Bataan Death March | March to Hell | Documentary

During the beginning of the Sino - Japanese War, the Japanese committed war crimes on prisoners of war in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. These crimes resulted in millions of deaths of Civilians and Prisoners of war. The Bataan Death March is one of them, after the surrender of combined US and Filipino troops at the Bataan Peninsula on April 9th, 1942 they forced the prisoners of war with over 72,000 to march towards O'Donnell Prison Camp. There is some confusion about how long the prisoners marched and some estimated it was 66 Miles or 70 Miles. The march lasted over 5 to 10 days the allied prisoners of war committed inhumane atrocities and severe maltreatment by the Japanese Soldiers many of them never reached the final destination.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbour on December 7th. The Japanese Army began a Campaign through Southeast Asia capturing the Philippines and several other nations. The main army of the Imperial Japanese Army has already landed on Luzon on December 10th but the attack didn't start until December 22nd, 1941. The Philippines was defended with over 150,000 US and Filipino Armies. Under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, however, he did not have the command of the American Navy. As MacArthur began the Defence of the Island he abandoned the previous defense scenario Warplane Orange or wp03. Which was deploying the Defence at Manila Bay and The Entire Luzon island. It proved to be a costly mistake that the 14th Japanese Army was able to capture most of the country by the end of December. Facing Defeat General Douglas MacArthur switched to Plan Wp03 but it was too late, the main survivors were retreating to the Bataan Peninsula extended to Manila Bay the Battle of Bataan began on the first week of January 1942 unlike anything on the Island the Bataan Defenders fought fiercely and Bravely to defend their position but it wasn't enough. The defense was prepared hastily and they were extremely low in ammunition and supplies their defeat was imminent. On March 11, 1942, General Douglas MacArthur, Left Manila due to Direct Orders from Franklin Roosevelt. MacArthur infamously promised I shall return and he repeated the promise afterward in many speeches.

The soldiers at Bataan or known as "The Battling Bastards of Bataan" held out one more month. Their name was held out by the limerick written by the American War Correspondent Frank Hewlett.
On April 9th, after three months of fierce combat in the most difficult conditions, the Battle of Bataan ended. The joint US and Philippine Army surrendered to the Imperial Japanese Forces, however grueling their efforts were in defending Bataan it would be nothing as compared to the agony that they were about to suffer as Japanese Prisoners of War. The Japanese Army expected to Capture the Philippines in just weeks. But the number of soldiers that they captured far exceeded their intentions, they have expected to capture 30,000 Prisoners but around 76,000 Filipino and Americans have surrendered. It became a difficult decision for the Japanese, who were able to provide neither transport nor food for such a large number of prisoners. The Japanese have a problem of shortage of motor transport vehicles. During the surrender, discussions have been made by US Major General Edward King asked for permission to drive the POWs toward Camp O'Donnell in American Army Trucks, but Japanese General Masahiro Homa refused to accept the request. So it was decided that the Prisoners would have to March by foot to Camp O'Donnell.

The Prisoners were gathered at the Municipality of Marevelez where the match has started the route went along the coast of Manila Bay to the town of Lubao and then to the San Fernando Train Station from there the Prisoners would have to travel by Railway to kappas and then on foot an additional 14 Km to Camp O'Donnell. At the moment of surrender, the US and Filipino soldiers were already exhausted by the fierce combat with the Japanese Troops and they were also suffering from malnutrition because of their reduced food rations during the final stages of the Battle of Bataan for men who were already such a bad mood the 66-mile march was pure torture. The Japanese forced the POWs to March them 25 Miles per Day which was the total average speed of the Japanese soldiers even in the finest conditions the American soldiers only marched about 15 to 20 miles per day. Contrary to what was planned the Caravan moved slowly as at times they have to make room for the Japanese soldiers marching southwards. The March lasted for days while the first contingent of prisoners have finished. The last soldiers arrived at the camp after 10 days.

During the entire length of March, the prisoners were exposed to direct sunlight and tropical temperatures of over 37.7°C making them feeling for exhausted, the fact that they were denied getting access to food and water made it more agonizing for them. Facing a large number of POWs the Japanese did not have enough food and water for them all as the Japanese soldiers week the priority for receiving food rationing. The Prisoners only received one meal during the entire march if they were lucky to ever received a meal at all. Most prisoners got their first meals after arriving at the Prison camp. The lacking water made the Japanese show no mercy to the American and Filipinos. Which Japanese guards intentionally deprived the prisoners of. A lot of Prisoners went out thirsty and mad and ended up being shot by the Japanese guards. Others were so desperate that they drank water from ditches and pits in which most deaths came. For two days Soldiers were continued denied access to food and water many soldiers can't continue the walk because they were too exhausted, those who don't continue to march will face execution and punishment for the Groups of Japanese soldiers that had trailed the March they even have their name. 'Buzzard Squads'. Many of those who survived the Thirst and Hunger gave thanks to the bravery of local Filipino. They secretly throw sugar canes and canteens of water along the way, so soldiers can pick them up and get the measure of sustenance. The Japanese guards made the march an agonizing one. During the entire march, they forced the prisoners to march at a steady pace disregarding the fact that most of them are physically unable to do so. To those who are behind, we're forced to continue the march with Bayonets behind them but those who are far behind we're left to be killed. Their entire route is full of dead prisoners. Most of the deaths were Japanese soldiers who ran over them with tanks and vehicles that I can't even imagine something horrifying and cruel. the American and Filipino prisoners were completely stripped of their dignity. They've faced constant beatings and abuse from the Japanese Guards for no apparent reason the Japanese would kick, slap, or punch prisoners using their rifles.

They didn't understand what the Japanese Guards were telling them to do because they don't know what they were trying to say. Those who tried to escape were beheaded and shot some people Saw this action we don't know if this is true or not Japanese Soldiers put Dead Soldier's Heads on Trees to remind them of those who will escape will be fate dead. The Japanese were furious about the Defense of Bataan which could have triggered a mutiny and believed that Americans are an unworthy Nation. The Japanese Guards pushed their hatred on its prisoners the prisoners were forced to March until all of them collapsed from exhaustion and malnutrition, The Prisoners were not allowed to sit down if they were to do they would immediately get shot. Once they arrived at San Fernando Train Stations they would immediately be sent to The Town of Capac not far from camp O'Donnell it may look like a relief but it was another stage of their suffering they were so cramped that if someone Dies from exhaustion or malnutrition their bodies will not fall over because it was simply too crowded. After they arrived at Capac's they would have to March 8 to 10 Miles to Camp O'Donnell where they were given a single bowl of rice for most prisoners it was their first meal since they began their march. Most of them were so relieved that they were able to sit down and rest their feet.

There was an Estimation of how Many Filipinos and American Soldiers Died about 5,000 to 12,000 Filipinos and 650 to 700 Americans.

May those Soldiers Rest in peace.
April 9, 2022,

This is the 80th Anniversary of the Beginning of Bataan Death March on April 9th.

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