Special Sub-Topic: Bataan Click Here To Play: Bataan

Who was the commanding officer of the Japanese forces in the Phillipines from the invasion to the surrender?

General Homma & Homma & Homma Masaharu & Masaharu Homma. There are conflicting views about General Homma. Some claim that he did not want the American prisoners to be treated in badly, but failed to ensure that his wishes were carried out. Others see him as nothing but an evil sadist, the "Beast of Bataan".

Approximately how many Fillipinos died on the Bataan Death March?

5,000. Many Fillipinos fought with the Americans on Bataan. They were part of the 91st Fillipino Infantry. They served as guides and foragers. Many Fillipinos escaped from Bataan and formed anti-Japanese guerilla groups. The men had fought hard to defend Bataan and had been on half rations for three months. It was therefore a starved and weakened group of prisoners that set off on the march.

At what sugar refining town did the prisoners board a train to their destination?

San Fernando. The train journey that the prisoners were forced to take was especially horrific. The train cars could hold 50 men eacg, but the Japanese packed in three times that many. Also, the cars weren't ventilated so the heat was terrible: one survivor described it as 'like a kiln.'

The Bataan Death March ended at Camp O'Donnell.

t. The camp had only two water pumps, and open latrines. Disease spread very quickly among the captives.

The prison camp where the Bataan Death March ended at had been built to house 9,000 people. How many prisoners were there at the end of the march?

50,000. Japanese intelligence made a massive misjudgement about the size of the surrendering force. Their first estimate was 25,000 and then they did a second which came to 40,000. They were still 60,000 off.

How many American prisoners perished at the camp on Bataan?

1,500. Disease spread easily through the camp. In addition to these American deaths, 15,000 Fillipinos died as well. They were buried in mass graves.

After realizing that there were too many prisoners in the first prison camp the Americans and Fillipinos went to, the Japanese moved the Americans to a prison in Cabanatuan.

t. The prison camp at Cabanatuan was 30 miles from the original camp. Only Americans were moved there. When they got there, they met up with their buddies from the island fortress of Corregidor, in Manila Bay.

At the Cabantuan prison camp, who was the commander?

Shegiji Mori & Mori. Mori was much like the other Japanese and believed the all the usual stereotypes about Americans. One day he lined up all his POW's and said,'All millionaires step forward.' At first the men thought he was joking, but then realized he was serious. After minutes of silence, Mori turned around and walked back to his hut.

What was the nickname for the cemetery at Cabanatuan?

Bone Hill & The Bone Hill. For the first weeks at Cabanatuan, up to 40 prisoners were dying each day. The first deaths were on December 15, 1942.

After WWII what bcame of the Japanese commander who had ordered the Bataan march?

He was convicted of war crimes and shot. The trial was held early in 1946 in the Phillipines and General Homma was executed in April 1946 near Manila.