yeah . Yeah .
Oh . Mhm mm .
Yeah . Mhm .
Okay .
No . Okay .
Mhm . Mhm .
Mhm .
Upon his departure in 1942 General
Douglas Macarthur had pledged to
liberate the Philippines and in
particular its capital , Manila . This
goal drove General McArthur's decision
making throughout the war and
influenced the U . S . S . Strategy for
dismantling Japan's empire in the
pacific . After his arrival in
Australia , General Macarthur served as
the supreme commander of allied forces
in the southwest pacific area from
Macarthur . A swift return to the
Philippines was paramount . Mhm . His
campaign emerged as one of 2 Allied
offensives against the Japanese Empire .
The other Admiral Chester Nimitz
Central pacific campaign advanced
toward Okinawa . By August
1944 , MacArthur's forces had largely
completed the New Guinea campaign and
we're poised to strike the Philippines .
Gorillas , identified enemy positions ,
watched the Japanese watch their
movements and encampments and drew maps .
These intelligence data were sent them .
Arthur's command in Australia and this
greatly helped in planning McArthur's
return to the Philippines . General
MacArthur's plan for liberating the
Philippines centered on the island of
Luzon to shape the operation . Sixth
Army landed on late in October 1944 .
Here , 6th Army liberated the island
and afforded itself an avenue through
which to support its advance . On late
sixth Army gained invaluable experience
that would help it in subsequent
operations for the Japanese . The
defeat on late jeopardize their ability
to defend luzon . With later under
Sixth Army control , Macarthur turned
his attention to the island of Mindoro .
The retaking of Mindoro enabled US
fighters and bombers to harass Japanese
forces across luzon , combined with
carrier based aircraft . A newly
constructed airfield on Mindoro meant
Macarthur's planned invasion at
lingayen gulf had ample air support .
Yeah . Mhm . To forestall the
collapse of the empire , the Japanese
developed the show plan . In May 1944 ,
the plan envisioned the Philippines as
the site of a decisive air , land and
naval confrontation against advancing
allied forces . The imperial Japanese
army dispatched General Tomoyuki
Yamashita to the Philippines to
organize the archipelago's defense .
Yamashita had distinguished himself in
combat in 1941 , earning him the
moniker the Tiger of Malaya . Yet he
found himself out of favour with Prime
Minister Hideki Tojo And relegated to a
garrison command in Manchuria until
1944 . The end of Tojo's prime
ministership in july of that year and
the U . S . Is successful campaigns
across the pacific and a shot at
redemption . He took command of the
Japanese 14th area army and began
preparing it for a decisive
confrontation with us forces . Upon his
arrival in september General Yamashita
quickly recognized the dire situation
facing his army . The Philippine
economy had been wrecked under Japanese
occupation and with the bulk of rice
harvest going to Japan , his forces
lacked sufficient food equipment and
supplies . Moreover , Filipino
guerrillas ran rampant with attacks
against collaborators and Japanese
troops . Yamashita faced the daunting
task of maintaining Japanese control
over the island while also defending it
from the impending allied invasion .
The best he could do to meet the show
plans intent was to stymie an american
invasion through attrition . The fight
for late had drained General
Yamashita's command of irreplaceable
soldiers , further straining his
ability to confront the well resourced
US forces . Consequently , the 14th
Area army adopted the Roussanne GQ
Saxon Kankaku or lose on strategic plan
for attrition . To maximize his
remaining assets . General Yamashita
divided his forces on luzon into three
groups . Shabu shabu and Campbell .
Yamashita himself commanded the Shabu
group . It's 152 troops defended the
northern area around Baguio . Under
Major General Rick ki su carta . The
Khumbu group With its 30,000 troops
covered luzon from Clark field south
through Bataan and Corregidor .
Lieutenant General Shizuo Yokoyama
commanded the 80,000 troops of the
Shambhu group which defended the area
surrounding Manila and south toward the
Bicol peninsula . Each group controlled
mountainous terrain upon which General
Yamashita planned to attrit U . S .
Forces on luzon . General Yamashita
recognized his forces can either defend
Manila nor provide for its inhabitants
for him . Destroying the bridges and
making the harbor unusable would render
Manila strategically useless to the
american . Yamashita intended for his
army to abandon Manila . After removing
supplies and demolishing infrastructure .
He tasked Major General Takashi
kobayashi with overseeing the
evacuation , Kobayashi would eventually
withdraw his troops to an area north of
Manila , leaving behind the Noguchi
detachment . Thereafter , General
Kobayashi commanded the kobayashi force .
The imperial Navy however had different
plans thanks to a command structure
that promoted rivalry between the army
and navy . The commander of the naval
garrison in Manila , Rear Admiral Sanji
Iwabuchi operated outside of General
Yamashita's control . Yeah , through
navy chance , he obtained authorization
to defend Manila . Yamashita ultimately
relented and granted the Admiral
Command of the 4500 soldiers who
remained in Manila . These troops , in
addition to the 13 500 sailors and
marines of the Manila Naval Defence
Force began preparing the city for
sixth Army's arrival . General
Macarthur believed his troops would be
welcomed as liberators and the Japanese
would likely abandon Manila to avert
its destruction , Much as he did in
1942 by declaring it an open city .
Admiral Iwabuchi had no such intentions .
In 1945 .
Like General Yamashita , Rear Admiral
Iwabuchi had fallen out of favor after
the battleship he commanded . The
Kirishima was sunk by the Uss
Washington at Guadalcanal on 15
november 1942 . Iwabuchi anticipated
his stalwart defense of Manila would
restore his honor . In the decades
before the Second World War , american
imperialism had transformed Manila wide ,
tree lined boulevards , large federal
style government buildings and a
baseball stadium gave the city an
american look . Despite this influence ,
old spanish fortifications and churches ,
as well as traditional filipino
dwellings filled out the city .
American engineers and architects had
made infrastructure investments which
resulted in new federal buildings
structurally engineered to withstand
earthquakes . The Manila naval defence
force turn these buildings into strong
points and the boulevards into a maze
of choke points , defenders bricked up
doors and windows , cut firing slits in
the walls , sandbag grooves and
constructed pillboxes throughout .
Manila . Japanese troops also dug
tunnels to connect fighting positions
across the city . The vast network of
tunnels , which included the sewer
system , housed armories and generators .
The Japanese incorporation of tunnels
into their defensive plan demonstrates
one of the signature challenges
associated with urban operations When
thoroughly reckon ordered and
controlled subsurface areas offer
excellent covered and concealed lines
of communication for moving supplies
and evacuating casualties . They also
offer a means for cashing and
stockpiling weapons and munitions . Sub
surface areas may include subways ,
mines , tunnels , sewers , drainage
systems , sellers , civil defense
shelters and other underground utility
systems . Sub surface areas are used to
gain surprise to maneuver against the
rear and flanks of an enemy and to
conduct ambushes . The Japanese also
conducted extensive counter mobility
operations by barricading streets and
laying mines to disrupt maneuver and
separate mounted from dismounted forces
to compensate for insufficient weapons
and munitions . They also fashioned
improvised landmines from aircraft
bombs and depth charges . Japanese
salvage crews also removed anti
aircraft and naval guns from the half
submerged ships in Manila Bay and in
place . The weapons and pillboxes and
strong points across the city guarding
the Pasig River isn't entered Manila
Bay . The spanish fortress of interim
euros sat in the heart of Manila ,
effectively a city within a city . This
massive complex served as the core of
Rear Admiral Iwabuchi is defense With
stone walls over seven m tall and more
than 12 m thick at the base . The 16th
century fortress remained formidable
Even to the US Army in 1945 .
To develop their defensive course of
action , the Manila Naval Defence force
had to assess the urban landscape and
determine how best to use it against
the attacking Sixth Army preparation is
a key characteristic of the defense
defending forces study the terrain ,
enemy forces and prepare engagement
areas . An engagement area is a
location where the commander intends to
contain and destroy an enemy force with
the mast effects of all available
weapons and supporting systems in the
defense , commanders shaped the enemy
approach and steer formations into
engagement areas , obstacles in the
urban defense . Can allies interrupt
and delay enemy maneuver , giving the
defender is significant advantage
separating dismounted forces from
mounted forces , disrupts the Attackers
cohesion and reduces combat power . It
also exposes the attacker to defeat in
detail . As a friendly combined arms
element can effectively counter attack
the leading enemy dismounted force
while leaving the enemy armored force
vulnerable to anti armor attack by
dismounted troops . The Japanese
anticipated an american attack from the
south , not the north . Iwabuchi
surmised the cam boo and shabu groups
would thwart any US advanced from the
north . He established a series of
defensive strong points in southern
Manila known as the Genco line . Mhm .
The Genco line provided defense and
depth that stretched from the Manila
Polo Club . Two nickels field to Ma ba .
Two point with Fort William McKinley To
the northeast , the line consisted of
makeshift minefields made up of aerial
bombs and depth charges As well as
1200 pillboxes and numerous
anti aircraft and naval guns used as
field artillery . With its mutually
supported strong points and battle
positions , the Genco line possessed
the depth necessary to stall even the
best equipped forces . Another
characteristic of the defense
operations . In depth is the
simultaneous application of combat
power throughout an area of operations .
Operations in depth disrupt enemy long
range fires , sustainment and command
and control and prevent enemy forces
from maintaining their tempo . Mutual
support exists when positions and units
support each other by direct and
indirect fires , preventing an enemy
force from attacking one position
without being subjected to fire from
one or more adjacent positions . Mutual
support increases the strength of all
defensive positions prevents defeat in
detail and helps prevent enemy
infiltration between positions .
Despite these preparations , south of
Manila , Iwabuchi was not ready for the
overwhelming US advance from the north .
Yeah .
Mhm . Yeah . On nine January
1945 , General Yamashita looked out
across the lingayen gulf from the top
Santo Tomas mountain instead of being
greeted by much needed supply ships .
The Us Navy's 7th fleet stretched
across the horizon . That morning the U .
S . Navy bombarded the beaches of
lingayen gulf . The primary japanese
resistance came from above as Kamikazes
attacked the larger U . S . Naval
vessels . Although harrowing This
allowed the 148 landing craft
transporting the lead elements of 6th
Army to land largely unopposed . Major
General Oscar W . Griswald and his 14th
Corps were first ashore . Sixth Army ,
commanded by Lieutenant General Walter .
Krueger landed between the towns of
Cell Wall and Santo Tomas Without much
fight . 6th Army secured the towns of
Lingayen And San Fabian to establish a
lodge mint . As they penetrated inland ,
6th army gradually encountered
stiffening Japanese resistance .
General Krueger's operational approach
for luzon centered on clearing the
island's central Plains north of Manila .
But to do this , he needed to secure
his eastern flank from the show boo
group Clearing and holding the central
plains would afford 6th army the rear
area necessary to support future
operations in Manila . Unlike General
Macarthur , Kruger envisioned the
Japanese defending the city mm
By 24 January , the 14th cores , two
divisions , the 37th and 40th had
advanced toward Clark Field and Fort
Stolzenberg . These locations sat
roughly halfway between the lingayen
gulf and Manila . During the advance
Kruger's forces engaged elements of the
Khumbu group for the first time ,
the Khumbu group slowed Sixth Army's
progress , which troubled General
Macarthur . Mhm for him , General
Krueger's operational approach was
overly cautious and lacked the tempo
necessary to prevent the Japanese from
turning the campaign into a battle of
attrition . Macarthur exercised
considerable pressure on Kruger to
expedite sixth Army's pace . He even
placed his headquarters closer to the
front . Then Kruger's own command post .
Manila mattered most to General
Macarthur . The plight of american
prisoners of war held in Manila made
liberating the city a priority for him .
Macarthur and his staff knew of the
suffering of POWs at the hands of their
Japanese captors . Many of the POWs
were veterans of Bataan and Corregidor .
The Japanese massacre of us soldiers
during the 1942 . Bataan death march
weighed heavily on the American mind
and especially on Macarthur ,
fearing the imminent return of U . S .
Forces . The Japanese 14th Area Army
massacred 139 american POWs on
the island of Palawan while advancing
U . S . Soldiers and Filipino
guerrillas liberated emaciated POWs
from Cabanatuan . Further underscoring
General Macarthur's rationale for
reaching Manila quickly , thankfully
conditions favored a change of tempo .
On 27 January , the first cavalry
division arrived in theatre and soon
joined 14th Corps , 11th Corps
executed a landing at Subic Bay on
Bataan on 29 , January which relieved
forces occupying Clark Field . 14th
Corps also pushed elements of the
Khumbu group farther west of Fort
Stolzenberg , freeing one of its
divisions for the attack south . On 30
january , General Krueger hastened
sixth Army's pace and tasked 14th Corps
with a rapid advance on Manila in
turn . Two columns from the first
cavalry division left an assembly area
just north of Cabanatuan for Manila .
The lead column was built around the
Second Squadron , 8th Cavalry , Second
Squadron , Fifth Cavalry served as the
nucleus of the other column . In
addition to the cavalry squadron , each
column included a medium tank company ,
a 105 millimeter howitzer battery and
transport . The one 48th Infantry
Regiment , 37th Infantry Division
departed the area near Clark Field and
followed close behind objectives
included rescuing POWs confined at
Santo Tomas University and believe in
prison , as well as securing Malacanang
Palace and the legislative building .
The University prison and palace sat in
northern Manila above the Pasig River .
The legislative building was located
south of the river . Us forces also
attacked from the south to prevent the
Shambhu group from reinforcing the
Manila naval defence force . Two
regiments from the 11th Airborne
Division executed amphibious landings
near the town of Masanobu on 31 January .
This place , the 11th airborne ,
approximately 88 km southwest of Manila .
As the two regiments advanced , the
5/11 parachute infantry regiment joined
them after executing an airborne
operation on Tagaytay Ridge . Upon
reaching Manila . These units operated
under Sixth Army from the north . The
first Cavalry divisions columns
surprised Japanese troops on the
outskirts of Manila on three february .
They arrived at Grace Park on the
city's northern edge . The first
Cavalry divisions lead column then
pressed on to santo thomas University
After defeating the Japanese guards ,
the US soldiers liberated 3500 civilian
captives . The next day the 37th
Infantry Divisions , 1 48th Infantry
Regiment Liberated 465
civilians 810 POWs from the
nearby believe it . Prison soldiers of
the First Cavalry divisions First
column secured Malacanang Palace , but
the legislative building still sat well
beyond reach . First Cavalry Division ,
in order to secure these sites
highlights the importance of
controlling essential buildings ,
infrastructure and locations during
urban operations . Many urban areas are
too large to be completely occupied or
effectively controlled without an
enormous force . Therefore , commanders
should focus their efforts on
controlling only the essentials to
mission accomplishment . At a minimum ,
this requires control of key terrain in
an urban environment , commanders
determined key terrain based on its
functional political , economic or
social significance . The first cavalry
divisions columns arrived before the
Manila Naval Defence Force completed
its preparations north of the Pasig
River . The sudden shift of 14th Corps
from fighting the Khumbu group near
Clark field to a rapid advance on
Manila caught the Japanese defenders
off guard and unprepared to
stall the americans . Iwabuchi ordered
the wholesale destruction of buildings
and infrastructure . As the first
cavalry and 37th infantry divisions
entered the city , Japanese troops
began laying waste to the area north of
the Posse . Admiral Iwabuchi ordered
the destruction of electrical and water
utilities . His troops detonated
aircraft bombs and gasoline barrels
which consumed entire neighborhoods .
The fires destroyed some of Manila's
oldest cultural institutions and gutted
its commercial district . The 14th
Corps commander , Lieutenant General
Oscar Griswold , noted a lot of this
destruction is wanton and of no
military purpose . The Manila enabled
defense force also began the systematic
massacre of civilians as U . S . Troops
liberated santo thomas University ,
Japanese soldiers rounded up suspected
filipino guerrillas in the city's Tondo
district . By evening , Japanese
soldiers had beheaded approximately 20
men . The slaughter continued as they
bound and bayoneted women and Children ,
Leaving the bodies of 19 women and 27
Children in a vacant lot , some
survived , and their testimony later
helped US army war crime investigations .
Mm hmm . The Manila enabled defense
forces actions ensured the city
descended into the depths of barbarity
before the battle had even begun .
Having achieved three of its four
objectives , 14th Corps began clearing
Manila north of the Pasig River With
the 37th Infantry Division is the main
effort . The core advanced south .
Finally , on five February they reached
the Pasig River , but Japanese forces
had destroyed the last remaining bridge
over this vital waterway . Meanwhile ,
the first Cavalry Division conducted a
flanking maneuver east through the
suburbs but was soon redirected to
secure a critical water treatment
facility farther north . Then the first
Cavalry Division attacked west toward
Manila Bay in an effort to block the
Japanese withdrawal . Despite securing
several of their intermediate
objectives , the U . S . Forces rapid
advance did not last .
Macarthur had expected to be greeted by
an open city and its grateful residents .
He had visions of a victory parade down
one of Manila's boulevards upon
realizing a battle , Not a parade would
transpire . 6th army rapidly adapted to
the urban fight at hand , Covering over
36 km2 and with approximately
1,100,000 people living in the area
encompassing Manila . General Krueger
staff recognized the challenges posed
by the city's sheer size . They
prioritize securing the city's water
and electrical infrastructure . 6th
Army Task 14th Corps was securing these
nodes , isolating the Japanese garrison
and preventing any force from relieving
the defenders , understanding that
encirclement was the best course of
action . Sixth Army planned to attack
from north to south toward the Pasig
river . By five February , the 11th
Airborne reached Manila and confronted
the Genco line . The 5 11th Parachute
Infantry Regiment slowly cleared the
enemy's defenses . The sheer number of
enemy naval guns caused one company
commander to remark that the navy
should stop looking for the Japanese
fleet . It's dug in on Nichols field .
The fight through Northern Manila ,
although difficult , Did not seriously
Hamper 14th cores progress . Japanese
destruction of all six bridges
presented a challenge but failed to
delay the core . On seven february ,
The 37th Infantry Division made an
amphibious crossing of the Pasig River
while under fire . They soon
established a bridgehead approximately
150 m deep on the South Bank of the
River . By the next morning , engineers
finished construction on a pontoon
bridge , which enabled an entire
infantry regiment and two battalions to
occupy positions on the south bank . By
nine february , the first Cavalry
Division had secured the city's primary
water facilities , crossed the river at
two points and quickly advanced into
the city centre . On the evening of 10
February , the 37th Infantry Division
cleared Northern Manila of Japanese
resistance elements of the 37th
Infantry Division then crossed the
Pasig and moved west . The rapid US
advance stunned the Japanese with US
soldiers already across the Pasig and
others attacking the Genco line .
Iwabuchi relocated his headquarters to
Fort McKinley . Macarthur feared
excessive close air support and
artillery fire would endanger the lives
of civilians and destroy the critical
infrastructure necessary for restoring
essential services after combat .
Consequently , elements of the 37th
Infantry Division began their thrust
into the heart of Manila with only
limited air and artillery support .
Effective combined arms operations in
urban areas require adjusting tactics ,
techniques and procedures to ensure
units can support each other without
causing excessive harm to the populist
or damaging critical infrastructure .
Artillery fire in urban areas must be
closely coordinated and planned in
detail to include considerations of
munitions effects , the psychological
effects on the populist and potential
collateral damage because of its steep
angle of descent . High angle fire can
achieve greater effects and is usually
the preferred method of fire in urban
operations . High angle fire is fire
delivered at elevations greater than
the elevation of maximum range of the
gun and ammunition concerned . However ,
range decreases as the angle of
elevation increases . Urban operations
often demand more detailed and
restrictive rules of engagement and a
greater number of protected sites
require restrictive fire support
coordination measures . A fire support
coordination measure is a measure
employed by commanders to facilitate
the rapid engagement of targets and
simultaneously provides safeguards for
friendly forces . Fire support
coordination measures can be either
permissive or restrictive in nature .
Permissive fire support coordination
measures are the coordinated fire line ,
the Fire support coordination line , or
FSC L . The free fire area and the kill
box , restrictive fire support
coordination measures are the no fire
area restrictive fire area and the
restrictive fire line .
Additionally , airspace coordinating
measures can ensure that other missions ,
such as air reconnaissance and attack
aviation , can transit or operate in
the airspace above and around the urban
area for air delivered munitions .
Terminal control and guidance can help
ensure the delivering platform has
acquired the correct target , thereby
reducing the risk of fracture site and
collateral damage . A crucial part of
Manila's public works sat on Profesor
island in the pacific River . The 37th
temperature division deems securing the
electrical plan on the tiny island as
vital to avoiding power outages in the
city . The division tasked the 129th
Infantry Regiment with conducting an
amphibious assault to seize this
critical node of the power grid .
Elements of the Manila Naval Defence
force had established fighting
positions within the power plant
complex . Even before the 129th
amphibious assault , the Japanese
destroyed critical power generation
equipment . Three days of intense
fighting left the power station in
complete ruin . The 1
29th Infantry suffered considerable
losses on the island , with 45 dead and
96 wounded , revealing the risks
involved with conducting an amphibious
assault without adequate indirect fire
and close air support . South of the
now liberated Profesor island , The 1
48th Infantry Regiment engaged Japanese
defenders in the heavily fortified Paco
railroad station . The U . S . Soldiers
overcame the Japanese pillboxes and
crew served weapons outside the station
and fighting positions within before
securing the strong point . Despite the
rules of engagement and attempts by US
forces to mitigate damage , the ongoing
fighting was destroying Manila . The
rules of engagement changed once .
Aerial reconnaissance revealed that the
Japanese had fortified almost every
major structure in the city . Sixth
Army therefore gave up any notion of
saving the city's buildings . Yeah ,
Saving American soldiers now took
precedence when the 148th Infantry
Regiment landed at Lingayen Gulf . It's
total strength included 3,268
soldiers . After crossing the Pasig
River , the 1 48 encountered fierce
Japanese resistance that left the unit
at only 85% strength , With
casualties mounting and replacements in
short supply . The 37th Infantry
Division Commander worried that he
would bleed his unit dry before
liberating the city . He received
permission from 6th Army to modify the
rules of engagement and use more
permissive fire support coordination
measures the combination of greater
artillery fire and armor support aided
the infantry in capturing several enemy
strong points . The Japanese defenders
did not give up . The new police
station required eight days of intense
bombardment and four infantry assault
before falling to the 1 29th Infantry
Regiment .
The
civilian inhabitants of Manila
artillery barrages were just one of
many terrors they experienced . When
the Japanese first arrived in 1942 ,
they spoke of Asian unity claims of
including the Philippines and the so
called asian co prosperity sphere
however , resulted in Japan's looting
of rice and they're second class
treatment of Filipinos . The Filipinos
resisted in every way they can . Many
Filipinos went up to the hills to
become guerrillas . This estimated that
there were a quarter of a million
guerrillas during the war and around
1/10 of them were female gorillas . In
some areas , the guerrillas were so
strong . The Japanese feared going into
their territories with their empire
shrinking and the threat of defeat
imminent . Japanese mistreatment of
Filipinos intensified . The battle of
Manila is all about massacres . There
are many orders found which outlined
how to destroy the city , how to blow
up bridges , how to fight the enemy .
But perhaps the most chilling of all
these orders are these two . First is
the kobayashi group order dated
february 13th . The americans have
penetrated Manila with about 1000
troops and there are several 1000
guerrillas . Even women and Children
have become guerrillas . All the people
on the battlefield , with the exception
of Japanese military personnel in
Japanese civilians will be put to death .
The Manila Naval Defence Force
Battalion Order # 1200 . When Filipinos
are to be killed , they must be
gathered into one place , a disposed of
with the consideration that ammunition
and manpower must not be used to access .
Because the disposal of bodies is a
troublesome task , they should be
gathered into houses which are
scheduled to be burnt or demolished .
In southern Manila , Japanese troops
hunted down unarmed civilians . The
well built concrete homes of Manila's
elite afforded displaced persons safety
from artillery fire . But as civilians
congregated in these homes , they drew
japanese attention On 10 February
Japanese troops massacred 100 civilians
at the home of a local businessman . On
12 February Japanese soldiers murdered
28 civilians at another residence . The
next day they killed 100 civilians at
yet another home . As the battle raged ,
groups of Japanese soldiers massacred
civilians at sites across the city . As
General Macarthur and his troops fought
to liberate Manila and stop these
atrocities , they realized they needed
to adjust their plan to account for
what current army doctrine describes as
a mass atrocity response operation . A
mass atrocity refers to widespread and
often systematic acts of violence
against civilians by state or non state
armed groups , including killing or
causing serious bodily or mental harm .
Genocide is a form of mass atrocity and
refers to acts committed to destroy a
national ethnic , racial or religious
group . Civilians are often
deliberately targeted to inflict terror ,
reduce popular will to continue a
struggle , punish an adversary deter or
compel civilian behavior or achieve
other objectives . In these
circumstances , army units may have to
defend vulnerable civilians , defeat
enemies that perpetrate mass atrocities
and perform stability tasks to address
the root causes of mass atrocities .
Commanders can employ any combination
of seven general approaches when
conducting mass atrocity response
operations . An area security approach
utilizes mobile patrols , quick
reaction forces and outposts to secure
a widely dispersed victim population .
A shape , clear hold build approach
uses mobile forces to clear areas while
static forces maintain security . This
approach is suitable when victim
populations are concentrated and
perpetrators possess a strong base of
support and considerable military
capabilities . Separation is used to
establish a buffer zone between
perpetrators and victims . It is
similar to a traditional peacekeeping
mission and may result in long term
division between belligerents . Safe
areas are established to protect
concentrated victim populations such as
at internally displaced persons camps .
This approach seeds territory two
perpetrators and may also require
significant humanitarian assistance
under a partner . Enabling approach .
The preponderance of ground forces are
drawn from a host nation or
multinational coalition , and U . S .
Forces provide security force
assistance and logistical support .
This approach minimizes the U . S .
Footprint and helps build host nation
capacity . Containment relies on air ,
maritime cyber and special operations
forces to prevent a threat force from
committing mass atrocities . This
approach is often integrated with
diplomatic and informational efforts
and offers a limited means of
protecting victims . Containment is
more of a deterrent and often a
precursor to other approaches . During
large scale combat operations ,
commanders may have to adopt an
offensive focus to defeat perpetrators
and destroy their military capabilities .
This approach requires a large ground
combat force and is usually accompanied
by extensive reconstruction and
stabilization efforts . With Rear
Admiral Iwabuchi is forces still
occupying much Manila south of the
river . The best course of action for
General Macarthur to prevent further
atrocities was to isolate and destroy
the last remaining japanese strong
points .
As the fight raged at Nichols Field and
US troops moved into position at the
Philippine General Hospital . The first
Cavalry Division advanced to the waters
of Manila Bay On 12 February , the
division linked up with the 11th
Airborne Division and completed the
encirclement of the Manila naval
defence force . After elements of the
11th airborne captured Nichols field on
13 February , the first cavalry
division continued its clearing
operations . Resistance stiffened . His
14th corps advanced farther south into
the city . Troops fought block by block
and building by building against
japanese defenders , who often refused
to surrender . The clearing of the
Masai district was typical of
engagements that occurred all across
the city . Over a period of two days ,
the 12th cavalry regiment and the
second squadron of the fifth cavalry
regiment fought their way north on Vito
Cruz Street in the vicinity of Harrison
Park , La Salle University and resolve
Memorial Baseball Stadium . The units
engaged several heavily fortified
Japanese strong points . On 15 february
12th Cavalry conducted preparation fire
against the heavily defended Lasalle
University for over an hour before
clearing it . After clearing the
University , 12th Cavalry moved onto
Harrison Park and Resolve Memorial
Baseball Stadium , right the concrete
structures and clear fields of fire
made Harrison and resolve costly
objectives for the americans . Between
15 and 18 February 12 cavalry cleared
Harrison Park and nearby Fort Abbad ,
Leaving the Baseball Stadium to 5th
Cavalry . A surreal scene then unfolded
win instead of baseball teams , U . S .
Soldiers and three of Fifth Cavalry's
Sherman tanks took the field to battle .
Japanese defenders holed up in the
dugouts and entrenched on the diamond .
The fight for Harrison Park with Sal
University and resolve Memorial
Baseball Stadium Cost the First Cavalry
Division 40 dead and 315 wounded .
Meanwhile , the one 29th , at one 45th
infantry regiments secured the new
police station . Similarly , the 148
attacked the Japanese positions in the
Philippine General Hospital . Mhm . The
148 encountered intense fire from
basement fighting positions . They were
also continually harassed by enemy fire
from upper level windows and rooftops .
On the first day the 1 48th Infantry
suffered 22 killed in action and 29
wounded , although initially reluctant
to fire on a hospital . The presence of
Japanese fortifications confirmed the
target as legitimate and 14th corps
authorized indirect fire support .
Consequently , the 1/40 field artillery
battalion fired over 2000 high
explosive rounds in the vicinity of the
Japanese held Hospital . While the 82nd
Chemical Mortar Battalion fired over
1000 high explosive mortar rounds and
hundreds of white phosphorous rounds ,
the first Cavalry then occupied attack
positions south of the hospital . In
preparation for the pending assault .
Simultaneously , The 1 45th Infantry
continued its attack against the main
hospital buildings with only meager
gains . On 16 February , The 1 48th
Infantry learned that civilians
remained inside the hospital complex ,
which prompted an immediate change of
tactics . Up to this point , the
regiment had used point blank direct
fire from tanks , tank destroyers and
self propelled guns to blast breach
points into the walls of fortified
buildings . Having identified civilians
in the hospital complex , the regiment
abandoned this practice and instead
relied entirely on its infantry to gain
access to the buildings . Yeah , on 17
february , the one 48th methodically
advanced its support by fire and
assault elements to ensure they
maintained mutual support while
avoiding excessive collateral damage
and civilian casualties . The unit's
progress was hindered by the need to
evacuate a constant stream of civilians
on the battlefield , although it was
slow . The one 48th Infantry controlled
two of the hospitals , four wings and
two other buildings in the complex . By
the end of the day , in some , The
regiment evacuated nearly 7000
civilians . The 148 then turned its
attention to consolidating gains , with
its troops engaging pockets of
resistance until they were relieved by
the first cavalry . Mhm 6th Army had
broken the Genco line . Yeah . The
collapse of the Genco line caused Rear
Admiral Iwabuchi to relocate his
headquarters from Fort McKinley to
interim euros . This action coincided
with an effort by the Shambhu group to
break the encirclement for possible
escape by the Manila naval defence
force . Between 15 and 18 february .
The Shambhu groups , 31st Infantry
Regiment , eighth Infantry Division and
two provisional infantry battalions
sought to cross the Marikina river from
the north and sees the novelist's .
Simultaneously , the kobayashi force
attempted to capture the Ballarat water
filters before linking up with the
northern prom piecemeal japanese
attacks over the next three days . All
failed to disrupt 14th Chorus plans and
relieve elements of the Manila naval
defence force . The battle raged across
Manila 14th cores fights for City Hall
in the General Post Office required
sustained artillery fire to defeat the
200 Japanese defenders . On 20 february ,
the one 45th infantry regiment used a
battery of one oh five millimeter
howitzers and a single 155 millimeter
howitzer to blast a hole in the east
wall of City Hall . A platoon then
attempted to exploit the gap , but
Japanese resistance halted their
advance . On 21 February Artillery Fire
destroyed more of the East Wall . Yet
another infantry assault failed to
establish a foothold inside the
building . The following day , 22
February U . S . Forces employed direct
artillery fire and point blank tank
fire at the buildings east side upper
levels and roof with such close fire
support manoeuvre units were finally
able to gain entry to the building .
The Japanese defenders isolated
themselves on the first floor and
refused to surrender US . Soldiers made
holes in the second floor and use
flamethrowers to incinerate the
occupants below . Only then did
resistance cease . The fight for the
General Post Office proved even more
difficult . The five story , earthquake
proof building , with its
compartmentalized interior proved
nearly impervious to indirect fire .
Even if a 155 millimeter round
penetrated a window . The blasted
relatively minor damage . Three days of
intense artillery fire and numerous
assaults by the 1 45th Infantry
Regiment made no headway . Finally ,
on 22 February 1st Battalion gained
access through a second story window .
After entering the building , the U . S .
Forces isolated Japanese troops in the
basement , although the General Post
Office overlooked the northeastern
approaches to enter in euros and a
tunnel linked the two locations . The
Japanese defenders received few
reinforcements at this point in the
battle , the manila enabled defense
force could only fight with what it has .
As the battle dragged on south of the
Pasig River , 14th Corps began
consolidating gains in areas under
american control . With the local
government in shambles in the city
largely destroyed . 14th Corps alone
had the ability to provide relief for
the city's inhabitants . What followed
was the initial phase of the chorus
effort to consolidate gains and restore
order to manila operations to
consolidate gains . Our activities to
make enduring any temporary operational
success and to set the conditions for
sustainable security environment ,
allowing for a transition of control to
other legitimate authorities . Early
and effective consolidation activities
are a form of exploitation performed
while other operations are ongoing and
they enable the achievement of lasting
favorable outcomes in the shortest time
span . While army forces consolidate
gains throughout an operation ,
consolidating gains becomes the overall
focus of army forces after large scale
combat has concluded and can therefore
be considered a mechanism for
transitioning from offensive operations
to stability operations , consolidation
of gains activities consist of security
and stability tasks and will likely
involve combat against bypassed enemy
forces and remnants of defeated units .
Units may initially conduct only
minimum essential stability tasks and
then transition into a more deliberate
execution of stability tasks . Once
security improves units in the close
area involved in close combat do not
consolidate gains . Instead , divisions
and cores assigned either a brigade
combat team or a division ,
respectively , to consolidate gains in
the rear area . When consolidating
gains , 6th Army divided the city into
eight districts based on its natural
and man made features as maneuver
elements fought the remaining Japanese
defenders . Sixth Army attached
Philippines civil affairs units to 14th
Corps in liberated city districts , U .
S . Soldiers and filipino nationals
served together in these units . A
typical unit included 10 officers and
39 enlisted soldiers trained for
specific roles . These civil affairs
units organized food distribution ,
medical care , sanitation , shelter
and the recruitment of labor for
dislocated civilians . Additionally ,
these units provided care for the
former prisoners of santo Tomas
University . According to army
doctrine , there are two minimum
essential stability tasks that are
conducted during the initial phases of
operations . To consolidate gains .
First units established civil security
to protect the population from violence
and restore public order . Second Army
forces provide for the immediate needs
of the populace , ensuring access to
food , water , shelter and emergency
medical treatment . While units are
legally responsible for ensuring the
protection and well being of civilian
populations , they are not required to
perform these tasks . If an appropriate
host nation or civilian relief
organization is available , using host
nation personnel to provide essential
services and humanitarian aid can be an
important first step in rebuilding the
public's confidence and trust in the
host nation Government , restoring
order to manila , required providing
civil security and distributing relief
supplies . Division and Corps provost
Marshal's and supply officers work to
accomplish both obtaining supplies
during an ongoing battle , required an
extensive logistics network , and
detailed planning to balance the demand
for fuel and ammunition against the
need for food and medical supplies .
Furthermore , the destruction of rail
lines by the Japanese before the
invasion . The shipwrecks littering
Manila Bay and the damaged port
facilities meant all supply shipments
had to be disembarked at San Fabian
from their trucks , completed the 193
kilometre journey to Northern Manila
And deposited relief supplies and
warehouses administered by the 6th Army
Civil Affairs section . This section
also began the process of restoring
public services and utilities to
address the scarcity of potable water .
It established water distribution
points throughout the city whenever
possible . Civil affairs units received
assistance from combat troops .
Together . These units began restoring
basic essential services and alleviated
suffering in the city . While fighting
continued just south of the Pasig River .
Mhm . Mhm .
The liberation of Manila hinged on
seizing intra muros . The massive
complex dominated the region where
Manila Bay in the Pasig River met the
city fortress abutted the Pasig River
to the north with the river serving as
a formidable defensive obstacle . When
the 37th Infantry Division reached the
opposite side of the river in early
February , it directed fire against
targets of opportunity in and around
intramurals North wall . Mhm Holding
force , which included M seven Priest
15 millimeters , self propelled
howitzers and tank destroyers harassed
the fortresses , occupants for the
duration of the battle . On 17 February ,
the division commenced the formal
artillery bombardment of the fortress
in preparation for the pending attack .
When the time came for them to assault
interim euros . American fire had long
since silenced all of the japanese
artillery and mortars within The 37th
Infantry Division outlined its plan for
the attack on Intra muros infield Order
30 which set 23 february as the
operations start date On the night of
22 February heavy direct fire weapons
and artillery engaged predetermined
targets to the north and east of Intra
muros . The 37th temperature Division
placed 12 1 oh five millimeter and
6155 millimeter artillery pieces ,
indirect fire positions , charlie
battery , five 44th Field Artillery
Battalion used its massive 240
millimeter howitzers to breach the
north wall and destroy a Japanese
strong points at the nearby government
meant the six 37th Tank destroyer
battalion also blasted holes in the
fortresses northern wall for later
exploitation by the infantry as part of
a shaping operation . The third
Battalion , one 45th Infantry isolated
Japanese troops in the agriculture ,
finance and legislative buildings
during the night , preventing them from
relieving the garrison and intra muros .
At 0730 on 23 February , all of the
37th Infantry Division's artillery and
armor initiated a support by fire
mission against Intra Muros . The
division directed its fire against two
main points of entry , the key zone and
carrion gates . The heavily barricaded
keys on GIT required additional fire
from the one 45th Infantry's M seven
priests at 08 30 . The division
lifted its fire so that the One 45th
could attack both identified points of
entry simultaneously . Third Battalion ,
one 29th infantry crossed the Pasig
River and assault boats and entered the
fortress through the breach in the
north wall , the U . S . Soldiers then
battled from building to building as
the Japanese defenders recovered from
the initial shock of the preparation
fire . Although the 1 29th quickly took
control of the fort , it took the rest
of the day to subdue pockets of enemy
resistance . By nightfall , most of
interim euros lay smoldering . These
limited offensive operations were key
to consolidating gains As an interim
euros , units conduct variations of a
movement to contact , such as a cordon
and search or search an attack to
locate and destroy the remnants of
bypassed or defeated enemy forces .
This prevents the enemy from prolonging
the conflict and hastens the transition
to stability . Mhm . By the morning of
24 february , the Japanese defenders
controlled only the south bastion of
intra muros protected by a dense
minefield and automatic weapons . 115
Japanese troops fought on until a
single supporting M seven priest fired
into the bastion , permitting an
infantry assault to capture it .
Finally , in tomorrow's the most
significant Japanese strong point in
Manila fell to US forces .
The elation of victory was short lived
U . S . Soldiers witnessed one of the
horrors of the Japanese occupation when
they found bodies of slaughtered
Filipino men stacked five high in the
dungeons of Fort Santiago . The capture
of Intra muros did not end the struggle
to liberate Manila . As US troops
cleared interim euros , the 37th
Infantry Division focused on seizing
the remaining Japanese strong points .
Us soldiers isolated Japanese defenders
in the legislative capital , finance
and agriculture buildings . These
structures were earthquake proof in
close proximity to one another and
provided mutual fire support .
Additionally , wide open green spaces
offered an unobstructed view of all
avenues of approach and made
exceptional engagement areas with the
fall of intra muros . The Manila Naval
Defense Forces command and control had
collapsed and troops in all four
buildings operated with little if any
leadership . Initially , the 37th
Division intended to starve out the
Japanese defenders , but they realized
that could drag on far too long and
impede the consolidation of gains .
Instead , the U . S . Army resorted to
a proven tactic , massive preparation
fire followed by carefully coordinated
infantry assaults . On 24 ,
1 36th Field Artillery Battalion began
a two day fire mission on the
government buildings . On the morning
of 26 , February , 1st Battalion 1 48th
Infantry entered the ground floor of
the legislative building , Stubborn
resistance by the Japanese defenders ,
stalled the American advance and
prompted another intense artillery
bombardment on 27 , February after two
hours , both the north and south wings
were in ruins , Clearing efforts
commenced shortly thereafter and lasted
until midday on the 28th
sixth Army's ultimate goal was to
transfer authority to a restored
Philippine commonwealth government as
soon as possible . Despite the ongoing
battle , General MacArthur restored the
Commonwealth Government of the
Philippines . On 27 February . The
transfer of authority took place at the
Malacanang palace which had largely
escaped damage Here roughly 50 years
earlier . General McArthur's father
General Arthur MacArthur , governing
the Philippines as an American
territory . Now in the same room used
by his father , General Douglas
Macarthur proclaimed the restoration of
Filipino authority under the
commonwealth government . Mm Meanwhile ,
the 5th Cavalry Regiment fought for
control of the Bureau of Agriculture .
Their cavalry troops relied on intense
artillery fire to destroy the Japanese
strong point . The agriculture
buildings soon collapsed , burying the
defenders under its rubble lost within
the debris where the bodies of Rear
Admiral Iwabuchi and his staff . They
had died by suicide after the fall of
intra muros tanks equipped with flame
throwers , reduced pockets of
resistance , but not until one march to
the fifth Cavalry secure the building
By three March , the US Army controlled
the shattered remains of all four
government buildings . The battle was
finally over . Mhm .
Mhm .
The battle of Manila left the city in
ruins . While some of the city avoided
destruction , a third of Manila was
badly damaged and another third was
completely destroyed . With the capital
shattered . The commonwealth government
requested assistance from the U . S .
Army to re establish governance over
Manila and the surrounding area .
Specifically , President Sergio Osmena
asked General Macarthur to help
reconstitute key departments , Police ,
Health and Welfare , public Works and
fire . President Osmena also requested
help with distributing supplies to the
beleaguered Filipinos and for civil
affairs efforts to continue with large
scale combat mostly over General
Macarthur and his forces could
transition from minimum essential
stability tasks to the deliberate
execution of stability operations . The
army has six stability operations tasks
that serve as a framework for
conducting stability operations . Army
stability operations tasks serve as
lines of effort or simply as a guide to
action , ensuring a broad unity of
effort . I don't .
The human cost of liberating Manila was
high . 6th Army suffered more than 1000
killed and 5500 wounded And the
Japanese lost approximately 16,000
troops . An estimated 100,000 civilians
perished during the battle . The battle
left as many as 200,000 homeless . By
one April , approximately 60,000
displaced persons were receiving food
and shelter from the US Army . Civil
affairs housed these individuals and
structures that remain standing .
Filipino contractors operated under the
supervision of civil affairs officers .
By one May , the number of displaced
persons in the direct care of civil
affairs units dropped to 37,000 and by
June 1945 , it was down to only 6000 .
Mhm . With the city's infrastructure
largely non existent . Us Army
engineers assumed the duties that once
belonged to the Department of Public
Works . With contracted help from the
local population . The engineers
erected temporary bridges , repaired
the power grid , restored the sewage
system and reestablished water services ,
restoring electricity to Manila
required ingenuity . With Profesor
island destroyed the city's electrical
grid was running off to small diesel
powered electrical plants that had
survived the battle . 6th Army
established two more such stations .
Additional power came from the USs
Wiseman , a U . S . Navy destroyer
anchored in Manila Bay , which served
as a floating power plant . Despite
their efforts , these sources only met
15% of Manila's prewar electrical
demand . The battle left thousands of
civilians in desperate need of medical
care and within days , 6th Army
resurrected the Department of Health ,
everything from hospital beds to
administrative report forms were in
short supply , with hospitals damaged
during the fighting . Civil Affairs
units supplied and staffed hastily
improvised hospitals . 6th Army
assigned select officers to hospital
duties . While civil affairs hired
Filipino doctors and nurses By June ,
the Department of Health Controlled 21
hospitals , 10 of which were public .
On one July , the agency returned the
11 private hospitals to their owners .
On one August 6 Army officially
transferred the Department of Health to
the Commonwealth's Bureau of Health ,
the same entity that had operated the
hospitals before the war . Manila's
Fire Department was not spared during
the battle , and most of its vehicles
and stations were severely damaged or
inoperable , furnished with american
equipment , which included trucks and
hoses . Us troops trained Filipino
firefighters at a newly established
academy . Sixth Army also restored
telephone lines , established
switchboards and erected three new
radio towers . These improvements
greatly enhanced communication among
emergency services , which improved
coordination and response times
Interestingly over a six month period .
6th Army was a major beneficiary of the
re established fire network . As 90% of
the major alarms were from us army
installations . Policing remained under
commonwealth control throughout the
duration of Manila's recovery , the
only law in effect was that of the
commonwealth . Civil affairs did ,
however , enforce price controls over
civilian relief supplies . Since the
battle rendered food distribution
extremely difficult . Civil affairs
devised a rationing system that
controlled costs and stifled the black
market while ensuring all Filipinos had
access to the basic necessities . For a
short period relief items were given to
civilians at no cost Later , once jobs
became less scarce , those who remain
unemployed required a certificate from
the U . S . Army that stated they were
unable to find work only then could
they receive rations . This prevented
the hoarding of essential supplies for
sale at higher prices . On the black
market , effectively stabilizing an
economy requires generating employment
opportunities , infusing resources into
the local economy , stimulating market
activity , fostering recovery through
private sector development and
supporting the restoration of physical
infrastructure . However , military
forces must avoid causing unintended
disruptions to the local markets by
suddenly stimulating the economy ,
particularly by agreeing to pay prices
significantly above the market rate as
this may cause prices to spike , thus
making products cost prohibitive for
the population and fueling a black
market in safeguarding Manila's
recovering economy . Sixth Army helped
prevent a black market from
undercutting reconstruction efforts .
Mhm . The
6th
Army had freed Manila but at a great
cost when the guns finally fell silent ,
people scrambled out of their hiding
places and started looking for their
loved ones . Since there were thousands
of decomposing bodies in the streets ,
there was no recourse but to bulldoze
these bodies into big pits that became
mass graves . And in those graves lie
our doctors and scientists , our
architects and engineers , teachers ,
businessmen and bright young people
murdered in cold blood by maniacal
Japanese troops .
When the us detonated
atomic bombs over Hiroshima and
Nagasaki in August 1945 , the
liberation of the Philippines was still
incomplete . General Yamashita's shabu
group had been fighting a war of
attrition against Sixth Army in
northern luzon . Only with imperial
Japan's unconditional surrender . On 15
august did Yamashita's forces end their
fight and the U . S . Army complete the
liberation of the Philippines . Mhm .
In consolidating gains , 6th army
restored a semblance of order to a city
rot with chaos and prevented the Manila
Naval Defence Force from prolonging the
conflict . Timely stability operations
prevented undue suffering and restored
the essential services necessary to
hasten a return to normalcy . The rapid
transfer of authority was only made
possible by close cooperation between
the U . S . Army and the commonwealth
government of the Philippines .
Yeah . Mhm . Yeah .
Yeah .
Yeah . Before .
Yeah .
Yeah . Yeah . Yeah .
Yeah . Mhm . Mhm .
Yeah . Yeah . Yeah .
Mhm . Yeah . Yeah .
Yeah .
Mhm .
Yeah . And less than a month later we
were back aboard ship and on the way to
our next appointment About the only
place left to go in early 45 was Japan
itself . We almost made it Okinawa .