What was the bataan death march?
The Bataan March was a brutal moment in World War 2 History. This page explores the causes of the march and causes of the brutality which occurred during its course.
Bataan Death March
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Bataan March
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The Bataan Death March
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What was the Bataan Death March?
Website #1 focuses on how difficult the march was. "Prisoners were stripped of their weapons and valuables, and told to march to Balanga, the capital of Bataan. Many were beaten, bayoneted, and mistreated. The first major atrocity occurred when between 350 and 400 Filipino officers and NCOs, were summarily executed after they had surrendered" (website #1). The march was forced by the Japanese, and was executed by American an Filipino soldiers. The Japanese were unprepared to handle so many prisoners, and so treated them terribly. "Many of the prisoners died along the way of heat or exhaustion" (website #1). The march was too long, and the prisoners were not fed enough. Many, many Americans died, along with others. "The Bataan Death March and other Japanese actions were used to arouse fury in the United States" (website #1). The Bataan march was not just a accidental biting off more than can be chewed by the Japanese. It was a pointed message for the United States, and they achieved the purpose. Americans were enraged by the mistreatment of their soldiers.
Website #2 focuses a lot on the sequence of events leading to the Bataan March. "Finally, on April 9, with his forces crippled by starvation and disease, U.S. General Edward King Jr. (1884-1958), surrendered his approximately 75,000 troops at Bataan" (website #2). The battle was long and difficult, and the Japanese as always, refused to surrender through the hardship. Finally, the U.S. general surrendered, probably without an idea of what would happen next. "The men were divided into groups of approximately 100, and what became known as the Bataan Death March typically took each group around five days to complete" (website 2). The Japanese divided the men into groups to make the death march, and one can only assume they did this to prevent rebellion. They were already anticipating the prisoners unhappiness at their treatment. "America avenged its defeat in the Philippines with the invasion of the island of Leyte in October 1944" (website #2). America fought ferociously after the disgrace and mistreatment of their soldiers. The passionate anger they must have felt after the Bataan March fueled their victory.
Website #3 supports most of website #2's evidence. "The remaining 72,000 American and Filipino soldiers were taken by the Japanese as prisoners of war (POW). Nearly immediately, the Bataan Death March began" (website #3). This happened after the surrender. The forced march was about to commence. "To do this, the prisoners were to be marched 55 miles from Mariveles to San Fernando, then travel by train to Capas. From Capas, the prisoners were again to march for the last eight miles to Camp O'Donnell" (webite #3). This information was not included in website #3. The sheer vastness of the march, along with the facts that they were underfed and walked on foot, was why the Bataan March was so terrible. "Japanese soldiers believed strongly in the honor brought by fighting to the death and anyone who surrendered was considered contemptible. Thus, to the Japanese soldiers, the captured American and Filipino POWs from Bataan were unworthy of respect" (website #3). This passage relates the other, less obvious reasons for the POWs mistreatment. The Japanese would never have surrendered, and so viewed the POWs as disgusting and weak.
Website #2 focuses a lot on the sequence of events leading to the Bataan March. "Finally, on April 9, with his forces crippled by starvation and disease, U.S. General Edward King Jr. (1884-1958), surrendered his approximately 75,000 troops at Bataan" (website #2). The battle was long and difficult, and the Japanese as always, refused to surrender through the hardship. Finally, the U.S. general surrendered, probably without an idea of what would happen next. "The men were divided into groups of approximately 100, and what became known as the Bataan Death March typically took each group around five days to complete" (website 2). The Japanese divided the men into groups to make the death march, and one can only assume they did this to prevent rebellion. They were already anticipating the prisoners unhappiness at their treatment. "America avenged its defeat in the Philippines with the invasion of the island of Leyte in October 1944" (website #2). America fought ferociously after the disgrace and mistreatment of their soldiers. The passionate anger they must have felt after the Bataan March fueled their victory.
Website #3 supports most of website #2's evidence. "The remaining 72,000 American and Filipino soldiers were taken by the Japanese as prisoners of war (POW). Nearly immediately, the Bataan Death March began" (website #3). This happened after the surrender. The forced march was about to commence. "To do this, the prisoners were to be marched 55 miles from Mariveles to San Fernando, then travel by train to Capas. From Capas, the prisoners were again to march for the last eight miles to Camp O'Donnell" (webite #3). This information was not included in website #3. The sheer vastness of the march, along with the facts that they were underfed and walked on foot, was why the Bataan March was so terrible. "Japanese soldiers believed strongly in the honor brought by fighting to the death and anyone who surrendered was considered contemptible. Thus, to the Japanese soldiers, the captured American and Filipino POWs from Bataan were unworthy of respect" (website #3). This passage relates the other, less obvious reasons for the POWs mistreatment. The Japanese would never have surrendered, and so viewed the POWs as disgusting and weak.