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'Life' in a Japanese POW Camp Trivia Quiz

What was it like to be a prisoner of the Japanese? This quiz will answer some of those questions.

A multiple-choice quiz by beterave. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
beterave

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
319,623

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
687

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 69 (6/10), Guest 1 (7/10), Guest 109 (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What illegal act did the Japanese force POWs to do once they were interned in POW camps? Hint

sign pledges not to escape

threaten to shoot them

denounce their countries

segregate them from their officers

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What did Allied POWs call the 'sun cure'? Hint

being beaten in the sun

being forced to kneel in the sun

being forced to go without medicine

being forced to watch an execution

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. What did the Japanese feed the POWs the majority of the time? Hint

captured food

rice only

nothing, they starved them

donated Red Cross parcels

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Which group of POWs did the Japanese regard as the most 'clever' of those they held? Hint

the Australians

the Americans

the British

the Dutch

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. The Japanese guards seemed to hate everything about the POWs. They hated Christianity, laughing and singing. What was the one thing they hated most about Allied POWs? Hint

height

tatoos

red hair

beards

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Japanese guards were brutal and sometimes sadistic. Who else did the Japanese use to guard the POWs? Hint

Koreans

conscripted natives

Taiwanese

Filippinos

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What did the Japanese guards shout constantly in order to make the POWs work faster? Hint

speedo!

quickly...

work faster, or die

go, go, go!

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. The Japanese looked upon the Allied POWs with contempt. What was the main reason Japanese had no fear of an escape attempt by their prisoners? Hint

they believed the camps were 'escape proof'

they kept the POWs starved

they did not believe they had the courage to try

they kept the POWs intimidated

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. The Japanese took civilian prisoners of the nations they were at war with. How were they treated? Hint

they never took civilians captive

they were released

the same as POWs

they released the women but held the men

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Who did the Japanese consider the most dangerous of their prisoners? Hint

the British

the Dutch

the Americans

the Australians

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 20 2024 : Guest 69: 6/10
Apr 19 2024 : Guest 1: 7/10
Apr 12 2024 : Guest 109: 8/10
Mar 24 2024 : Guest 74: 2/10
Mar 18 2024 : Guest 96: 6/10
Mar 17 2024 : Guest 69: 4/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What illegal act did the Japanese force POWs to do once they were interned in POW camps?

Answer: sign pledges not to escape

Upon internment, the first thing the Japanese forced the POWs to do was sign pledges not to escape. This is contrary to the rules of war and everyone knew it. However, because the Japanese threatened to execute anyone who did not sign, the men signed.

This was the begining of the prisoners' woes because the Japanese did not respect what they perceived as cowardice or buckling under pressure.

2. What did Allied POWs call the 'sun cure'?

Answer: being forced to kneel in the sun

The 'sun cure' was being forced to kneel in the tropical sun without water for several hours or several days, depending upon the offense. For men who were sick with malaria or dysentery, this could be a death sentence.

3. What did the Japanese feed the POWs the majority of the time?

Answer: rice only

The Japanese fed the POWs rice and nothing else the majority of the time. As the war went on, Red Cross parcels were available, but the Japanese refused to hand them out.

4. Which group of POWs did the Japanese regard as the most 'clever' of those they held?

Answer: the British

The Japanese were extremely wary of British POWs because of their discipline and ingenuity. The majority of the hidden homemade radios were found in British camps.

5. The Japanese guards seemed to hate everything about the POWs. They hated Christianity, laughing and singing. What was the one thing they hated most about Allied POWs?

Answer: red hair

The Japanese hated red haired POWs. Even surviving prisoners of the Japanese could never figure this one out. Red headed POWs were beaten often for no reason except for that fact alone.

6. Japanese guards were brutal and sometimes sadistic. Who else did the Japanese use to guard the POWs?

Answer: Koreans

The Japanese used Koreans as guards in POW camps. Their conduct was no better than their Japanese masters. Some were even tried as war criminals at the conclusion of the war.

7. What did the Japanese guards shout constantly in order to make the POWs work faster?

Answer: speedo!

Japanese guards were notorious for screaming that one dreaded word: speedo! If the pace did not satisfy them a brutal beating with whatever was at hand was sure to follow.

8. The Japanese looked upon the Allied POWs with contempt. What was the main reason Japanese had no fear of an escape attempt by their prisoners?

Answer: they did not believe they had the courage to try

The major reason the Japanese did not fear an escape attempt is they believed the POWs lacked the courage to try. After all, they were defeated enemies and had dishonored themselves by surrendering.

9. The Japanese took civilian prisoners of the nations they were at war with. How were they treated?

Answer: the same as POWs

Civilians of nations the Japanese were at war with were treated the same as captured POWs. The only difference is they were considered interned, not prisoners of war. Many of them were executed for 'offences' and were subject to the same martial law that was applied to POWs.

10. Who did the Japanese consider the most dangerous of their prisoners?

Answer: the Americans

The Japanese considered the Americans the most dangerous of their prisoners. Oddly enough, this opinion was formed by viewing gangster movies that featured James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart!

Source: Author beterave

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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