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Homma
May 16, 2012 13:57:00 GMT 8
Post by xray on May 16, 2012 13:57:00 GMT 8
Want to start a general discussion about Gen. Masaharu Homma. He was a complex character, and an able field technician ,, And his execution caused controversy even at the time, and even within the US military. I think there is not much doubt that he was not a sadistic kind of man who would commit war crimes ,,, And his counsel at the trial [unsuccessfully] argued that those under his command, charged with dealing with the masses of captured personnel, were the true culprits.
Be that as it may, I don't think MacArthur had much of a choice [not that he tended towards mercy anyhow]. Top commanders are responsible for everything under them ,,, Vengeance and accountability for "The Death March" must have been ringing loud and clear - And perhaps most important of all, just when the Nuremberg trials in Germany were getting in gear, they weren't about to let Homma use the excuse to escape responsibility that so many Nazis were to use ... "Just following orders, I don't know what went on above or below me".
To summarize, I think that with the benefit of the hindsight of history, it may seem a bit harsh to have put this man to death. I don't think there was any evidence that he personally gave any orders that resulted in atrocities. But at the time, with passions raging, the wounds still raw, I don't think there was any possibility of sparing him. Indeed, it was a nod to his generally humane and professional character to have him shot instead of hung, and I think that was certainly realized at the time, and was intended so.
Finally, I know that he was executed "outside of Manila" ... Any references to the exact place, and were others executed there as well ? Any more observations/perspectives welcome.
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Homma
May 16, 2012 16:37:11 GMT 8
Post by batteryboy on May 16, 2012 16:37:11 GMT 8
He was hanged in Camp Eldridge, Los Banos Laguna.
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Homma
May 16, 2012 18:42:42 GMT 8
Post by darthdract on May 16, 2012 18:42:42 GMT 8
I have a question forgive me if it is a bit odd, There is a saying "Panahon pa ni Mahoma" (from the time of Mahoma) Folks here usually say that when they want emphasize that something is very old. Did that came from Gen.Homma?
On topic. I think it is a just execution because if its not him who is to blame? Or at least give him Life in Prison that would have been a musch worst punishment if you ask me. I don't know if he is the Suicidal Bushido type or The one that will reflect on things and life like what Musashi did.
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Homma
May 17, 2012 4:02:38 GMT 8
Post by xray on May 17, 2012 4:02:38 GMT 8
It is my understanding that he was sentenced to be hung, but Mac changed that to death by firing squad.
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Homma
May 17, 2012 4:35:05 GMT 8
Post by okla on May 17, 2012 4:35:05 GMT 8
Hey Guys....I can live with the death sentence rendered in the Homma Case, if for no other reason than the manner in which he handled the surrender of Corregidor at the meeting with Genl Wainwright. I refer to his veiled threat of a general massacre of the hostages (and that's exactly what they were once the white flag was run up by the defenders) being held at gun point whilst the negotiations were taking place. If the whole Philippine Department didn't throw in the towel to the Japanese a blood bath could take place. It is possible that a bit was lost in translation, but that was the impression he wanted to make on the surrender team and it worked. As far as his knowledge of the Death March and subsequent treatment of the POWs at O'Donnell, it is a bit murkier, but he was the Commanding General and it was his business to know. After all there has never been a scrap of paper showing where Adolph Hitler ordered or supposedly knew about the "final solution", but there is no doubt that anybody with a lick of sense believes that only Himmler and his underlings were "in the know". This is a poor analogy, but I am sure you get my drift. Just my humble.
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Homma
May 17, 2012 8:08:24 GMT 8
Post by sherwino on May 17, 2012 8:08:24 GMT 8
It was a military tribunal where he was tried. I think that they found him an ineffective enemy officer to control the actions of his men that lead to atrocities. Maybe back then, when the wounds of war were still fresh, they felt it is fit to put him to the death penalty. Someone had to be responsible. I guess, the first-hand sinners of atrocities were hard to find then.
But judging him from this present time, when time healed the wounds, maybe it should be a life sentence without hard labor. The first-hand sinners should be dealt with life sentence+harder labor.
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Homma
May 17, 2012 10:08:44 GMT 8
Post by xray on May 17, 2012 10:08:44 GMT 8
He did engage in a bit of blackmail with Wainwright ,,, But I actually think he was justified in so doing. The command arrangement was set up very poorly, and this was bound to happen. After all the hoopla about Mac going to AUS to lead the Allied war effort, and Wainwright taking over command of the Philippines, it was public knowledge that he was in command. He was put on a bad spot, and must have had ill feelings going into a meeting with the victorious Japanese commander, and claiming to only have the authority to surrender Corregidor.
Homma said [words to the effect] of "You do not have authority to surrender the Philippines ? Well then, I am talking to the wrong person, you might as well go back to Corregidor, and I will have to find the man who does have the authority".
I think any commander from any nation, under similar circumstances, would have felt compelled to say the very same thing. You can't hoodwink a ranking commander, and that is just about what Wainwright was trying to do. No slander to Wainwright. Can't blame a defeated and desperate, proud man for trying ,,, But he had to have known that his ruse was not going to work, and was bound to exasperate and anger the Japs.
This scenario should have been seen when Bataan fell, and Wainwrights command should of indeed have been reduced to Corregidor and the fortified islands of the bay ,,, With overall command either [preferably] with Mac in AUS, or perhaps with Sharp on Mindanao - Or even Sutherland, in token command. Alls it would have taken was orders by radio, and the proper press releases. Then, Wainwright would have been justified in only offering the Rock, and the Japanese commander would have had no cause to threaten to resume hostilities if the whole of the Philippines were not surrendered.
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Homma
May 17, 2012 21:47:41 GMT 8
Post by batteryboy on May 17, 2012 21:47:41 GMT 8
Sorry my bad, Homma was shot by a contingent of Filipino and American servicemen. Yamashita was hanged.
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Homma
May 18, 2012 4:36:53 GMT 8
Post by okla on May 18, 2012 4:36:53 GMT 8
Hey Xray....Couldn't agree with you more on the botched command structure that Genl Wainwright was left with. He was damned if he did and damned if he didn't when it came to handling the final decision. He could cave in to Homma's demands, as he did, or he could go back to Corregidor, try to hand over only the Harbor Forts, Corregidor, etc to Colonel Saito, hoping that this deal could be accomplished before things began to "fall apart" or the third option of resuming the fight which was out of the question at that late point in time. The good Colonel Saito, I doubt seriously, would have let the defenders rearm themselves with mostly stripped down small arms and pick up where the fighting was halted previously, a ridiculous senario. I, again, quote Harry Truman, "hind sight is always 20 - 20" or whatever. Cheers.
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Homma
May 18, 2012 9:56:17 GMT 8
Post by xray on May 18, 2012 9:56:17 GMT 8
The only reason that I can think of why the obvious move of limiting Wainwrights command to Corregidor and the fortified bay islands was not made, is that it would have been seen as a demotion, and with the fight of his life coming up, Mac probably thought such a move would have been bad for moral. I can't believe though that they didn't consider it, it is obvious not only in hindsight, but must have been at the time as well.
In the event, Mac did appoint Gen Sharp to the command of the Philippines, though by that time it didn't make much difference. Official, organized resistance ended with Wainwrights surrender. Wainwright of course was crushed, and seriously thought that he would be considered a traitor for not literally following his orders ,,, Which were to fight the entire command to complete destruction, even if by so doing the Allies would only gain a few days.
If the command change was made sooner, I think weeks could have been gained, as the Japanese would have had to, at the least, prepare a fairly strong fighting expedition to the southern Philippines to force complete surrender.
The fault should rest with Allied command, from Mac back to the white house.
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