the Philippines are destroyed, and Major General Lewis H. Brereton (commander of the Far Eastern Air Force) withdrew his remaining B-17 heavy bombers to Darwin, Australia. [17] . On 23 December 1941, MacArthur decided to withdraw his forces to Bataan.
Overview
The Bataan Death March (Filipino: Martsa ng Kamatayan sa Bataan; Kapampangan: Martsa ning Kematayan king Bataan; Japanese: バターン死の行進, Hepburn: Batān Shi no Kōshin) was the forcible transfer by the Imperial Japanese Army of 60,000–80,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war from Saysain Point, Bagac, Bataan and Mariveles to Camp O'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac, via San …
Background
When General Douglas MacArthur returned to active duty, the latest revision of plans for the defense of the Philippine Islands—called WPO-3—was politically unrealistic, assuming a conflict only involving the United States and Japan, not the combined Axis powers. However, the plan was tactically sound, and its provisions for defense were applicable under any local situation.
Under WPO-3, the mission of the Philippine garrison was to hold the entrance to Manila Bayand d…
The March
Following the surrender of Bataan on April 9, 1942, to the Imperial Japanese Army, prisoners were massed in the towns of Mariveles and Bagac. They were ordered to turn over their possessions. American Lieutenant Kermit Lay recounted how this was done:
They pulled us off into a rice paddy and began shaking us down. There [were] …
Wartime public responses
It was not until January 27, 1944, that the U.S. government informed the American public about the march, when it released sworn statements of military officers who had escaped. Shortly thereafter, the stories of these officers were featured in a Life magazine article. The Bataan Death March and other Japanese actions were used to arouse fury in the United States.
War crimes trial
In September 1945, General Masaharu Homma was arrested by Allied troops and indicted for war crimes. He was charged with 43 separate counts but the verdict did not distinguish among them, leaving some doubt over whether he was found guilty of them all. Homma was found guilty of permitting members of his command to commit "brutal atrocities and other high crimes". The general, wh…
Post-war commemorations, apologies, and memorials
On September 13, 2010, Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okadaapologized to a group of six former American soldiers who had been held as prisoners of war by the Japanese, including 90-year-old Lester Tenney and Robert Rosendahl, both survivors of the Bataan Death March. The six, their families, and the families of two deceased soldiers were invited to visit Japan at the expense o…
Notable captives and survivors
• José Agdamag
• Ramon Bagatsing
• Bert Bank
• Lewis C. Beebe
• Clifford Bluemel
Legacy
In 2021, the Bataan Death March was described in a short documentary The Bataan Death March directed by Jesse Collier Sutterley and produced by Daniel L. Bernardi with the collaboration of El Dorado Films.
Battle of Bataan
- After the Japanese invasion of the Philippines on Dec. 8, 1941, as part of WWII's Pacific War, the U.S.A.F.F.E. were quickly overwhelmed and on the back foot. On paper the Allied forces in the region were an impressive overseas army trained and led by Americans and furnished with airplanes, howitzers, ships, and tanks. Thousands of Filipino conscripts meant it had the manpo…
The Death March Begins
- Once the Americans and Filipinos were relieved of weapons their captors berated them for surrendering. "The rabid militarists who took over Japan inculcated in their soldiers a contempt for the defeated and a hate for other races, the white race included," wrote Norman. This explained the scorn and ill-treatment the Japanese exhibited toward Allied POWs. On April 7 the …
Eyewitness Accounts
- The Bataan Death March lasted a full week, from April 9 until 15, but dragged on for several more days because of the thousands involved. The American POWs were exhausted by the time they left their former stronghold. The Filipinos managed a little better under their Japanese captors although they were not spared scorn and punishment. Many of them ...
Prisoner Deaths
- Those prisoners who made it to Camp O'Donnell were kept in their former barracks, now overcrowded with exhausted POWs. "Dysentery spread… because of the open latrines and the millions of flies around them," wrote Bollich. "Sick men were also covered [in flies], especially those near the latrine, because the latrine itself held the greatest number. It is no wonder, under …
Additional Resources
- If you want to know more about how America became involved in World War II to begin with, you should read about the Pearl Harbor attack. America's involvement in wars in the Pacific didn't end with World War II as the Korean Warfollowed just a few years later and there's much to learn about that too.
Bibliography
- "Bataan Death March: A Soldier's Story(opens in new tab)" by James Bollich (Pelican, 2003)
- "Bataan Survivor: A POWs Account of Japanese Captivity In World War II(opens in new tab)" by David L. Hardee (University of Missouri, 2017)
- "Bataan Uncensored(opens in new tab)" by Col E.B. Miller (Barajima Books, 2020)
- "We Band of (opens in new tab)A(opens in new tab)ngels: The Untold Story of the American …
- "Bataan Death March: A Soldier's Story(opens in new tab)" by James Bollich (Pelican, 2003)
- "Bataan Survivor: A POWs Account of Japanese Captivity In World War II(opens in new tab)" by David L. Hardee (University of Missouri, 2017)
- "Bataan Uncensored(opens in new tab)" by Col E.B. Miller (Barajima Books, 2020)
- "We Band of (opens in new tab)A(opens in new tab)ngels: The Untold Story of the American Women Trapped On Bataan(opens in new tab)" by Elizabeth M. Norman
