What is World War II?

- also known as the Second World War, was a global war - generally considered to have lasted from 1939 to 1945, although some conflicts in Asia that are commonly viewed as becoming part of the world war had begun earlier than 1939. - It involved the vast majority of the world's nationsincluding all of the great powerseventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies( countries officially opposed to the Axis powers during the Second World War. Within the ranks of the Allied powers, the British Empire, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and the United States of America were known as "The Big Three." U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt referred to the Big Three and China as the "Four Policemen". France, before its defeat in 1940 and after operation torch was considered as a major ally (as free france, fighting france and french force of the interior then as a full nation). ) and the Axis(Axis powers, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan were part of a military alliance on the signing of the Tripartite Pact on September 1940, which officially founded the Axis powers. ). the most widespread war in history, and directly involved more than 100 million people, from more than 30 different countries. -In a state of "total war", the major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. Marked by mass deaths of civilians, including the Holocaust and the first use of nuclear weapons in combat, it resulted in an estimated 50 million to 85 million fatalities. These made World War II the deadliest conflict in human history.

We can count many causes of World War 2, political and others, but the three root causes of World War 2 were : 1. The Prussian Militarism - developed in 200 years of history, it was the force that made Germany so powerful, and made it possible for a man like Adolf Hitler to gain total control of it. 2. Adolf Hitler - a madman and political genius, Adolf Hitler re-ignited the Prussian militarism after the German defeat in World War 1, and with

this great power under his total control, he started the greatest and cruelest war in history, in his planned attempt to vastly expand Germany and to dominate the entire world. 3. Appeasement - Britain and France could easily stop Hitler when Germany was still weak, but their war-traumatized pacifist desire to totally avoid violence just helped Hitler rebuild Germany's military strength more rapidly, until it was too late to stop him.

The Eruption of WWII in Europe -The rise of Adolf Hitler to power in Germany on 1939 was a bad oment to mankind because of his ambition. -To fulfill his ambition, he asked Japan to intensify his aggression in Asia. -US fear that the next target is the Philippines - April 1,1941, Quezon formed the Civilian Emergency Administration where blackout practices and aid raid drills were held everywhere. -July 26, 1941-Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur was called back to active service where he was appointed by president Roosevelt to command the newly organized USAFFE where 100000 soldiers were inducted. The CEA was incorporated here -US exerted all efforts to come to a peaceful understanding with Japan. In September 1941, Japan sent Admiral Nomura to Washington to discuss American-Japanese problems in peaceful manner. -While Nomursa was presenting his governments peace proposals to Secretary of State Cordell Hull, the Japanese bombers surprised attacked pearl harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941 (2897 American man died) -On December 8, 1941 Pres. Roosevelt declared war with japan the same with Prime Minister Winston Churchill of England. -After attacking Pearl Harbor, Japans next target was to attack the Philippines. Reason: to cut the communication lines of US which were based on the Philippines.

At Pearl Harbor, the American aircraft were severely damaged in the initial Japanese attack

Japanese Attack in the Philippines

Why does the Japanese attack the Philippines? 1. Japan had a very aggressive army. Japanese foreign policies were controlled by the military generals. 2. At that time, Japan was among the countries in Asia that was not colonized by foreigners. 3. The Japanese military had this concept of a united Asian sphere (like the current European Union) and to achieve this, ALL foreign occupiers must be expelled in Asia. During this period, most of Asia was occupied by the Americans, Portuguese, British, Dutch, Germans and many more. 4. The Philippines was under American occupation. Japan saw this as an "unjust" occupation and they needed to "liberate" the Philippines from these foreigners. 5. Filipinos themselves did not understand what was going on. They though that the Americans were invincible and could never be defeated. 6. Even though most countries signed the Geneva Convention, no implementing body could enforce it in the battle ground. War is war. The Philippines and the Filipino people suffered greatly because of this News of the attack at Pearl Harbor arrived in the Philippines at 3 a.m. local time 8 a.m. Hawaii time but not to MacArthur( defense of the Philippines was his responsibility) or any other army officer. -The Japanese forced procedded to the Philippines and bombed the military stations and civilian centers, etc.

The invasion of the Philippines started on December 8, 1941, ten hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

the Japanese staged disastrous air attacks against Clark Field and Iba Field, destroying half the heavy bombers and fighters of MacArthur's Far East Air Force. . The next day they struck at Cavite, the main naval base, causing heavy damage, and precipitating a naval retreat to bases in Java and Australia, 1,500 miles away. With MacArthur's air and naval defenses crippled, the Japanese made three preliminary landings on Luzon in the next weeks to secure airfields and to support the main landings to come. December22, Lt. Gen. Masaharu Homma's Japanese 14th Army came ashore at Lingayen Gulf, about 135 miles north of Manila, with 80 ships and 43,000 troops, followed by units with tanks and artillery. The Philippine Scouts staged a heroic but futile defense, but the performance of the untrained and poorly equipped Philippine Army troops was the clearest sign of disaster.

-While Gen. MacArthur could not stop the enemy landings because his air force had been destroyed. The aircraft of his command were destroyed; the naval forces were ordered to leave; and because of the circumstances in the Pacific region, reinforcement and resupply of his ground forces were impossible. His Solution: To avoid further destructions, he declared manila an an open city(December 26). But, the Japanese continued the bombing of the defenseless and helpless city. 23 December 1941, General MacArthur clearly understood the impending disaster. MacArthur had about 60,000 unreliable Philippine troops, 11,000 better trained Philippine Scouts, and 19,000 Americans against Homma's hardened and well equipped force descending upon them. MacArthur notified all force commanders on the night of 23 December that "WPO-3 is in effect," a return to the original Plan ORANGE concept. To deny the Japanese victory over his troops, he ordered the withdrawal of forces on Luzon to the Bataan Peninsula, a tongue of land in southwest Luzon forming the northwestern boundary of Manila Bay (See map at top of page). Manila was declared an open city on 26 December to spare its destruction, but the Japanese bombed and shelled it anyway. - In a few weeks, the Japanese had achieved aerial and naval supremacy in the Philippines, isolating MacArthur's force from Australia to the south and from Hawaii and the United States to the east.

-On Christmas Eve 1941, more of Homma's forces landed to the southeast of Manila at Lamon Bay and began their advance toward the capital, preparing to crush the American-Philippine forces in a pincer maneuver, on the verge of total victory. -at noon of December 27, the Japanese bombers raided manila, killing many civilians and destroying several historic buildings in Intramurous. -meanwhile, MacArthur informed Quezon and his officers to leave for Corregidor that afternoon of December 24,1941.

-Quezon called his Cabinet in order to give them last instructions especially Laurel to cooperate with the Japanese temporarily. -December 30, Quezon took his oath of office as President of the Commonwealth for his second term. -December 30, General MacArthur had completed the retreat of his northern and southern armies into Bataan. The withdrawal to Bataan proceeded quickly and in remarkably good order, streaming in from all parts of Luzon. Near the town of San Fernando, all forces had to pass through a single intersection and down one narrow road to reach the Bataan peninsula. By sheer good luck, the Japanese failed to take advantage of their air superiority to attack the defenders at this vulnerable choke point. Wainwright staged a tough ground defense at San Fernando, holding the line to allow an orderly movement of all troops into Bataan by 6 January 1942. The hasty withdrawal left most supplies and equipment behind, supplies that had been dispersed from their original depots in Bataan and Corregidor to support MacArthur's broad defense plan. Now with trucks in short supply, roads congested, and time short, resupply of the Bataan and Corregidor strongholds was impossible. The resulting lack of food, ammunition, weapons, and medical supplies would prove to be the critical factors in the coming months.

-January 2, 1942 the Japanese troops entered Manila and occupied it. While MacArthur was busy retreating Bataan. Later, Homma procedded to bataan and attacked the USAFFE defenders.

Commonwelath Government in exile -The Filipino-American troops faced a hopeless situation. Thye lacked ammunitions to fight. In view of the hopeless situation, President Roosevelt called Quezon to retreat for a while. After escaping Japanese forces, Quezon and his party took the US plane to Australia and then boarded a ship which brought them to San Francisco, California. -During the days of Bataan, President Roosevelt asked MacArthur to proceed to Australia. Reason:steady detoriaration of American position -Gen. WainWright succeded MacArthur as the commander of the FilipinoAmerican forces changing USAFFE to United States Forces in the Philippines. 3 April 1942 - the Japanese renewed their offensive on with fresh troops supported by heavy artillery, tanks, and air attack, the American survivors on the Bataan Peninsula were so weakened by disease and starvation that they were unable to offer any effective resistance. -MacArthur ordered a general counterattack against the Japanese. - The commanding officer on Luzon, Major General Edward King, ignored this ridiculous order.

-April 9 1942 Trusting to the mercy of the Japanese, he surrendered his troops. The Filipino American soldiers laid down their forces to bataan. the exhausted, malnourished, and dispirited defenders soon gave ground, and the entire line began to crumble. In thirty-six hours the Japanese succeeded in breaching the American line, leaving the rest outflanked with no place to retreat. General King, I Corps commander, attempted to negotiate terms for all of the forces on Bataan on 9 April, but was unsuccessful, and defending units surrendered unconditionally to individual Japanese units.

Death March -one of the cruelest atrocities by the Japanese during WWII -On April 9,1942 over 70 000 soldiers (both Filipino soldiers and American troops) at Bataan surrended; it was the largest American army in the history to surrender. -from seven to eleven days without foods, medicine and water. -they march 120 kilometers from mariveles, Bataan to Camp O Donell in Capas, tarlac. -many were beaten or bayoneted by the Japanese. No wonder that 17 000 FilAm troops died (1600 Filipinos and 1200 Americans) -May 6, 1942 Coregidor and bataan fell.

- he Death March started from two points in Bataan: on April 10 from Mariveles, on April 11 from Bagac. The Filipino and American troops were marched day and night, under blistering sun or cold night sky, staggering through Cabcaben, Limay, Orion, Pilar and Balanga, where they were given a brief rest and some water, From Balanga, The Prisoners of were organized into groups of 100 to 200 and under guard marched on through were segregated from the Filipino Prisoners of war and marched separately, The march continued northward through Hermosa, to Layac junction, Then Eastward into Pampanga through Lubao, Guagua, Where the Prisoners were rested and given a little food at the National Development Company Compound. Bacolor and San Fernando Already suffering from Battle fatigue, The Filipino and Americans troops were strained to utter exhaustation by this long march on foot, many were ill, most were feverish, but none high rest, for the enemy was brutal with those who lagged behind. Thousands fell along the way, Townspeople on the roadside risked their lives by slipping food and drink to the Death Marches as they stumbled by. In San Fernando, The Death March became a death ride by cargo train when the prisoners were pack so densely into boxcars that many of

them perished from suffocation, Those who arrived alive inCapas had still to walk the last and most agonized miles of the Death March: The 6 Kilometers to Camp O" Donnell, Which was become one of the most hellish concentration camps of World War II.