Post by fots2 on Dec 14, 2008 15:16:46 GMT 8
WWII in Europe often gets more attention than other theatres of that war. Here is some interesting reading focusing on the Philippines.
Outstanding facts on the war in the Philippines AT RANDOM By Miguel A. Bernad, S.J.
The Philippine Star 08/29/2005
The National Historical Institute, Manila, Philippines recently organized a 2-day Conference to discuss the various aspects of World War II as it affected the Philippines. The Conference was held at the University of Santo Tomas. The discussion was timely because it marked that year the anniversary of the end of that war (the most terrible in human history) and that event being commemorated in various European capitals.
One of the papers read was that by Dr. Benito Legarda Jr. who pointed out that, far from being on the periphery of that war, the Philippines was one of the major battlefields. He listed several outstanding facts regarding the Philippines in that war. Here are some of them.
1. The naval battle in and near Leyte Gulf was the biggest naval battle in history.
We might add that it was not only a big battle in itself, but was also decisive in its results. Had the Japanese won that battle, the American troops that had landed on Leyte, the biggest American seaborne invasion force in WWII might have been wiped out and the liberation of the Philippines might have been retarded.
Leyte Landing, Oct 20 to Dec. 31, 1944 * 2 months and 1 week campaign
US Strength: 6th Army = 202,500 ground troops + 3,189 Filipino Guerrillas, 858 ships
(157 warships & 701 Aux ships)
US casualties: KIA - 3,504 WIA - 12,080 Japanese Casualties 49,000
2. The biggest military surrender in American history was the surrender of the USAFFE to the Japanese, first in Bataan, later in Corregidor.
3. Manila "THE Pearl of the Orient" was the only allied capital in the Pacific that was destroyed. And the only major urban city street to street fighting in the Pacific. Including the mountain resort of Baguio city.
When Gen Eisenhower visited the capital city of Manila, he stated that only Warsaw in Europe was more damaged than Manila.
4. It was also the only time in Philippine history that Manila was destroyed by military action. (Parts of Manila had previously been destroyed by earthquakes or fire.)
5. 1.1 million died during the war in the Philippines, the biggest number of war casualties in Philippine history.
6. The killings by the Japanese in Manila and the nearby provinces was the biggest massacre of civilians in Philippine history.
There had been a massacre of civilians by the Dutch in the town of Abucay (Bataan) in 1647, but there, only about 100 were killed,
whereas in Manila 100,000 perished.
7. The mortality of prisoners of war in the Philippines was the highest in the world.
50 % of Filipino prisoners died. (A much higher percentage for American prisoners died 38.2 % while POW to 41.1 % dead ) Elsewhere in the world, the average mortality was 27 percent.
THE Largest US National cemetery outside the US, Manila American Cemetery & Memorial, Philippines
17,202 US war dead are buried at 152 acres on Philippine soil.
8. As Dr. Legarda puts it,
"The stopping for five months of tough veteran Japanese troops by half-trained recruits, mostly Filipinos, while all around them the Asian bastions were falling like ninepins."
Gen. Homma was given 50 days to capture the Philippines Gen Homma asked for more veteran reinforcements from China in the end was relived of his command by Gen Yamashita.
Bataan & Corregidor – January 1 to May 6, 1942 (5 month seige ) * NO Air, naval support ( bottom of Pearl) and nor seaborne reinforcements
USAFFE Strength: (US 30,000, Filipino 120,000) Bataan = 150,000 Corregidor; 13,000
Bataan USAFFE casualties: KIA - 10,000 WIA - 20,000 captured - 75,000
Corregidor USAFFE casualties: KIA - 800 WIA - 1000 captured - 11,000
Japanese casualties KIA - 7,900 WIA - 13,200 Disease stricken - 10,000
9. The number of civilians who died in Manila was next only to those who died in the Rape of Nanking by the Japanese.
10 The Kamikazi originated and was based in the Philippines. Where "The Tiger of Malaya" Gen Yamashita surrendered. The sister ship of the Yamato, the Musashi, one of two biggest warships in the Japanese imperial fleet was sunk.
Any of the above would have been enough to make the fighting in the Philippines a major part of the global war. It was one of the major tragedies of the war that the United States decided to focus its attention on the fighting in Europe, giving minor importance to the defense and liberation of the Philippines which was its primary responsibility.
Philip’s additions;
The first Tank to Tank battle by American Armor in WWII was fought in Bataan. The tank to tank battle (during the liberation of the Philippines) was the largest ever fought in the Pacific.
First and only time in WWII's history that the US 26th Cavalry on horseback charged against Japanese Armor in the Philippines.
And the last US Cavalry mounted charge on horseback in US Military history was made by the US 26th Cavalry Regiment (Phil. Scouts) against advancing Japanese Infantry in the town of Morong Bataan, January 1942
The Battle of Bataan was America's last battle of WWI and the first ground battle of the United States Army in WWII.
Philip
The above post is from Philscout at www.ww2f.com/war-pacific/25913-war-philippine-islands.html
Outstanding facts on the war in the Philippines AT RANDOM By Miguel A. Bernad, S.J.
The Philippine Star 08/29/2005
The National Historical Institute, Manila, Philippines recently organized a 2-day Conference to discuss the various aspects of World War II as it affected the Philippines. The Conference was held at the University of Santo Tomas. The discussion was timely because it marked that year the anniversary of the end of that war (the most terrible in human history) and that event being commemorated in various European capitals.
One of the papers read was that by Dr. Benito Legarda Jr. who pointed out that, far from being on the periphery of that war, the Philippines was one of the major battlefields. He listed several outstanding facts regarding the Philippines in that war. Here are some of them.
1. The naval battle in and near Leyte Gulf was the biggest naval battle in history.
We might add that it was not only a big battle in itself, but was also decisive in its results. Had the Japanese won that battle, the American troops that had landed on Leyte, the biggest American seaborne invasion force in WWII might have been wiped out and the liberation of the Philippines might have been retarded.
Leyte Landing, Oct 20 to Dec. 31, 1944 * 2 months and 1 week campaign
US Strength: 6th Army = 202,500 ground troops + 3,189 Filipino Guerrillas, 858 ships
(157 warships & 701 Aux ships)
US casualties: KIA - 3,504 WIA - 12,080 Japanese Casualties 49,000
2. The biggest military surrender in American history was the surrender of the USAFFE to the Japanese, first in Bataan, later in Corregidor.
3. Manila "THE Pearl of the Orient" was the only allied capital in the Pacific that was destroyed. And the only major urban city street to street fighting in the Pacific. Including the mountain resort of Baguio city.
When Gen Eisenhower visited the capital city of Manila, he stated that only Warsaw in Europe was more damaged than Manila.
4. It was also the only time in Philippine history that Manila was destroyed by military action. (Parts of Manila had previously been destroyed by earthquakes or fire.)
5. 1.1 million died during the war in the Philippines, the biggest number of war casualties in Philippine history.
6. The killings by the Japanese in Manila and the nearby provinces was the biggest massacre of civilians in Philippine history.
There had been a massacre of civilians by the Dutch in the town of Abucay (Bataan) in 1647, but there, only about 100 were killed,
whereas in Manila 100,000 perished.
7. The mortality of prisoners of war in the Philippines was the highest in the world.
50 % of Filipino prisoners died. (A much higher percentage for American prisoners died 38.2 % while POW to 41.1 % dead ) Elsewhere in the world, the average mortality was 27 percent.
THE Largest US National cemetery outside the US, Manila American Cemetery & Memorial, Philippines
17,202 US war dead are buried at 152 acres on Philippine soil.
8. As Dr. Legarda puts it,
"The stopping for five months of tough veteran Japanese troops by half-trained recruits, mostly Filipinos, while all around them the Asian bastions were falling like ninepins."
Gen. Homma was given 50 days to capture the Philippines Gen Homma asked for more veteran reinforcements from China in the end was relived of his command by Gen Yamashita.
Bataan & Corregidor – January 1 to May 6, 1942 (5 month seige ) * NO Air, naval support ( bottom of Pearl) and nor seaborne reinforcements
USAFFE Strength: (US 30,000, Filipino 120,000) Bataan = 150,000 Corregidor; 13,000
Bataan USAFFE casualties: KIA - 10,000 WIA - 20,000 captured - 75,000
Corregidor USAFFE casualties: KIA - 800 WIA - 1000 captured - 11,000
Japanese casualties KIA - 7,900 WIA - 13,200 Disease stricken - 10,000
9. The number of civilians who died in Manila was next only to those who died in the Rape of Nanking by the Japanese.
10 The Kamikazi originated and was based in the Philippines. Where "The Tiger of Malaya" Gen Yamashita surrendered. The sister ship of the Yamato, the Musashi, one of two biggest warships in the Japanese imperial fleet was sunk.
Any of the above would have been enough to make the fighting in the Philippines a major part of the global war. It was one of the major tragedies of the war that the United States decided to focus its attention on the fighting in Europe, giving minor importance to the defense and liberation of the Philippines which was its primary responsibility.
Philip’s additions;
The first Tank to Tank battle by American Armor in WWII was fought in Bataan. The tank to tank battle (during the liberation of the Philippines) was the largest ever fought in the Pacific.
First and only time in WWII's history that the US 26th Cavalry on horseback charged against Japanese Armor in the Philippines.
And the last US Cavalry mounted charge on horseback in US Military history was made by the US 26th Cavalry Regiment (Phil. Scouts) against advancing Japanese Infantry in the town of Morong Bataan, January 1942
The Battle of Bataan was America's last battle of WWI and the first ground battle of the United States Army in WWII.
Philip
The above post is from Philscout at www.ww2f.com/war-pacific/25913-war-philippine-islands.html