Battle of Manila | 1945 | Liberation of the Philippines by the US Army | Documentary

Summary

This script recounts the harrowing experiences of American and Filipino soldiers during the Battle of Manila in World War II. It details the rapid advance towards Manila, the unexpected lack of initial resistance, and the subsequent urban combat that led to the liberation of Santo Tomas. The narrative captures the emotional reunion of internees with their families, the tragic shelling of non-military targets, and the fierce street fighting that characterized the battle. It concludes with the recapture of Corregidor, symbolizing the end of the conflict and the restoration of freedom to the Philippines.

Takeaways

• 🇺🇸 The script recounts the liberation of Santo Tomas and Manila during World War II by American forces.
• 🏖️ The operation began with landings at Lingayen Gulf, which was initially met with less resistance than anticipated.
• ✈️ Air Force and Navy planes played a crucial role in softening up enemy positions before ground troops advanced.
• 📜 A Japanese field order discovered by the GIs indicated the execution of Filipinos found on the battlefield.
• 🏥 The liberation of Santo Tomas University led to the rescue of hundreds of American and allied internees who had been starved and mistreated.
• 🎉 The internees' liberation was celebrated, but the joy was short-lived as they came under enemy fire at Santo Tomas.
• 🔥 The enemy's strategy included burning parts of Manila as they retreated, causing significant destruction.
• 🛡️ The Battle of Manila saw intense street and building-to-building combat, with American forces adapting to urban warfare.
• 🏰 The final stages of the battle involved a crossing of the Pasig River and the assault on the walled city of Intramuros.
• 🎖️ General MacArthur's return to the Philippines was marked by a flag-raising ceremony on Corregidor, symbolizing the end of the Battle of Manila.

Q & A

What was the significance of the American forces arriving at Santo Tomas during World War II?

The arrival of the American forces at Santo Tomas marked the liberation of hundreds of American and allied internees who had been held captive for three years without seeing a free American or having a square meal.

How did the American forces initially perceive the resistance they would face upon landing at Lingayen Gulf?

The American forces expected to face strong resistance right away upon landing at Lingayen Gulf, but they were surprised to find that the initial resistance was lighter than anticipated.

What was the role of the Air Force and Navy in supporting the ground troops during the advance towards Manila?

The Air Force and Navy planes were used to soften up the way for the ground troops, providing air support by attacking enemy positions ahead of the advancing forces.

Why did the American forces step up their pace towards Manila?

The American forces increased their pace towards Manila after receiving reports from Filipino guerrillas that American and allied prisoners were starving and being mistreated in the city.

What was the unexpected discovery made by one of the GIs that provided insight into the enemy's intentions?

An innocent-looking piece of paper picked up by one of the GIs turned out to be a Japanese field order stating that all Filipinos found on the field of battle were subject to immediate execution.

How did the American forces first enter Manila, and what was their initial impression?

The American forces first entered Manila by establishing contact with the enemy in the outskirts and then moving into the city. Their initial impression was that they were tourists, as they faced little resistance at first.

What was the significance of Rizal Stadium in the context of the Battle of Manila?

Rizal Stadium, usually a place for baseball games, became a site of fierce battle where the enemy had fortified themselves under the stands, leading to a significant confrontation with the American forces.

What was the condition of the internees at Santo Tomas when they were liberated?

The internees at Santo Tomas were found in a pathetic state, having endured three years of captivity without proper food or care, but they were fortunate to have been attended to by captured US Army and Navy nurses during their captivity.

How did the internees react to the news of their liberation, and what did they receive as a result?

The internees were overjoyed at the news of their liberation, celebrating with the arrival of toys and other items they had been deprived of during their captivity.

What was the strategic importance of securing Corregidor in relation to the Battle of Manila?

Securing Corregidor was crucial as it was a key island fortress that controlled the entrance to Manila Bay. The American forces planned an aerial invasion of Corregidor to coordinate with an amphibious landing to ensure the city of Manila could be secured.

How did General MacArthur play a role in the Battle of Manila, and what was his historical connection to the Philippines?

General MacArthur supervised the direction of the battle, and his historical connection to the Philippines was significant, as he had been forced to leave the islands in 1942 and had vowed to return, which he did during the battle, overseeing operations and ultimately participating in the flag-raising ceremony on Corregidor.

Outlines

00:00

🇵🇭 Liberation of Santo Tomas

This paragraph recounts the narrator's memories of the liberation of Santo Tomas during World War II. The speaker expresses gratitude to the liberating forces and describes the rapid advance of the troops from Lingayen Gulf towards Manila. They detail the initial lack of resistance, the discovery of a Japanese field order, and the subsequent realization of the enemy's withdrawal to Grace Park. The narrative includes the first entry into Manila, the battle at Rizal Stadium, and the eventual liberation of American and allied internees at the University of Santo Tomas. The internees' three-year ordeal without a free American or proper meals is highlighted, as well as the arrival of US Army and Navy nurses who provided care during their captivity.

05:03

🏥 Evacuation and Continued Conflict

The second paragraph continues the narrative by detailing the aftermath of the liberation and the ongoing conflict. It describes the shelling of Santo Tomas, the evacuation of the seriously ill and injured, and the eventual cessation of the shelling as the Japanese redirected their artillery fire. The internees were then evacuated to the United States, with the narrator reflecting on the excitement of returning home after three years of captivity. The paragraph also discusses the narrator's departure from Luzon and the intensifying Battle of Manila, highlighting the challenges of urban combat and the enemy's use of government buildings for defense. The narrative concludes with the enemy's orders to hold or burn Manila, leading to widespread destruction.

10:04

🎖️ General MacArthur's Supervision and the Battle's Progress

Paragraph three focuses on General MacArthur's role in the Battle of Manila and the strategic military actions taken by the Allied forces. It describes the general's supervision of the battle, his reflections on past events, and the condition of American prisoners. The narrative includes the discovery of American prisoners in Manila's city prison, the planning and execution of an aerial invasion of Corregidor, and the coordinated parachute and amphibious landings. The paragraph also details the intense street fighting, the enemy's fanatical resistance, and the eventual securing of Corregidor, which was crucial for the overall success of the battle.

15:08

🏰 Assault on Intramuros and the Battle's Climax

The fourth paragraph narrates the final stages of the Battle of Manila, particularly the assault on the walled city of Intramuros. It describes the concentrated artillery and small-arms fire used to pin down the enemy, the preparation for a boat crossing, and the eventual breaching of the city's thick walls. The paragraph highlights the effectiveness of the artillery in softening up enemy positions, the support from Filipino civilians, and the final push into Intramuros. It concludes with the sudden end of the battle within the walled city, leaving behind only rubble and the aftermath of the conflict.

20:12

🏁 The End of the Battle and MacArthur's Return

The final paragraph summarizes the end of the Battle of Manila and the subsequent flag-raising ceremony on Corregidor, signifying the official end of the battle. It describes the mass exodus of survivors from Intramuros and the final military actions taken. The paragraph also mentions General MacArthur's return to the Philippines and the emotional significance of his presence. The narrative concludes with a brief mention of the big picture report produced for the Armed Forces and the American people, highlighting the cooperation between the Department of the Army and the state.

Keywords

💡Liberation

Liberation refers to the act of setting free from imprisonment, slavery, or oppression. In the context of the video, it describes the efforts of the U.S. military to free the people held captive by enemy forces during World War II. The script mentions 'liberating us' and 'liberating...hundreds of American and allied internees,' highlighting the central theme of the video which is the rescue and freedom of those held in Santo Tomas and other locations.

💡Santo Tomas

Santo Tomas refers to the University of Santo Tomas, which was used as an internment camp during World War II. In the video, the liberation of this camp is a significant event, symbolizing the rescue of American and allied prisoners who had been held there for years. The script states, 'then we raced into the University of Santo Tomas and liberated...hundreds of American and allied internees,' underscoring the importance of this location in the narrative.

💡Lingayen Gulf

Lingayen Gulf is a large gulf on the western coast of Luzon in the Philippines. The script mentions it as the location where 'we hit the beach at Lingayen Gulf,' indicating it as a strategic point of military operations during the liberation of the Philippines. It was the site of an amphibious assault by the Allies, which was a crucial part of the campaign to reclaim the Philippines from Japanese control.

💡Manila

Manila is the capital city of the Philippines and a central focus of the video's narrative. The script describes the advance of the U.S. forces towards Manila, the battles within the city, and the eventual liberation of the internees held there. The mention of 'Manila' and the associated events such as 'the Battle of Manila' and 'shelling of Santo Tomas' in Manila are key to understanding the video's historical account.

💡Internees

Internees are individuals who are detained, typically in time of war, in a neutral country or in the territory of the belligerents. In the video, the term is used to describe the American and allied prisoners held in camps like Santo Tomas. The script states, 'liberated along with you, hundreds of American and allied internees,' emphasizing the humanitarian aspect of the military operations.

💡Japanese Field Order

A Japanese field order, as mentioned in the script, is a directive issued by the Japanese military during wartime. The script reveals a field order stating 'all Filipinos found on the field of battle were subject to immediate execution,' illustrating the harsh and brutal nature of the enemy forces and the stakes involved for the local population.

💡Rizal Stadium

Rizal Stadium, referred to in the script as 'Manila's baseball park,' was the site of a fierce battle during the liberation of Manila. The video describes how 'a fierce battle suddenly developed in of, all places Rizal Stadium,' showcasing the unexpected and intense nature of urban combat during the conflict.

💡Intramuros

Intramuros is the historic walled city within Manila. The script describes the final stages of the Battle of Manila, where 'the Japs literally had their backs to the wall' in Intramuros, indicating a desperate last stand by the Japanese forces. The term is significant as it represents the final major obstacle for the liberating forces and the culmination of the battle.

💡General MacArthur

General MacArthur, mentioned in the script, was a senior American military leader during World War II. The video script describes his presence and leadership during the Battle of Manila, stating 'several times we saw General MacArthur, supervising the direction of battle.' His involvement is a key aspect of the video's historical narrative, symbolizing the strategic importance of the campaign.

💡Corregidor

Corregidor is an island in Manila Bay that played a significant role in the defense of the Philippines during World War II. The script refers to it as 'an island of rock called Corregidor,' highlighting its strategic importance. The video describes the final stages of the battle and the recapture of Corregidor, which was a symbolic and strategic victory for the Allies.

Highlights

Arrival at Santo Tomas and the beginning of the liberation of the Philippines.

Landing on Mindoro and the anticipation of the main event in Lingayen Gulf.

Unexpectedly light resistance and the push towards Manila.

Discovery of a Japanese field order calling for the execution of Filipinos.

Reports of starving and mistreated American and allied prisoners in Manila.

First to enter Manila and the encounter with snipers at Grace Park.

Fierce battle at Rizal Stadium, Manila's baseball park.

Liberation of American and allied internees at the University of Santo Tomas.

The emotional response of internees to their liberation and the arrival of mail from home.

Shelling of Santo Tomas and the evacuation of the seriously ill and injured.

Learning the harsh lessons of street fighting in Manila.

The enemy's defensive plan revealed as they retreated to the heart of the city.

Filipinos showing gratitude by handing out cigars and candy to American troops.

Orders from the Imperial High Command to hold or burn Manila.

The decisive phase of the Battle of Manila with General MacArthur's supervision.

The condition of prisoners from Corregidor and the death march.

Preparations for an aerial invasion of Corregidor to secure Manila.

The final phases of the battle with enemy forces withdrawing into the walled city.

The breaching of the 14-foot thick wall of Intramuros and the end of the battle within the walls.

The exodus of survivors from Intramuros and the official end of the Battle of Manila with a flag-raising ceremony on Corregidor.

Transcripts

my wife and I often talk about those

days we never did get much of a chance

to thank you and your outfit for

liberating us I'll never forget the

first day you arrived at Santo Tomas

how'd your outfit get there so soon

well it was all part of the stepped-up

liberation of the Philippines as I

recall you really want to hear about it

yeah I sure would well as I recall the

GIS had taken lady and landed on Mindoro

the island directly south of Luzon

so my outfit and a lot of others were

ready for the main event we hit the

beach at Lingayen Gulf with about a

hundred miles north of Manila we thought

we'd be moving right into the teeth of

[ __ ] resistance and we were wrong that

was to come later

we pushed on down the valley toward

Manila cleaning out little pockets of

resistance where we found them

out ahead of us Air Force and Navy

planes were softening up the way

we moved cautiously forward wondering

what had happened to the enemy and for a

while there looked like we were tourists

having ourselves a real ball

along the way one of the GIS picked up

an innocent-looking piece of paper which

turned out to be a Japanese field order

it stated all Filipinos found on the

field of battle were subject to

immediate execution this applied to all

Filipinos in Manila Filipino guerrillas

brought in reports that American and

allied prisoners were starving and being

mistreated in the city so we stepped up

the pace in the outskirts of Manila and

finally established contact with the

enemy but we soon lost it and we

realized that the Japs were withdrawing

to the heart of the city at Grace Park

where the monument stands snipers took

potshots at us and slowed down our

advance somewhat and the only

satisfaction I recall here was that my

outfit was the first to enter Manila

proper

[Music]

a fierce battle suddenly developed in of

all places Rizal Stadium

Manila's baseball park the enemy had

done himself in under the stands and we

slugged it out with him with no cover

[Music]

[Music]

resolve stadium a baseball park no game

today

[Music]

then we raced into the University of

Santo Tomas and liberated along with you

hundreds of American and allied

internees it had been three years since

this pathetic group of prisoners had

seen a free American or a square meal

everyone in Santo Tomas was fortunate

that there had been US Army and Navy

nurses who'd been captured on Corregidor

to care for you during those dark years

after we arrived wires were sent home by

the internees and many replies came back

in a few hours

affecting some noticeably

but for everyone the liberation was a

big celebration party kids who had no

toys for three years now had giant sized

ones and all of us were discussing how

wonderful it was that the nightmare was

over at last

[Music]

but the nightmare wasn't all over the

enemy started shelling us at Santo Tomas

we saw internees who'd survived the

three years as prisoners killed by the

incoming fire I'll never forget how the

shelling of this non military target

continued for several days while we

evacuated the seriously ill and injured

[Music]

finally the shelling of Santo Tomas led

up the Japs needed their artillery fire

more urgently elsewhere then the

internees were evacuated to the States

most of them by plane but I guess you'd

remember more about that evacuation than

I would I'll never forget it if you'd

been a few more days rescuing us I don't

think my wife could have held out but

she made it okay thanks to you and your

buddies that's the way the ball bounces

you never know when you can help the

next guy yeah I remember when I left

Luzon the Battle of Manila seemed to be

getting worse yeah it sure was

what were the excitement of going back

to the States after being a prisoner for

three years I never did get the don't

straight on how the final stages of the

battle went it's it's all kind of fuzzy

in my mind all I know is we won but it

was quite a scrap wasn't it it was rough

yeah I know how'd you make up after I

left well we got ourselves a good taste

of street fighting being jungle GIS up

till then we found we had a lot to learn

about fighting in city streets and big

office buildings but we learned fast

combat is one thing for sure a good

teacher how'd you come out oh me

personally okay but not so for some of

the others the deeper we Gundu Manoa the

more fanatical the [ __ ] resistance

they couldn't escape and they wouldn't

surrender so they fought till they died

most of them anyway our casualties were

heavy and the more we moved into the

heart of the city the more the enemy

took advantage of the huge government

buildings for defensive positions some

of the buildings had to be ripped apart

stone by stone before we could continue

our advance the enemy defensive plan

soon became apparent he was fighting

delaying actions to allow his troops to

cross the pasilla which cuts Manila east

and west right through the middle we

pressed forward as fast as we could

through fantastic tangles of broken

buildings

[Music]

after each jab unit crossed the PUC's

River a bridge was destroyed leaving one

less for us when we reached the river

our troops found out the hard way just

about all there is to know about street

to street building the building combat

and the more we learned the faster we

move denying the enemy the advantage of

a leisurely withdrawal those Japs who

couldn't pull back dug in and fought

till 8 died many Filipinos braved

frontline fire handing out cigars or

candy to show their gratitude to us

[Music]

the enemy had orders from the Imperial

High Command hold Manila or burn it the

torch was put to those parts of Manila

the Japs that no longer hold

[Music]

barrels and drums of gasoline and motor

oil were detonated by the Japs inside

buildings from one end of pinellas city

up through all of the inferno

the GIS kept up the initiative carrying

the attack forward toward the Passaic

River

[Music]

any of the firefighting equipment which

had survived the street fighting was

used but it was hardly worth the effort

a fire gained momentum burning city

blocks at a time consuming everything in

its path that would burn and it seemed

to reach its peak of destruction at

night

the Battle of Manila had reached a

decisive phase we were north of the

[ __ ] gripper and the Japs were south

and moving into the famed old walled

city called intramurals we kept the

enemy pinned down with our fire while we

brought up troops to prepare for a boat

crossing of the [ __ ]

[Music]

[Music]

several times we saw General MacArthur

supervising the direction of battle at

one moment he gazed out across Manila

Harbor and an island of rock called

Corregidor no doubt he recalled how the

Japanese had attacked the Philippines in

December 1941

[Music]

and then in May 1942 the enemies swarmed

over Corregidor no doubt to the general

that many times pondered the fate of his

troops who were outnumbered out of

ammunition food and medical supplies and

thus compelled to surrender the tide of

hope had reached its lowest ebb for

Americans when general Jonathan

Wainwright sat at the surrender table

and the American flag was lowered on

Corregidor

[Music]

[Applause]

there was one thing General MacArthur

wanted more information about the

condition of the prisoners taken on

Corregidor and elsewhere in the

Philippines the word had gotten around

about the death march the forced march

of the American prisoners by the

Japanese which caused many to die these

were the troops the general had in mind

when he returned to the Philippines the

general had all of those depressing

memories of 1942 to consider while he

directed the battle in Manila three

years later during February 1945 an

isolated pocket of [ __ ] resistance

developed in Manila's city prison called

beloved Filipinos brought in word that

American prisoners many captured on

Corregidor were being held in beloved we

stepped up the attack and raced toward

the city prison

inside me labid we wiped out the Japs

and found the GI prisoners starved

abused old beyond their years but

possessing an undaunted spirit they

lined up for a shower the three-year

appetite

these were young fighting men on

Corregidor now they were no longer young

but they were alive while the battle

raged on preparations were made for an

aerial invasion of Corregidor Manila

could not be secured without Corregidor

in our hands a parachute jump would be

coordinated with an amphibious landing

on the island fortress Air Force and

Navy pounded the rock while the troop

carriers flew in the parachutists

[Music]

and when the dropzone on Corregidor was

lined up there was nothing left to do

but jump

supplies were dropped right where they

were needed

[Music]

while the parachutists sees their

objectives on top of the island

amphibious task force hit the beaches

another airdrop of supplies or at first

everything was delivered by parachute

[Music]

although Corregidor was lightly defended

every [ __ ] therefore a fanatical battle

while the island fighting continued the

battle in Manila was going into the

final phases all of the enemy forces

alive at withdrawn into the walled city

south of the physique River now the Japs

literally had their backs to the wall

they couldn't escape and wouldn't

surrender so we got set for the final

rom the plan roughly was to concentrate

our artillery water and small-arms fire

on the enemy while we crossed the pacy

why our communications were strung to

assure the closest coordination of

overhead fire

[Music]

finally when everything was all set the

order was given to commence firing

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

we lined up assault boats and amphibious

tracked vehicles and then made the first

river crossing attempt we had no way of

knowing how successful our concentration

of fire had been on the enemy in the

walled city but we found that they

apparently were effective since the only

incoming fire on us was small arms

[Music]

soon we were pouring across the river

getting established on the south side

and moving toward the closest wall of

the walled city

[Music]

all of us knew by now that the toughest

barrier of Manila was directly ahead the

14-foot thick wall of intramurals while

we approached our objective our

artillery and tracked vehicles gave us

direct fire support

[Music]

[Music]

between the river and the walled city

was an open park aeri and as we moved

over it we realized that this was the

first open spot we had crossed since the

Battle of Manila had begun

[Music]

the closer we got to the walled city the

more we saw of the effectiveness of our

artillery and mortar fire and softening

up the enemy positions

Filipinos willingly pointed out prepared

defensive positions of the enemy

[Music]

[Music]

finally we reached the outside wall

[Music]

it took a great deal of probing to find

the proper place to make the assault for

breaching this fortress was no easy

matter regardless of how much artillery

we had poured into it but we finally

cracked it

[Music]

[Music]

once inside intramurals the city within

the walls a battle was suddenly over

only the rubble and chaos of combat

remained and among the debris we found

human wreckage

[Music]

many of the Filipinos who had lived in

Intramuros were dead those who somehow

miraculously survived started a great

mass exodus across the river to go

anywhere anywhere away from the horrors

of the walled city

[Music]

although the fighting in Manila was over

there still was one more military action

to be taken a general had said he would

return he had now with a flag-raising

ceremony on Corregidor the Battle of

Manila was officially over

and that's how the Battle of Manila went

the big picture is an official report

for the Armed Forces and the American

people produced by the army pictorial

centers

presented by the Department of the army

in cooperation with this state

[Applause]

you

[Music]

you