1. FALL OF THE PHILIPPINES
BATAAN DEATH MARCH
December 8, 1941 – May 6, 1942
2. THESIS
Japanese bombers attacked the Philippines to build up
defense. Allied forces fought and retreated to Bataan
Peninsula. With the flee of General MacArthur, the allies
fell and were forced to march 65 miles tortured and killed
by the Japanese.
3. BEFORE THE FALL
• Japan declares war with China(1937)
• U.S. aids China via cash and carry
• U.S. embargoes Japan
• Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor(1941)
Aiding China was not against neutrality
acts; the US was considered a “neutral”
country.
4. •
PLAN ORANGE
Dec 21: Japanese attack Luzon
in the Philippines Japanese provoke
• Dec 25-Janurary 6: Retreat to Ally troops to give
Bataan Peninsula and Corregidor up on war
Island
• MARCH 12: General MacArthur
retreats to Australia
Japanese tanks maul
Japanese strategy for bombing through Luzon
attack
5. DEATH MARCH "Their ferocity grew as we marched ... they were no longer
content with mauling stragglers or pricking them with
• General Wainwright takes over for bayonet points. The thrusts were intended to kill.”
• MacArthur
• April 9: US surrenders in Bataan - Capt. William Dyess
• Destination: Camp O’Donnell
Prisoners were beaten, starved, and
POW’s enforced to watch the murders of died of sickness.
allies
Tickets given to
allies to persuade
them to surrender
6. AFTERMATH
• May 6, 1942: General Wainwright surrenders
all US troops in Philippines
• Many prisoners were either killed or sent in
“hell ships” to Japan for labor
• August 20, 1945: Wainwright found in
Manchuria prison camp
Plaque for hell ship survivors
"Douglas, true to his promise to me on Corregidor... had
come back... come back with a great fleet to support
him and manpower beyond the dreams of defeated
Wainwright announces commanders such as ourselves.”
surrender of all troops -Jonathan Wainwright