Execution of Japanese General Responsible for the Bataan death March in Philippines - Masaharu Homma

Summary

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor marked the beginning of the Pacific War. Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma, known as the Beast of Bataan, led the invasion of the Philippines, resulting in the Bataan Death March, a war crime that claimed over 18,000 lives. Despite his Western education and respect, Homma's command was marred by severe brutality. Tried and convicted post-war, he was executed for his crimes, reflecting the atrocities of war and the importance of holding leaders accountable.

Takeaways

• 🗓️ On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, resulting in the loss of 2,400 American lives and damaging or destroying over half of the military aircraft stationed there.
• 🇯🇵 The following day, Japan invaded the Philippines, leading to the eventual surrender of the US and Philippine armies on May 8, 1942.
• 🚶‍♂️ The Bataan Death March, initiated on April 9, 1942, involved the forced transfer of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war, with over 18,000 lives lost due to severe physical abuse and killings.
• 🐺 Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma, known as the Beast of Bataan, was responsible for the war crime of the Bataan Death March.
• 🎓 Homma was well-educated, spoke fluent English, and had a deep respect for the West, having studied at Oxford and served as a military attaché in the UK.
• 🏆 Homma had a distinguished military career, including service in World War I and commanding the Japanese 27th Division before World War II.
• 🏳️ The Battle of Bataan was a significant part of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines and represented a major challenge for the Allied forces.
• 🌐 The Japanese control over Southeast Asia was nearly absolute by the time of the Bataan battle, with only a few strongholds remaining, including Bataan and Corregidor.
• 🏥 The Bataan Death March was marked by extreme cruelty, with prisoners subjected to torture, minimal food and water, and denied medical care.
• 💉 The 'Sun Treatment' was a form of torture where prisoners were forced to sit in direct sunlight without protection, and requests for water were met with execution.
• 🔫 Homma was tried and convicted by an American tribunal for war crimes related to the Bataan Death March and was executed by firing squad on April 3, 1946.

Q & A

What significant event occurred on December 7, 1941 at 7:55 a.m.?

The Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor using naval aircraft from six aircraft carriers.

What was the human cost of the Pearl Harbor attack for the US forces?

2,400 US sailors and soldiers were killed, and 1,200 were wounded.

What invasion followed the attack on Pearl Harbor?

The Japanese launched the invasion of the Philippines one day later, on December 8, 1941.

When did the US and Philippine armies surrender to the Japanese forces?

They surrendered on May 8, 1942.

What was the Bataan Death March and why is it significant?

The Bataan Death March was a 65-mile long transfer of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war characterized by severe physical abuse and wanton killings, which claimed more than 18,000 lives.

Who was Masaharu Homma, and what was his role in World War II?

Masaharu Homma was a Japanese lieutenant general responsible for the Bataan Death March and other war crimes, earning him the nickname 'Beast of Bataan'.

What educational and cultural experiences did Masaharu Homma have that influenced his perspective on the West?

Homma spoke fluent English, studied at Oxford University, loved to watch Western movies, and was known for his paintings and poems, reflecting a deep respect for the West.

How did the Battle of Bataan impact the Japanese invasion of the Philippines?

The Battle of Bataan represented the most intense phase of the Japanese invasion, with American and Filipino forces fighting the Japanese for three months, delaying their victory across the Pacific.

What were the conditions like for the prisoners during the Bataan Death March?

Prisoners received little food or water, were subjected to severe physical abuse including beatings and torture, and many died due to the harsh conditions.

What was the outcome of Masaharu Homma's trial for war crimes?

Homma was convicted on all counts of violating International rules of War and was sentenced to death by firing squad.

What was the final fate of Masaharu Homma?

Masaharu Homma was executed by firing squad by American forces on April 3, 1946, in Los Baños, the Philippines.

Outlines

00:00

💥 Attack on Pearl Harbor and the Bataan Death March

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, resulting in the loss of 2,400 US servicemen and significant damage to military aircraft. The following day, Japan invaded the Philippines, leading to the surrender of US and Filipino forces in May 1942. The Bataan Death March, a brutal war crime under the command of Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma, claimed over 18,000 lives. Homma, known as the 'Beast of Bataan,' was a complex figure with a deep respect for the West, having studied at Oxford and served as a military attaché in the UK. Despite his Western ties, Homma's military career included major roles in the Japanese invasion of China and Southeast Asia, culminating in the atrocities committed during the Bataan Death March.

05:02

🏹 The Battle of Bataan and Its Aftermath

The Battle of Bataan marked a pivotal phase in the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during World War II. Fought from January 7 to April 9, 1942, it was a desperate last stand by American and Filipino forces against the Japanese Army, who controlled most of Southeast Asia. Despite being vastly outnumbered and undersupplied, the Allied forces managed to delay the Japanese advance, costing them valuable time. The surrender at Bataan was the largest in US history, with 76,000 soldiers captured. The ensuing Bataan Death March subjected prisoners to inhumane treatment, including severe physical abuse, torture, and execution. The march resulted in the deaths of thousands of Filipino and American POWs, with only a fraction surviving to form guerrilla units in the mountains.

10:02

⚖️ Masaharu Homma's Trial and Execution

Masaharu Homma, the Japanese general responsible for the atrocities committed during the Bataan Death March, faced trial for war crimes after Japan's surrender in 1945. The trial, overseen by General Douglas MacArthur, charged Homma with 48 counts of violating international rules of war. Despite claiming ignorance of the mistreatment of prisoners, Homma was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to death. His execution by firing squad on April 3, 1946, was a testament to the international community's commitment to holding war criminals accountable. MacArthur's review of the case emphasized the gravity of Homma's crimes and the necessity of punishment to uphold the fabric of world society.

Keywords

💡Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, and the location of a surprise military attack by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. This event marked the entry of the United States into World War II. In the script, it is the setting for the first wave of Japanese naval aircraft launching an attack that caught the US forces by surprise, resulting in significant casualties and damage.

💡Bataan Death March

The Bataan Death March refers to the forced transfer of American and Filipino prisoners of war by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. It is characterized by severe physical abuse and wanton killings, claiming more than 18,000 lives. The script describes this tragic event as a 65-mile long march that began on April 9, 1942, and became infamous for its brutality and the suffering of the prisoners.

💡Masaharu Homma

Masaharu Homma was a Japanese lieutenant general during World War II, known as the Beast of Bataan for his role in the war crimes committed during the Bataan Death March. The script details his background, military career, and the atrocities committed under his command, which ultimately led to his conviction and execution.

💡Imperial Japanese Army

The Imperial Japanese Army was the official ground force of the Empire of Japan, responsible for conducting military operations both domestically and internationally during the period of Japanese militarism. In the script, it is mentioned as the force that launched the invasion of the Philippines and was responsible for the Bataan Death March.

💡World War II

World War II was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945, involving many of the world's nations, including all of the great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances. The script provides a historical account of events during this war, particularly focusing on the Pacific theater and the actions of the Imperial Japanese Army.

💡Geneva Disarmament Conference

The Geneva Disarmament Conference was an international meeting aimed at reducing armaments and avoiding another world war. Homma, as part of the script, was assigned to be a part of the Japanese delegation to this conference in 1932, illustrating his involvement in international diplomacy prior to the war.

💡Nanjing Massacre

The Nanjing Massacre refers to the mass murder and rape of Chinese civilians and disarmed soldiers by the Imperial Japanese Army after it captured Nanjing, then the capital of China, during the Second Sino-Japanese War. The script mentions this event as an example of the brutality of the Japanese military, with Homma declaring that unless peace was achieved, the chaos would be disastrous.

💡Battle of Bataan

The Battle of Bataan was a key battle in the Pacific theater of World War II, where the combined forces of the United States and the Philippines fought against the Japanese invasion. The script describes the battle as the most intense phase of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, highlighting the resilience of American and Filipino forces despite a lack of supplies.

💡Douglas MacArthur

Douglas MacArthur was an American five-star general and Field Marshal of the Philippine Army, who played a significant role in the Pacific theater during World War II. The script mentions him as the commander-in-chief of the US and Filipino forces in the Philippines, who consolidated his forces on the Bataan Peninsula and later escaped to Australia, vowing to return.

💡War Crime

A war crime is an act that constitutes a violation of the laws and customs of war, which are designed to protect civilians and combatants who are no longer participating in hostilities. The script describes the Bataan Death March as a war crime, with Homma being held accountable for the atrocities committed by troops under his command during the march.

💡Atomic Bombings

The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were nuclear attacks carried out by the United States during World War II, which led to Japan's surrender. The script mentions these bombings as the catalyst for the end of the war and the subsequent surrender of Japanese forces in the Philippines.

Highlights

On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, resulting in significant U.S. casualties and damage.

The Japanese invasion of the Philippines began on December 8, 1941, leading to the surrender of U.S. and Philippine forces on May 8, 1942.

The Bataan Death March, a 65-mile forced transfer of 75,000 prisoners, began on April 9, 1942, and resulted in over 18,000 deaths.

Masaharu Homma, known as the Beast of Bataan, was responsible for the war crime of the Bataan Death March.

Homma was well-educated, spoke fluent English, and had a deep respect for the West, having studied at Oxford and served in the UK.

Despite his Western education, Homma played a significant role in the invasion of China and the atrocities committed in Nanjing.

The Battle of Bataan was a critical phase of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, where Allied forces fought against overwhelming odds.

General Douglas MacArthur led the U.S. and Filipino forces in the defense of the Bataan Peninsula.

The fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942, marked the largest surrender of U.S. troops in history.

The Bataan Death March was characterized by severe physical abuse, torture, and wanton killings of prisoners.

Despite the harsh conditions, some prisoners managed to escape and form guerrilla units to resist the Japanese occupation.

The death toll from the Bataan Death March ranged from 5,000 to 18,000 Filipino and 500 to 650 American prisoners.

Homma was removed from command after the fall of Corregidor and was later tried for war crimes.

General MacArthur, who had been defeated by Homma, was in charge of the tribunal that tried him for war crimes.

Homma was convicted and sentenced to death, executed by firing squad on April 3, 1946, for his role in the Bataan Death March.

General MacArthur affirmed the tribunal's sentence, stating that Homma deserved his judicial fate for the mass destruction of helpless men.

Despite his crimes, Homma's wife expressed gratitude for her husband and wished their children to emulate his character.

Transcripts

the 7th of December 1941 7:55

a.m. the first of two waves of Japanese

naval aircraft launch from six aircraft

carriers attack Paul Harbor catching the

US forces completely by

surprise while the attack costs only 29

Japanese planes 2,400 us sailors and

soldiers are killed and 1,200 are

wounded over half of the military

aircraft are damaged or destroyed almost

all of which were grounded at the time

one day later on the 8th of December the

Japanese launched the invasion of the

Philippines and the US and the

Philippine armies finally surrender on

the 8th of May

1942 1 month prior on the 9th of April

the Imperial Japanese Army in

Philippines Begins the firstc march of

75,000 American and Filipino prisoners

of War this 65m long transfer

characterized by severe physical abuse

and wanton killings will become known as

the batan Death March and will claim

more than 18,000 lives the name of the

Japanese liutenant General who is

responsible for this war crime and will

become known as the Beast of batan is

Masaharu Homa Masaharu hom was born on

the 27th of November 1887 in the city of

sad in Japan in May 1907 hom graduated

from the 19th class of the Imperial

Japanese Army Academy and 3 years later

later from the 27th class of the Army

staff College he spoke fluent English

studied at Oxford University in England

loved to watch western movies and was

nicknamed poet Shogun because of his

paintings and poems written during the

first world war Masaharu H had a deep

respect for the west and served as a

military atachi in the United Kingdom

for 8 years in 1918 he served in the

British expeditionary forces sent to

France and was awarded the military

Cross by the end of the war he was

already a father of two children a son

Michio and a daughter masahiko whom he

had with his first wife toshiko hom then

returned to Japan but from 1930 to 1932

he was again sent as a military atache

to the United Kingdom he was also

assigned to be a part of the Japanese

delegation to the Geneva disarmament

conference in 1932 and served with the

Press section of the army Ministry from

1932 to

1933 the conference was organized and

campaign for by the League of Nations

with a main objective to avoid another

world war from 1933 to 1935 Homer was

given a field command again as commander

of the Imperial Japanese Army first

Infantry Regiment and was promoted to

command the Army's 32nd infantry Brigade

from 1935 to

1936 in 1937 he was appointed a de comp

to Prince chichibu who was a brother of

the Emperor

Hirohito with chichibu h made diplomatic

tour in Western Europe attending the

coronation of King George V 6 at

Westminster Abbey in London which took

place on the 12th of May

1937 the visit continued to Germany

where he attended the nurg rally and met

the German dictator Adolf Hitler with

whom the prince tried to boost

relations in July 1938 hmer was promoted

to leftenant General with the start of

the second Ceno Japanese war hmer was

appointed commander of the Army's 27th

division in CH from 1938 to 1940 and

erected the blockade of the foreign

concessions in ton where he led the

negotiations with the British during

this war which was the Prelude to the

Pacific side of World War II the

Japanese Army scored major victories

capturing Beijing and shangai and in

December of 1937 the Japanese military

invaded Nanjing then China's

capital after the fall of naning hom

declared publicly that unless peace is

achieved immediately it will be disas

he was right as many as 300,000

civilians and numerous unarmed Chinese

soldiers were killed in naning over the

course of two months the chaos fires and

mass Graves make a precise count of

casualties

Impossible on the 7th of December 1941

the Japanese attacked pal Harbor one day

later they launched the invasion of the

Philippines with a specific task of

invading and occupying the Philippines

must tked the Japanese 14th Army which

consisted of more than

commander of the Southern Army who sent

a number of unfavorable reports about

hom to Tokyo also subversion was growing

within homa's command by a small group

of ins subordinates who in H's name sent

out secret orders against his policies

including ordering the execution of the

Filipino chief of Justice Jose Abad

Santos and the attempted execution of

the former Speaker of the House of

Representatives Manuel roas which Homer

found out about in time to

stop on the 7th of January 1942 began

the Battle of batan which was fought by

the United States and the Philippine

Commonwealth against Japan this battle

represented the most intense phase of

the Japanese invasion of the Philippines

during the war batan is a province in

the Central Luzon region of the

Philippines the commander-in-chief of

the US and Filipino forces in the

islands general Douglas MacArthur

Consolidated all his lison based units

on the batan peninsula to fight against

the Japanese Army by this time the

Japanese controlled nearly all of

Southeast Asia and the batan peninsula

and the island of coridor were the only

remaining Allied strongholds in the

region despite their lack of supplies

American and Filipino forces managed to

fight the Japanese for 3 months engaging

them initially in a fighting Retreat

Southwood as the combined American and

Filipino forces made a Last Stand the

delay cost the Japanese valuable time

and prevented immediate Victory across

the Pacific the American surrender at

batan on the 9th of April 194 2 was the

largest United States surrender in

history with 76,000 soldiers

surrendering in the Philippines

altogether the defeat was the beginning

of three and a half years of harsh

treatment for the Allied

survivors after the battle hom and his

staff encountered almost twice as many

captives as his reports had estimated

creating an enormous logistical

challenge which was to transport and

move over 6,000 starved sick and

habilitated prisoners and over 38,000

equally weaken civilian non-combatants

who had been caught up in the battle

Homer wanted to move prisoners and

refugees to the north to get them out of

the way of the final assault on the

island of gidor but there was simply not

enough mechanized transport for the

wounded sick and weakened masses

ultimately more than 60,000 Filipino and

15,000 American prisoners of War were

forced into the batan Death March which

began on the 9th of April

1942 at the beginning there were rare

instances of kindness by Japanese

officers and those Japanese soldiers who

spoke English such as the sharing of

food and cigarettes and permitting

personal possessions to be kept this

however was quickly followed by

unrelenting brutality theft and even

knocking men's teeth out for gold

fillings as the common Japanese soldier

had also suffered in the battle for

batan and had nothing but disgust and

hatred for these

captives during the march prisoners

received little food or water and many

died they were subjected to severe

physical abuse including beatings and

torture the sun treatment was a common

form of torture during the march where

prisoners were forced to sit in

sweltering direct sunlight without

helmets or other head coverings anyone

who asked for water was shot dead some

men were told to strip naked or sit

within sight of fresh cool water the

trucks drove over some of those who fell

or succumbed to fatigue and cleanup

Crews killed those too weak to continue

though trucks did pick up some of those

too fatigue to go on prisoners were

randomly stabbed with bayonets or

beaten the Japanese did not provide the

prisoners with medical care so us

medical personnel tended to the sick and

wounded with few or no supplies and part

of the death march took part in trains

in sweltering brutally hot metal box

cars at least 100 prisoners were pushed

into each of the unventilated box cars

the trains had no sanitation facilities

and disease continued to take a heavy

toll on the prisoners

staff sergeant elf Larson later recalled

the train consisted of six or seven

World War I era box cars they packed Us

in the cars like sardines so tight you

couldn't sit down then they shut the

door if you passed out you couldn't fall

down if someone had to go to the toilet

you went right there where you

were among the Allied soldiers H became

known as the Beast of batan sources

report death numbers ranging from 5 to

18,000 Filipino deaths and 500 to 650

American deaths during the

march however about 10 to 12,000 men

eventually escaped from the march to

form gorilla units in the mountains

tying down the occupying

Japanese the total distance of the march

from mares to San Fernando and from

kabas to Campo Donell is variously

reported by differing sources as between

60 and 69.6 Mi or 96.6 and 112 km

the death match was later judged by an

allied military commission to be a

Japanese war crime despite Japanese

victory in the battle of batan the

deteriorating relationship between hom

and the chief of Imperial Japanese Army

general staff hajim mes suyama Lear to

the removal of Homa from command shortly

after the fall of coridor and he was

thereafter commander of the 14th Army in

name

only in March 1942 MacArthur his family

and his staff left nearby coridor Island

and escaped to a Australia where

MacArthur became Supreme Commander

Southwest Pacific area upon his arrival

MacArthur gave a speech in which he

promised I shall return to the

Philippines after more than 2 years of

fighting he fulfilled that promise

Japanese forces in the Philippines were

ordered to surrender by Tokyo on the

15th of August 1945 after the dropping

of the atomic bombs on Mainland Japan

and the Soviet invasion of

Manchuria at the time H was retired from

the military and lived in semi-

seclusion in Japan the Imperial General

headquarters had regarded Homer as not

aggressive enough in war and too lenient

with a Filipino people in peace and in

August 1943 he was subsequently forced

into

retirement after the surrender of Japan

in mid-september 1945 the American

occupation authorities arrested hom and

extradited him to the Philippines where

he was tried in Manila by an American

tribunal on 48 counts of violating

International rules of War relating to

the atrocity committed by troops under

his command during the batan Death

March the responsibility of selecting

the venue the defense the prosecution

the jury and the Rules of Evidence in

the trial belonged to General Douglas

MacArthur a man whom Homer had beaten on

the battlefield during his defense H

claimed that he was so preoccupied with

the plans for the coridor assault that

he had forgotten about the prisoner's

treatment believing that his offices

were properly handling the matter he

claimed that he did not learn of the

atrocity until after the war though his

headquarters were only 500 ft or 150 M

from the route of the March hmer stated

in court I came to know for the first

time in court of the atrocities and I am

ashamed of myself that these atrocities

have

happened on the 11th of February 1946

hom was convicted of all counts and

sentenced to death originally Masaharu

hom was to be hanged but at the request

of his second wife fuor he was executed

by firing squad H's wife visited Douglas

MacArthur to urge a careful review of

her husband's case but MacArthur

affirmed the tribunal

sentence when Masaharu H was executed by

firing squad by American forces on the

3rd of April 1946 in Los BOS in the

Philippines he was 58 years old general

Douglas MacArthur wrote in his review of

the case if this defendant does not

deserve his judicial Fai

none in jurisdictional history ever did

there can be no greater more heinous or

more dangerous crime than the mass

destruction under guise of military

Authority or military necessity of

helpless men incapable of further

contribution to war effort a failure of

law process to punish such acts of

criminal enormity would threaten the

very fabric of world

society H's wife Fujiko said I am

grateful to my husband and and want my

daughter to marry a man like him I want

to teach my son to be a man like his

father and to be a loyal Japanese

citizen there were no tears shed for

Masaharu

H thanks for watching the World History

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