How the Philippines fell to the Japanese in WWII

In the years leading up to World War II, the Philippines held significant strategic importance in the Pacific region. As a U.S. territory, the islands were a crucial point for American military and economic interests.

Based in the Philippines was General Douglas MacArthur, the commander of the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East. He was known for his bold and decisive leadership style, and he believed in the resilience of his troops. 

On December 8, just hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces launched their first air raids on the Philippines.

This surprise attack caught the defenders off guard. The Japanese had carefully planned their invasion of the Philippines, aiming to secure control of the archipelago and eliminate American influence in the region.

Their strategy included simultaneous assaults on multiple fronts, which overwhelmed the scattered and unprepared Allied forces. 

Clark Field in particular, a key American airbase, suffered significant damage, with many aircraft destroyed on the ground: effectively crippling the American air force in the region.

Without adequate air support, ground forces found themselves increasingly vulnerable to the advancing Japanese troops.

On December 22, 1941, Japanese General Masaharu Homma's 14th Army had established beachheads at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon, the largest and most populous island.

The subsequent rapid advance inland of the Japanese forced American and Filipino forces to retreat, and the Japanese troops started their push towards Manila. 

To counter the Japanese invasion, MacArthur implemented War Plan Orange-3, which called for a defensive retreat to the Bataan Peninsula, which he hoped would buy time and he would be able to regroup his forces.

On December 26, 1941, MacArthur declared Manila an open city, hoping to spare it from destruction. However, the Japanese advance continued unabated.

By January 2, Japanese forces had entered Manila. The loss of the capital dealt a severe blow to the morale of the Allied defenders. 

On the Bataan Peninsula, American and Filipino troops dug in and prepared for a protracted struggle. In addition to the ground forces, Corregidor Island, situated at the mouth of Manila Bay, was a critical defensive position.

Its heavily fortified tunnels and batteries provided a stronghold from which the Allies could continue to resist. The Battle of Bataan began on January 7, 1942, as American and Filipino forces dug in to defend the peninsula against the advancing Japanese.

With a combined strength of approximately 80,000 troops, including 15,000 American soldiers, they prepared for a prolonged struggle.

The defenders faced overwhelming odds, as the Japanese had superior numbers and better resources. 

As January turned to February, the situation on Bataan grew increasingly dire. Japanese forces continued to press their advantage.

They launched a series of attacks aimed at breaking the Allied lines. For the defenders, holding out seemed increasingly impossible.

They faced critical shortages of food, medicine, and ammunition. In addition, disease became rampant. In February, General Homma received reinforcements, which increased the Japanese strength to approximately 60,000 troops.

On March 12, 1942, MacArthur, under orders from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, left Corregidor by PT boat for Australia, promising to return.

His departure left General Jonathan Wainwright in command of the remaining forces.  

The relentless Japanese assault continued, and by early April, the defenses on Bataan were on the verge of collapse, and it became clear that their position was untenable.

Then, on April 3, the Japanese launched a major offensive, breaking through the Allied lines and pushing the defenders back.

As the Japanese advanced, American and Filipino forces made a final, desperate stand. On April 9, 1942, Major General Edward P. King Jr. realized the futility of further resistance and surrendered to the Japanese.

Approximately 76,000 soldiers, including 12,000 Americans, became prisoners of war.  

The fall of Bataan was not the end of the struggle for the Philippines. Corregidor remained under Allied control.

However, Japanese forces soon turned their attention to this last bastion. There were approximately 11,000 troops on the island, including 1,000 nurses and civilians, along with General Jonathan Wainwright. 

In the initial stages of the siege, the Japanese launched continuous artillery and air bombardments aimed at weakening Corregidor's defenses.

This caused significant damage to the island's fortifications and infrastructure. In mid-April, the Japanese began focusing their efforts on Malinta Tunnel, the headquarters and hospital for the Allied forces.

On May 5, 1942, Japanese forces commenced their amphibious landing on the island's eastern beaches. They quickly established a beachhead, despite the fierce resistance from the beleaguered defenders.  

Throughout the night and into the early morning hours of May 6, intense fighting ensued as Japanese troops advanced inland.

By dawn, it became clear that the situation was hopeless. In the face of overwhelming enemy forces, General Wainwright decided to surrender.

At noon on May 6, 1942, he officially surrendered Corregidor to the Japanese. This was the end of organized resistance in the Philippines.

Approximately 11,000 troops, including those wounded and ill, were taken prisoner. 

Following the surrender of American and Filipino troops, the Japanese established a harsh occupation regime. They imposed strict controls and exploited local resources to support the Japanese war effort.

For the Filipino people, life under Japanese rule became a period of severe hardship and suffering. 

For the Allied forces, the loss of the Philippines was a strategic and psychological blow. In particular, the fall of Bataan and Corregidor demonstrated the formidable strength of the Japanese military.

As a result, this defeat forced the Allies to reassess their strategies in the Pacific theater. General Douglas MacArthur, having relocated to Australia, began planning for the eventual liberation of the Philippines.

His famous vow to return became a rallying cry for Allied efforts in the region. 

In late 1943 and early 1944, Allied forces initiated campaigns to recapture the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. By mid-1944, attention turned to the Philippines.

On October 20, 1944, the long-awaited return began with the invasion of Leyte Island. MacArthur waded ashore and declared, "I have returned".

The subsequent Battle of Leyte Gulf, fought from October 23 to 26, 1944, involved over 200,000 naval personnel and resulted in a crippling defeat for the Japanese fleet.

Following this victory, Allied forces secured control of Leyte and, in December 1944, they moved to recapture Mindoro. 

Ultimately, the occupation of the Philippines lasted until 1945, when Allied forces, led by MacArthur, launched a successful campaign to liberate the islands.

On January 9, 1945, Allied forces landed at Lingayen Gulf. Over the next several months, intense battles raged across Luzon, including the fight for Manila, which began in early February.

The battle lasted until March 3, 1945, and resulted in the city's liberation. By July 1945, most of the Philippines had been recaptured, culminating in the restoration of Filipino and American control.