1945 Battle for Manila
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- Опубликовано: 24 июл 2024
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The battle of Manila represents, in short, the horror of war, and demonstrates the horrible fact that the casualties of war are very often non-combatants.
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This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
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All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.
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Script by THG
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Not forgotten. My father was there. He was first in the invasion of Leyte and then in Manila. Afterwards he was sick and had to convalesce in a hospital. His job was to feed the American and Filipino POW's freed from the prison camps. He never forgot this experience. Later he recounted in the 80's meeting some young Japanese sailors wandering around lost in our neighborhood in Brooklyn. He told to me that his anger at the Japanese came roaring back. He had to stop himself and remember that it wasn't 1945. Not Forgotten.
Scott's book Rampage, the hardest audiobook I have ever listened to. Hell on earth. I literally had to make both the physical and mental effort, both being extremely difficult, to move forward in the book. In a comment on Facebook, I believe it was, James Scott, the author, stated that the publisher of the book requested him to not put all of the documented atrocities in the book due to the probability that the full account might simply overwhelm readers. The fact that this event has been largely ignored in the history of WWII is a crime in and of itself. My hats off to The History Guy for shining a light on a dark dark piece of human history. Never Forget 💝.
Just added it to my Audible wish list. Thanks. WWII, revealed just how much evil can be exposed when power becomes absolute power.
I whole-heartedly agree with your position on this historical event and the failings of our education system. The education system is as corrupt as it can get!
It is a powerful book.
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel have you read "By Sword and Fire" by Alfonso Aluit?? It's a day-by-day retelling of the battle. Great book on par with Rampage.
@@johnclarencemercado4218 Seconding this. It's even harder to read because it just becomes this long list of horrors that starts to numb you to all of the death, but it's an important book to read because it describes the scale of the death and destruction with a brutality in a way that no other does.
My Dad followed McArthur from Luzon to Manila in 1944, he was a Staff Sergeant who was severely injured and spent 6 months in a V.A. hospital after being sent home. He didn't talk about the battles so much as his admiration for McArthur and his distain for the Japanese and what they did in Manila. He died in 1967 when I was 12. I still miss him. Thanks for reminding me of what he and so many others sacrificed themselves for, it was horrible but necessary. Thanks, Dad. And thank you history guy.
“admiration for McArthur". Have you read anything at all about that narcissist? You need to educate yourself about that pompous dimwit. His horrible judgement cost tens of thousands of Allied lives. McArthur was a disgrace to the uniform.
I always consider it ironic how dropping of the atomic bombs turned the wartime Japanese from murderous monsters to hapless victims in the minds of so many.
How many of the children those bombs incinerated were in the Philippines?
Count them. I'll wait.
@charlesmartell4484 A land invasion would have been more costly, but would have had the same effect.
@@gary9346 considering the fact that the Japanese government at that time ordered that every man, woman and child that can hold a bamboo spear will have to kill at least one American soldier, its no wonder Harry Truman authorized the atomic bombing use.
@@kristoffermangila Such sentiment was common at the time. Soldiers were often asked by civilians how many nazis or (slurs) they killed.
Japan surrendered because of the Soviet intervention not the atomic bombs alone, although the atomic bombs were a factor. The bombs were dropped on Japan for many reasons two of which were a show of force and live testing.
Thank you. My grandfather served as mp for the air force in the Philippines during WW2. He witnessed the sacrifices. His stories were heart wrenching and second the atrocities touched on by this video. It shook him- beyond pity to a level of love for the Filipino people that stayed with him all his life. For decades following the war, he raised funds and flew his own plane to the Philippine islands where his experience in contracting and building - enabled him to provide summer building camps . He helped local citizens build community centers, churches, elevated roadways with drainage systems, basketball courts, and other projects to benefit and serve the communities of people he loved. He did what he could. My son is named after my him; A legacy in my family to inspire & remember.
My father was an Army medic captured on Corregidor and spent the rest of the war in Bilibid Prison as a POW until liberated in February, 1945. He wouldn't speak of what he saw and lived through. Thank you for bringing this chapter of the war to light.
My family survived the Battle of Manila. My grandparents never talked what happened. My father was very young but remembered the Americans arriving to rescue American POWs in nearby University of Santo Tomas. He would later study in De La Salle University where the Japanese massacred Filipinos. My aunts remembered the burning of the house and how my grandparents slowly rebuilt it. I would visit the house fully restored in the 70s & 80s
As a career Navy man, I worked with many Filipino Sailors and Marines Serving in the US Armed Forces, during my 26 year career and I visited the Philippines for a brief time. I always found the Filipino people very warm, friendly and respectful. They were always loyal and dedicated. People that are that kind, should never have suffered the atrocities that befell them. Thanks for such a tremendous presentation on their suffering under the Japanese.
I haven't been in the armed forces, but my experiences in the Philippines have been very similar to what you describe. The majority of Filipinos I've met are very warm, friendly, and hospitable.
I feel the same as you guys. Knowing many Phillipinos now, they tell me stories of their hardships but always find a way to smile and stay light hearted. Never letting circumstances bring them down. I had a hard time watching and hearing once again the inhumane things they had to endure during Japanese occupation. I'm so glad that I have befriended so many and have a much deeper respect for them. May this never happen to anyone again.
I have no ties to the Pacific theater or the Philippines, but several times throughout this I was moved to tears; both of rage and sadness for the atrocities committed. I can't even begin to imagine the rage those Americans and Filipinos must have felt. Thank you for making us remember this bit of history, no matter how difficult it may be to hear.
I had a great grandpa, a patriarch. filipino, who vowed to disown any of his family who married a japanese. He meant it too, all his living days
Gosh, don't study war much then. Especially what the Mongols did. I imagine it was the Mongols that inspired the Japanese barbaric cruelty. Yet the Japanese didn't come close to being as destructive and awful as the Mongols. Look into if you don't believe me.
I am half Filipino and my grandparents, mother, aunt, and uncle (all still young children at the time) lived through the Japanese occupation and the battle of Manila. I had great uncles that fought and were captured, made part of the Bataan Death March. The Japanese killed my uncle, only about 6 at the time. He had light hair and blue eyes (we have Filipino/Spanish ancestry) and they though he was an "American" child. There is not enough coverage of the brutal occupation and battles in the Philippines, then a territory of the United States, thank you for making this video. I love your channel.
My great uncle Eddie was caught in the defeat of the Philippines. He to was wounded badly and part of the Bataan death March. He was to be left behind and eliminated by Japanese soldiers. He hide with among deceased soldiers playing possum until the Japanese soldiers had passed on. The army had already sent a letter to my family saying he was MIA and presumed dead. After the Philippines were liberated he made it home and my family didn't recognize him and thought it wasn't him. He survived The Great Depression, The Dust Bowl and The Bataan Death March. He came back to California to become a successful farmer even though missing fingers on both hands. He passed away in 1981. Strongest person I ever met in my life. Wish we had more like him today, he refused to give up no matter the circumstances.
I'll never begrudge anyone's passion for history . There are many woke movements in the world today and I firmly believe they just can't grasp the magnitude of the atrocities directly targeting non- combatants.
Years ago in Santa Cruz, CA, I met a couple who were part of the Bataan Death March. I discovered this by something on their wall commemorating the event. When I commented about it, it was like a cold wind blew threw the house, and the the anger towards the Japanese changed the whole atmosphere in the room. They had a living hatred for anyone Japanese, living or dead.
Agreed. As an American, Im profoundly astonished this subject is not better explained in basic studies in at least our high schools. America and the Philippines have a lot of history together. History worth remembering and learning from. Im rather fond of the Philippines because of our shared history. It's also where the most beautiful volcano sits: Mount Mayon. It is on my own bucket list to visit this amazing country.
Love to all Filipinos. 💜
I inherited a run of the Manila Tribune 1942-44. These people were family friends of my step-grandparents whom had returned home to Manila on Nov. 10, 1941 after a U.S. visit. These people were Americans, one of whom was born in Manila in 1900. The husband was employed by Jan Marsman at Suyoc as an engineer.
I don't recall ever seeing you as upset as when you were concluding this episode. A very sobering presentation. Thank you for helping to preserve this terrible event, and by doing so honor the sacrifices made by the Filipinos and their American allies.
Thank you for remembering our history. I don't think anyone remembers this in our country now. There wasn't any mention of this in the news or anywhere today. Kinda sad.
Nonsense, the country is full of horror stories from this specific period. Former sites of Japanese warcrimes are known to be ghost hotspots. Every Filipino has a grandparent that was a victim or was a guerilla, my grandmothers retell stories of hiding out in the mountains in fear of Japanese soldiers.
It just that this topic gets sidelined by this country's active campaign to forget the atrocities during the Marcos regime and the current squabble with the Chinese.
Nice dogwhistle.
I'm glad you covered this. Japanese aggression both during and after WW2 had been largely forgotten. I say that because as a U.S. Army soldier stationed in Korea during the 80's I heard first hand from some Korean citizens of what the Japanese did to their country and citizens during Japanese occupation of the Korean peninsula. During the occupation many Koreans were forced to take Japanese names, including a long distance runner who completed in the Olympics! When the Japanese left the peninsula, they killed wildlife, burned forests, destroyed farms, homes and had a general attitude that if they couldn't have Korea then they would ensure that nobody would want it. The woman who told me her account of those atrocities said that because of this, there is no greater insult or offense than to suggest or even ask a Korean if they are Japanese.
Thank you for making sure we don't forget that Hitler's Germany was not the only world power which used the idea of a divine birthright or mandate as an excuse to inflict great horrors on another people.
I was stationed at Camp Howze in 1989 when Hirohito died, the South Koreans celebrated his death.
As a matter of fact, the Korean, Sohn Kee❤-Chung, won the 1936 Olympics marathon race, wearing the Japanese uniform. The Koreans have not forgotten, nor forgiven, the Japanese for the “comfort women” taken from Korea.
If hasn't been forgotten. People have got to stop pushing that one.
A lot of the stuff about the Germans was BS propaganda. I mean a lot of flat out lies still passed off as truth. The Japanese however, were truly awful. Both the Americans and the British committed great atrocities, but since they won they have been swept under the rug or memory holed or just forgotten. Churchill starved 7 million Bengalis to death for starters. And did so much worse. Read David Irving's book about him, Churchill was a terrible person. But still, compared to the Mongols everyone in ww2 had a light touch. Except for maybe nuking 2 Japanese cities. That was pretty horrific.
My dad fought in the Philippines in '44 and "45. He passed in 2017 at 91.
Thank you for serving,Sir.
Two things. As the child of a survivor of the Bataan Death March, I can only say the Japanese defenders got what they so richly deserved. The other point is that I have met many Filipinos over the years and, while a very selective group who came to the USA, not one of them ever blamed the American forces for what happened during this battle. They all said all the atrocities were caused by the Japanese.
I did heard stories that the Japanese started killing the civilians when it became apparent that they are losing.
...check your history re: post Spanish-American war up to ww2 and atrocities committed by Americans to Filipinos during that Era.
Of course no one blames Americans. The Japanese came to my Islands looking for a fight. They did most of the killings, in fact deliberate. The only reason why the placard stated US also contributed the destruction of Manila was to remind us, Filipinos, that war is hell. Occupier and liberator can exact the same amount of carnage because again war is hell.
@@jon.p. As the son of a GI who was there after the battle and saw how ruined the city was, I really feel for your people. What hell it must have been to have been caught between Japanese atrocities and US shelling. I really struggled with this one.
I'm sure MacArthur had a good reason for using the artillery. As conveyed in the video, he had a special appreciation for Manila. He probably would've done eveything in his power to spare its destruction.
@@91Redmist
Don't ponder of what had happened on that War when neither you nor I have experienced it. Just learn from it. And just understand, you can't refine war.
"War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over." -William Tecumsah Sherman
There are still plenty of older building in Manila pock marked by gunfire to be found. One church my wife took me to see was obviously the scene of much fighting. My late father in law was 20 years old when the Japanese invaded and spent the war hiding on Bohol Island. My mother in law was only 10 and keeping out of sight in Cebu. She turns 91 in May.
You did an excellent job of telling the story including the evil acts inflicted on the citizens of Manila, as much as was possible with YT's censorship. We could feel the emotion and pain in your voice, thank you.
My father was just twenty years old when his division reached the Philippines. He was one of the "lucky" ones who did not have to fight his way into what was left of the city. When he spoke of the war, he would share some of his experiences with the Filipinos and his time there left quite an impression on him, as well as the harsh realities a young man in uniform would encounter in the Pacific. That generation of soldiers were forever affected by some of these darkest moments of history. Thank you THG for shedding more light on this tragic chapter of Manila.
My father was there. This needs remembered. Wish he could have seen this. Great work Thanks.
No Lance I did not "enjoy" this episode of The History Guy. But I and many others needed to hear it. I just hope that those who can do something to prevent this and other similar horrors see this and respond accordingly. Thank you for your work which grows in importance as time passes.
My dads ship the USS WISEMANN (DE 667) was one of 3 Buckley class ships that were refitted in 1943-44 with a second set of turbine engines. After Manila fell his ship entered the harbor and tied up. The extra turbines were then hooked up to the power grid and provided electricity for the city. He was a radioman 2nd class at time. On Aug 14th he had the watch when the order to stop offensive action against the Japanese. He kept a copy of that message and showed it to me when I was a boy.
If memory served me correctly, the modifications to these Buckleys were mentioned in a book about US Navy DEs that was published by Osprey Publishing.
Even though you did not list the atrocities, I still found this hard to watch. I say this often, Your passion for history is unmatched. In a world where the populous is losing touch with history, you are a shining light.
As a kid my father, grandfather, and uncles would often tell me stories about the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. Remembering the battle of Manila is particularly important for me since I grew up in Manila and would often roam around Intramuros and see the scars of war engraved on the thick stone walls and remember the stories my family have told me.
Now I would tell those stories to my son and would take him around Manila and Intramuros.
Explains why things my uncle, who was a U.S. Marine, "witnessed" ...the reversal of fortune for so many Japanese POWs at the end of the war and "the end of hostilities."
You always close your episodes with, “I hope you enjoyed this episode…” I did not enjoy this episode, but I needed to see it and I’m glad I watched it.
WHAT!!??!!
I couldn't agree more. " History that should never be forgotten".
Think Larry might be subtlely saying he might have some distant memories about this.... although why he decided to be all hush-hush about it is beyond me....
I hope the day gets better for you sir.
Okay, I guess I was being too subtle for some. I'll try to be more clear. I enjoy almost all of his episodes as they are educational, humorous, or tales of heroism. I did not enjoy this episode because it showcased such horrific, inhumane acts against the innocent. However, I needed to watch it so that these acts would not be forgotten and, perhaps, I could do my small part to prevent such things from happening again. Therefore, I'm glad I watched it.
It's rather like visiting a Holocaust museum. That is never going to be a lighthearted, happy field trip or a lark. It's going to cause great sadness and even despair. Yet, it is a trip that should be made so that we never forget. Just as we should never forget what happened in Manila, Nanjing, or any of the other way to many genocides and atrocities.
My father-in-law was in the battles to retake the Philippines, starting at Leyte. He rarely talked about his experiences there. Christmases were often hard for him. We really don't recognize what the people of the Philippines went through during the war.
My grandfather was in the 37th ID 148th regiment . He earned a bronze star with V in the battle of Luzon (Manila). He also turned 18 during the battle. He went on to serve in the 16th constabulary during the Berlin airlift and then with 1st Cavalry Arty in Korea , 11th air assault -> 1st Cavalry airmobile 1/77 Div Arty in Vietnam where he served as a forward artillery observer. Agent orange took him from us prematurely when I was young. He is still my hero ! I have a Japanese flag he brought back and a headband. I recently married and I found at that my wife’s grandmother (who is Filipino) was a young girl living in Manila during ww2 at the same time my grandfather was fighting to liberate it. It brought great joy to my heart to know that my grandfather had played a small role in liberating my wife’s grandmother and I only wish he could have lived long enough to meet her and my wonderful wife and in-laws. Rest In peace grandfather . Rest in peace to all of those brave American boys who were willing to risk it all to free the oppressed , rest in peace to the Filipino civilians who were slaughtered, and to the brave Filipino guerrilla fighters who had taken to the jungles and done anything they could to keep up the fight .
My dad was also in the 37th, I think maybe in the same regiment. He saved a Phillipino doctor and his family and in gratitude the doctor gave dad a gold ring. The ring was given to the doctor by a goldsmith in China as thanks for saving the goldsmith`s son.
14:41 dang that’s pretty moving on your part, it’s a shame RUclips won’t let people upload these topics. Great work as always, you are a legend
As a Filipino, one of the iconic images of that battle being the platoon of M4 Sherman tanks blasting Japanese positions at the stands of the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, where 5 years earlier, Babe Ruth slammed a homer out of the ballpark through the centerfield during an exhibition game (to this day, Ruth's name, as well as the names of those who manage to sock the ball out of the park, like the legendary Lou Gehrig, who was with Ruth during that game, are painted on the walls, in commemoration of their feat).
Another story of the Battle of Manila concern the De La Salle University on Taft Avenue, whose rear area adjoins the Rizal Memorial Stadium complex. In the university's chapel, one can see what appears to be bloodstains in a corner of the chapel. It is said that area marked the spot where a group of Christian Brothers were slaughtered by Special Naval Landing Force sailors during the battle. One of the Brothers, a German, reportedly pleaded with the SNLF men to spare their lives, to no avail.
About the execution of General Yamashita: I felt that if the Americans didn't execute him, the British would. General Yamashita's men also commited atrocities to British and Commonwealth forces in Malaya in 1942, and I would imagine the British would exert pressure on the Americans to hand over Yamashita to them.
As for the Filipino's memory of this events, quite a few still remember this battle and the ensuing bloodbath, but time and the pressures of everyday living makes it difficult. To paraphrase the words of the main female character of a local historical fantasy telenovela which was recently concluded, "What can history do for the course I'm taking?" (The MFC was a nursing student). Its sad, but that's the reality of life nowadays in the Philippines. Its easier to forgive and forget, rather than forgive yet not forget. Thus this episode of history deserves to be remembered, because every time I see images of Bakhmut in Ukraine on television, it remind me of of this battle.
I saw the first pic you were talking about. It just looks so weird to see a Baseball stadium be the site of a WW2 battle.
It is unfortunate that Ukrainian citizens are paying the price for their corrupt leaders choices.
@@huwhitecavebeast1972 with all due respect, please don't involve politics here, this is a very painful part of my country's history we're discussing and I only inserted Bakhmut because of the similarities of the destruction of that city with Manila in 1945.
I have been waiting for someone to bring this out on RUclips, Thank You.
I always try to find some sort of reason, some sort of shining light in a lot of history's most horrible moments... In everything I can find, and read, the battle for Manila has nothing but evil top to bottom. It certainly defines the fine work you do, as history which deserves to be remembered.
Have you ever heard what the Mongols did to Baghdad? Even worse than the Japanese, by miles really. Not to diminish what terrible things the Japanese did to the Filipinos. But the Mongols atrocities is definitely history that deserves to be remembered.
Thank you History Guy for featuring a small yet very important event of World War II that happened in my birthplace, the Philippines. Often when people think of World War II, they think of the events in Europe. The events in Asia are often overlooked. Thanks again.
Thank you for creating this important presentation. War stories can be painful to hear, but here lie the lessons that most need to be remembered. All of those civilians tortured and slaughtered for no real purpose other than to slake someone's anger. How terrible. "War is hell" as Sherman said. It is often so for the soldiers, but it is sometimes even worse for the civilians.
The Filipina nurses I used to work with, who grew up in the Philippines, told me that they learned WW II history "very well" in school. They told me that the people in the Philippines really despise the Japanese. I learned from a Filipino-American colleague that one of my med school professors had been a resistance fighter in the Philippines during WW II as a teenager, and had lost a leg. My professor had never mentioned it, and never discussed his leg. True courage and bravery!
So terrible. Thanks for always bringing the stuff to the surface.
My dad was a young 18-year-old in the US Navy at that location. There are many stories he wouldn’t tell that was one of them.
I will have nightmares tonight. I am 80 years old and my father and my father-in-law hinted at these atrocities. Thank you for enlightening me. This history MUST be remembered.
Thank you for this program. Too few of us have any idea of what went on in the pacific war. The History guy mentions Scott's book "Rampage". IMHO it's well researched and the best book on the battle of Manila even though the description of the Japanese atrocities make the last half hard to read. I along with my parents survived over 3 years of imprisonment in Manila at the Santo Tomas Internment Camp (STIC). My father said we were unwilling guests of the Imperial Japanese Army for 37 months. We were liberated on the night of Feb. 3 which was the start of the battle. Fortunately for us, we were not in the middle of it although the camp was shelled killing at least 16 recently liberated internees. I was 4 years old and hardly have any memories of it. What I do remember to this day, is how I had to bow to the guards and at roll call. Also I retuned to Manila 2 years later and I do remember seeing the remains of the absolute destruction of what had been called "the Pearl of the Orient".
Disturbing, but excellent read.
It may be hard to tell the story, but thank you for doing it.
During the war my father arrived in Manial soon after it had been retaken. He would just refer to the aftermath as "indescribable" close his eyes and shake his head. The stench of death was everywhere.
Dad said, the great Manila opera house had reopened and was offering a free performance for American service men. Charred and battered the imposing opera house was still a sight to behold. Stage lighting was provided by a large crater hole blasted in the ceiling. The Filipino cast members, although starved and barely clinging to their sanity, gave an astounding performance.
My father landed on Leyte in October 1944 and fought through there which he says wasn't as easy as MacArthur made it out. He then landed at Lingayen Gulf and moved on from there. Till the day he died the only thing he would say is that he had a friend, from NYC, who was on an LST and they had great coffee but the rest was too horrible to be revisited. He ended up in Japan for 8 months with Gen. Eichelberger's security detail leaving as a SSG in April 1945 after turning 19. He never went back but I have many times since 1990 and been in the many areas where he was besides Corregidor and Bataan. Today few Filipinos realize what went one but I do and have told my father's stories to my wife's younger family members
Intramuros, the Japanese fortress during the battle still bore signs of the battle. Bullet holes, rubbles from the battle, a Japanese naval gun repurposed as artillery/direct fire weapon, a dungeon where 600 civilians died. Visit it to understand the battle more.
I visited Intramuros and it is a bucket list place for anyone who enjoys WWII Pacific history.
Thank you for this video and for recognizing the horrors that those left behind after war endure.
Thank you for posting this.
Thank you very much! This is why this channel exists. We should never forget the atrocities we inflict on each other & it's ultimate outcome, woefully still occuring in one form or the other to this day.
Thank you. This was truly a piece of history that deserves to be published.
Thank you, I still live in Manila.... and we HAVE NOT forgotten...
Thank you for sharing these stories. The story of Human history is paved in blood and bones. In order to truly learn and grow as a people we must truly know our past.
I knew a man who was involved in an environmental group in New Jersey, and when I was interviewing him he showed me the medals he earned during the liberation of Manila, including a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the one he said he was proudest of, the Combat Infantryman's Badge.
A story I've never heard. Thank you.
Thank you for covering this
This has been your best episode yet. So little has been told of the Pacific Theater because of this very brutality. Trying to explain it to my students is near impossible, but I’ll be using this video in class next week. Thanks in advance for helping my students understand
A tough one to watch THG. The capacity of humans to inflict horrendous cruelty on other humans is disgusting. While all countries have some episode of barbarism in their history, the Japanese seem to have taken barbaric behavior to new levels.
Now you know why the bombs were used in Hiroshima & Nagasaki... My father in law was a WW2 vet. His brothers were part of the NM National guard 200 Coast Artillery Battalion and were captured, survived the Battaan Death March and torture for over two years by the Japanese. Both were found alive in Manchuria. If you travel to Albuquerque NM and Taos memorials were built in remembrance of the NM POWs. The memorial in Albuquerque is located on Lomas and Carlisle N.E. The memorial has several Pillars listing the POWs and two thirds died in captivity. But an ironic thing. Los Alamos developed the atomic bombs used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was a big payback from New Mexico...
Karma is a bitch.
MacArthur was being driven through the rubble of what was left of Luneta Park, in his beloved Manila, when he stopped for a flag-raising of Old Glory. A young teenage girl was singing "God Bless America." The general asked her to return the same time next day. She did. An older gentleman joined them then. MacArthur introduced him to the girl. He was the song's author, Irving Berlin. When next she performed the song, it was before MacArthur on a grandstand full of dignitaries, in front of serried ranks of American GI's standing at ease. The girl was Imelda Romualdez, later to be known to the world as Imelda Marcos.
This is perhaps your best episode ever. I don't think you've done "High Pockets" Claire Phillips. An American bar singer that was caught behind the lines in Manila, got a fake Italian ID, spying for America, aiding American POWs, and passing messages for the underground. She was in a Japanese prison, in Manila, during this battle. Amazingly she survived. Her book has two different titles. "Manilla Espionage" or "I was an American Spy"
Yes! That's her name! Large amount of detail about her in Hampton Sides 2001 or so book "Ghost Soldiers", mainly about the POWs ordeal & the rescue of some from a camp in Cabanatuan in Jan. 1945. A pretty gal from Portland, OR winds up playing such a role in the war. Movie The Great Raid changes her into a nurse played by Connie Nielsen. Wish I could ve met her one day.
@@michaelgarwoood4897 That book is where I first ran into her. If you haven't already, read her book. The book "Barbed Wire Surgeon" mentions her, but it was written immediately after the war. He still thought she was an Italian national, her cover ID, who helped the POW's out.
This needs to be remembered.
I can honestly say that your channel is my hands down favorite. Thanks for your work.
It's difficult to "Like" videos such as this, with they're impact being felt for hours and days after. But it was, as usual, extremely well done.
I understand also and feel hesitant, however we "Like" the story presentation though we may abhor the actual story.
Excellent episode.
Rod Sterling experiences with the 11th Airborne Division in the Philippines was the basis for the twilight zone.
Very well done. Thank you for all your work to keep us remembering. Not always pleasant I'm sure, but, necessary and appreciated.
My grandfather was there during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and he would have a mistrust of the Japanese from then on. He had stories of smuggling rice to help feed the American and Filipino soldiers who were hiding out in the jungles. He always slept with a flashlight and a machete until he became senile in his later years before he passed. He always had a positive attitude towards life and had the best sense of humor.
Thanks for sharing this extremely difficult topic. I am a big history buff but never knew anything about this battle
My father, also a St. Louis area native, was a liaison pilot with the 1st CAV and was part of the Leyte invasion and later Manila battle. A fellow pilot lost power over the city and had to land on a street that was just outside a POW camp where several emaciated US soldiers were able to pull him to safety into the camp until the US Army arrived. My father said when he was flying over Manila, the only building he saw that wasn't damaged was the San Miguel beer factory.
And at the time, that factory was full of rather poor tasting Japanese beer. I remember the stories about the time the taps were opened. Poor taste or not, Americans and Filipinos got into a drinking spree for days!
Today, San Miguel Beer is the Philippines' top-selling beer brand, and one of the world's best. Its parent company, San Miguel Corporation, is one of the Philippines' top conglomerates, with other interests aside from foods and beverages, like fuel (through Petron Corporation), energy generation, construction, etc.
@@kristoffermangila Yes, my father did say it tasted bad back then.
Bad taste or not, as I stated above, they still drank it, anyway! As they say... "Booze is booze, bad tasting or not!" Lol!
Thank you for this important but disturbing video. I hadn't known how horrific the retaking of Manila was for the people.
This should never be forgotten!
My Dad was in the 40th division. Artillery unit. Sailing from Borgen Bay on 9 December 1944, the division made an assault landing at Lingayen, Luzon, under command of XIV Corps, on 9 January 1945. Seizing Lingayen airfield, the division occupied Bolinao Peninsula and San Miguel, and advanced toward Manila, include the Filipino regular and constable force of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary were recaptured areas around in Luzon at the mainland, running into heavy fighting in the Fort Stotsenburg area and the Bambam Hills. Snake Hill and Storm King Mountain were taken in February and the 40th was relieved, 2 March.
I am a veteran of the 1-148th infantry regiment. If memory serves 3 medsl of honors were given to 148th soldiers during this battle. The 148 saying is "For those who missed Normandy, Manilla would do"
Not forgotten about. I'm amazed that this video was not restricted like other educational videos about dreadful parts of history that need to be remembered, least they be repeated.
The world would be a much better place if every history class watched The History Guy.
I've read that the Battle for Manila was also dubbed the 'Stalingrad of the East' by the press of the day. Without the snow and those minus 0 temperatures for months, I believe the Battle for Manila was it's own 'Hell', beyond comparison.
Another great one keep up the great work
As a Bostonian, the WWII Museum is well worth the trip to Natick.
Thanks. My dad also fought to free Manila with the 1stCav. He got a silver star for Leyte. Was in the Flying Column and first into Manila. He was a 1st Lt. and said he gave the order for the tanks to open the POW camp. He fought in the Stadium where the Captain was injured. He went on to the walled city too.
He had been in New Guinea and the Marshals too.
Thank You for this episode, very informative.
You can tell that you alre passionate about the History of the second world war. It comes through...thank you.
All of my grandad's WW2 stories were about the aftermath of this and I never really knew where the stuff he was talking about had taken place. He was on a signal boat of some kind that arrived after the fact and said they found people dead who had barricaded themselves behind stacked bodies. When I was little he had a bucket of Philipeno money he had traded for food as a souvenir, he said he had also traded for a knife made out of a leaf spring, and a monkey. The leaf spring knife was stolen while he was in some barracks and they had to get rid of the monkey because it kept touching itself. He also had a ash tray made out of half of a ~ 70mm Shell (don't know the exact size) that they had fired at a whale they thought was a submarine in the way to the Philippines.
Those who fail to remember history are doomed to repeat it. Thank you for reminding us of this tragic piece of history.
I live in Metro Manila. My paternal grandfather left his pharmacy in the old city of Manila and fled south to the province with my aunts and uncles, walking about 200km. When he returned, I'm told there was nothing left. My maternal grandfather, also a doctor, similarly fled to his province in the north and took refuge there. He never spoke about what he saw, but so deep was his hatred of the Japanese, he refused to buy anything made in Japan until his death in the 1970s.
Sadly, unlike other battlefields, there is very little in the way of tangible history in manila that you can visit to remember this battle, unlike, say the fields of Waterloo, the bridges of Operation Market Garden or the beaches of Normandy. Interestingly though, the baseball field that you featured as a clip at 11:11 (Rizal Stadium) is still around but has since been rebuilt and refurbished.
You mentioned in an previous episode I just watched, that there wasn't much in History that we haven't seen before. This kind of thing, and many other human sufferings, we don't want to see again. As you say, Deserves to be remembered.
My Dad was there. He never talked about battles. Now I understand why he was silent.
Wow! History that must never be forgotten! Thank you History Guy! A sad tale indeed, but history that needs to be remembered!
History Guy,
Just so you are aware, Bataan is not pronounced Ba 'tan, but Ba ta an with long "a" sounds individually. My wife and I own a farmlot just up the mountain from Orion, pronounced like "oreo" with an "n" on the end, in Bataan. As a Desert Storm veteran, it is very humbling to recover a spent casing on our farm from time to time. I have the deepest of respect knowing either a Filipino or an American soldier or sailor fired that round, and either they died nearby, didn't make the march, or died in captivity. The National Road honors these fallen heroes. This is truly a hallowed place in the Philippines 🇵🇭. I am truly blessed to be married to a Filipina wife who has a family history deeply rooted with this area.
Thank you for this video!
Thank you !
I appreciate you, thank you for making content.
Thank you for doing this episode....
Thank you for your presentation of this part of history which has been basically untold and forgotten.
My dad was there towards the end of the battle. He spoke very little about his time there. My Uncle told me that my dad had seen a lot of very bad sights while he was there.
Amazing history. TY
Wow... Very under rated bit of world war two history. I am surprised you have taken so long to get around to covering it.
Thank you, History Guy, for this excellent episode about an awful event. As you note, this is history that REALLY deserves to be remembered, precisely because it was so terrible.
Well presented.
That's got to be the first time you ever spoke about RUclips demonitizing something
A long time ago I asked a noteworthy smith who was Filipino to create a sword for me. I asked for a Japanese katana style blade. The smith made one of the most perfect and unique katanas I have ever seen. When the blade was finished, he broke it in three pieces and reforged it after welding it back together, so that the welds of the steel were just as visible and complementary to the temper line of the blade. He explained to me that his Grandparents survived the Japanese occupation of the Philipines, and in honor of their suffering he created a Japanese style blade that was truely unique. It's true that Fillipino steel is very good. Thank you for this video from all of us who remember history. I still have the sword and take very good care of it.
My son's wife's parents lived on a small island in the Leyte Gulf. They had "front row" seats viewing the destruction of Japan's South Force in the Leyte Gulf. It has been called the greatest sea battle of WWII. I saw a picture of a wounded Philippino man on the street. He was close to the American soldiers and it looked like they were ignoring him, but it wasn't what it looked like. The Japanese had wounded him, knowing that the Americans would come to his aid and then the Japanese would shoot them. It was a trap and it haunted the GIs after the war.
Thanks!
Thank you!
History that deserves to be remembered.
Thank you.
ive had a strong connection to this since a kid. so 1st wife met in us i married pinoy to keep for self family, & son. survivied van roll over, bankrupcy,divorce etc. i followed stories of battan death march and angle nurse see on tv show the big picture. 2nd wife i met an married pen pal family set me up to help bring to usa. i wanted new family for son. twice taken i still sponsor 1 young Cebu teacher PE, to survive and thrive. frum history of what and how us/we did minoties, spain , cuba, philippines, 10th calfvery buffalow soldiers in us/pinoy war, missed movie on that, Amigo? i book of from nurse an presbyterian ' To the Hills' of their survival their. i shared my photos of visit in June 1999. saw many sites.
Do the 1898 Battle of Manila Bay as well! It marked one of the first battles with battleships
Excellent presentation.