18. In the “Pacific Theater” of the war, Japanese forces fought and won many victories. Stories of the “Bataanl Death March” angered Americans further. What happened?
The Bataan Death March was a brutal event that took place in April 1942 in the Philippines. After the fall of Bataan to the Japanese forces, approximately 60,000 to 80,000 Filipino and American prisoners of war (POWs) were forced to march over 60 miles to a prison camp.
The march was characterized by extreme physical abuse, lack of food and water, and an overall disregard for the well-being of the prisoners. The POWs were subjected to beatings, bayonet attacks, and random killings throughout the journey. They suffered from exhaustion, dehydration, and diseases, with many collapsing or dying along the way.
The Bataan Death March lasted for about a week, and it is estimated that around 5,000 to 18,000 Filipino and American prisoners died during or shortly after the march due to the harsh conditions and maltreatment.
These stories of the Bataan Death March spread outrage among Americans and further fueled their hatred towards the Japanese. The brutal treatment of POWs illustrated the cruel nature of the Japanese forces and strengthened the determination of the Allied powers to defeat them in the Pacific Theater of the war.