Asian Stalingrad - The Battle of Manila 1945

Manila was the biggest street-fighting battle of the Pacific campaign, and also one of the grimmest of WWII.
Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Thumbnail: National Guard Bureau Heritage Series Painting by Keith Rocco

[@josephleonard6695]

Filipinos know very well the saying that 3 years of Japanese occupation were worse than 333 years of Spanish rule

[@iminbreadbutfrench8625]

yet a lot of filipinos nowadays are very addicted on japanese made animes it's still disappointing that a lot of filipinos nowadays don't know what those senseis did to us especially on our ancestors

[@RonEmeraldia]

@@iminbreadbutfrench8625 well if japaj didnt lose the war there would be no anime and the current japanese culture. Also the japanese occupation also helped improve our culture you know? Our TechVoc strand only existed because japan focuses on technical vocation and japanese languange classes on the philippines

[@iminbreadbutfrench8625]

@@RonEmeraldia let me clarify my comment for you the thing is yes I admit that japan really helped us a lot especially nowadays but the thing is we should never forget what they did on us just because they help us nowadays

[@iminbreadbutfrench8625]

@@RonEmeraldia but for real is anime that important? I mean if japan didn't lose the war there would be no anime? Like try to say that on 20+ million people died bcs of the japanese atrocities alone and to their families and let's see if anime is that important

[@iminbreadbutfrench8625]

again let me clarify liking japanese products nowadays including anime but again never ever forget the history of our countries (Philippines and Japan)

[@marcaurel2610]

Walter Krueger, a general born 1881 in West Prussia (German Empire) in the service of the US Army, wins the Asian Stalingrad. What an irony of history.

[@PolakInHolland]

History is full of irony. The winning of the American war of independence had significant contributions from Kosciuszko and Pulaski (known as the fathers of American artillery and cavalry respectively) - two Poles. Let's just say the Americans have never really repaid the favour when we've been in need.

[@ethanfarley5183]

It was also the American 6th army 😂😂

[@VoLCoMzYaDiGG]

Also, the American 6th Army was successful in Manila, whereas the German 6th army in Stalingrad were... well...

[@Sapling_Hierophant]

@@PolakInHolland Those two were mercenaries, in fact European wars of that era were full of mercenary officers from unaffiliated states.

[@kevingouldrup9265]

@@PolakInHolland ok next time your in trouble we will send you 2 men.

[@Mr.Foxstone]

Fun Fact to those who don't know. The Flagpole in the US Embassy in Manila was never changed up until today and you can still see the bullet marks left after the battle.

[@WallNutBreaker524]

Interesting.

[@JeanYouLuckyBoi]

cool

[@mustang1912]

No physical evidence for battle of stalingrad

[@d3thkn1ghtmcgee74]

@@mustang1912 you clearly never been to the museum of volograd. Literally has a bomb out apartment on the front lawn to this day🤣

[@NguyenMinh-vs1vm]

@@mustang1912 Pavlov House

[@dennicvonlorenzo2294]

It's such a shame this war happened. Manila was the most beautiful city in Asia, very diverse and modern at the time. And the war destroyed it. We never really recovered. Such a poignant reminder of people's greed & ambition.

[@Bunmunchies]

Yeah I mean a lot of historical sites on manila are still being repaired as a lot of it was just bombed out by the Americans and Japanese

[@gregorjerman973]

Stop Living on the Illusion that you will live on a perfect world everything happens for a reason.

[@bjohan3216]

@@gregorjerman973 lol a lot of history nonthinkers

[@fantasyalover4782]

If only that one stubborn Japanese commander decided to surrender then many historical and diverse sites in Manila could've still restored and seen by modern generations and probably would become one of tourist attractions. it's really a shame what happened. and now Manila is known as a dirty city no longer that prosper and "Paris of the East" of Asia.

[@JRobbySh]

It did not help that you were so poorly governed. But m guess is that we did not help the Philippines sufficiently.

[@Hiraghm]

My dad used to tell me about an interview with an old Japanese soldier. The (American) interviewer was asking the soldier who the best jungle fighters he fought against were. He thought a few moments, then said, "The Australians" The interviewer was taken a bit aback... "well... who was second best?" The Japanese soldier thought again... "The English". Frustrated, the interviewer asked, "well, what about the Americans?" The Japanese soldier answered, "I don't know; we never fought them in the jungle. The Americans would blow the jungle away and fight in the craters".

[@genericname3206]

Im not gonna lie hearing the soldier say australia is the best jungle fighters makes me proud

[@ScooterFXRS]

seems this was repeated in Vietnam.

[@dzhang4459]

Americans, the best crater fighters

[@richiecuzzz1]

Guadalcanal was in the Jungle though..

[@richiecuzzz1]

@2manynegativewaves Well the problem is that I’ve actually been there before. I don’t think you’ve actually seen how it looks in person. It really is a Jungle, I mean you can look up pictures and see. Calling it “Light forests” would be an understatement

[@blakejohnson5819]

I can’t believe how many high quality videos you churn out. It’s insane

[@Briselance]

He's a professional.

[@robertandrews6915]

It's even more insane that he does it himself. To my knowledge he doesn't have a crew or anyone that helps. Even if he had some help the stories are stuff you never heard about.

[@Romin.777]

Incredible. Loving it. :))

[@aldrinvillaren1303]

Documentary of U.S.A. during world war 2, official videographer

[@SamtheIrishexan]

Lovers of history!

[@bobbiemanueldelapena4997]

Manila was the second most devastated city after Warsaw during WW2...

[@TheSecretsquirrel222]

Yeah I think, Dresden, Hiroshima and Nagasaki might have something to say about that.

[@luallual8180]

@@TheSecretsquirrel222 At least those cities are doing fine now. Manila never recovered from this battle, if you've been there you'll know what I'm talking about. It's a really shitty place nowadays. Before WW2 it was one of the nicest cities in Asia

[@voldemortthenoselessfreak2126]

@@TheSecretsquirrel222 At least those cities are doing better than our capital now. and remind you, 80% of Manila's architectural buildings, houses, mansions, plazas, cathedrals, villages, and historical sites never got rebuilt but rather got replace by some boring ass modern buildings. unlike those mentioned cities.

[@teamcastro9187]

@@TheSecretsquirrel222 Whirlwind Whirlwind!!

[@freedomisfromtruth]

@@TheSecretsquirrel222 But those cities deserved it IDIOT, they were were the aggressors cities!!

[@maikerukuku]

My local history professor told us that Manila was the second most devastated capital city in the Second World War, next to Warsaw. When I checked an article online, my professor was indeed right, as per Douglas MacArthur who witnessed the city lying in ruins.

[@talltexan6432]

The Filipino people were very kind to our troops during this entire campaign. They would bring water to our men during the street fighting and help with our wounded. God bless those wonderful people. 1st Cavalry Division - Iron Horse Brigade.

[@Longshot88]

@V P did.... did you even watch the video

[@natekaufman1982]

@V P the United States annexed the Philippines in 1898 after a war with Spain and began preparing the islands for independence in 1935. There had been Americans on the islands for 47 years in 1945. Maybe you should educate yourself on American and Philippine history before you say stupid things like that.

[@k-studio8112]

Especially during the Bataan Death March. The casualties could be much worse if it wasn't because of those brave locals who feed the hungry american and Filipino prisoners

[@357-swagnumultramagax9]

@V P just like they did in the marshal islands

[@thonatim5321]

@V P What's the matter bro? you mad? Don't hate, appreciate.

[@rgm96x49]

Seeing the European and African theatres is one thing, but it really does have a different feel when the events that Dr. Felton's describing happened somewhere familiar to you.

[@nutzeeer]

i didnt even know much about the asian fights at all. like that anything ever happened there. i only learned about europe and germany in my school in germany.

[@TarTw45]

​@@nutzeeer Japanese Imperial back then was brutal, they saw us (South East Asian) as lower race, probably lower than Chinese and Korean.

[@dimitrikissov4947]

@@nutzeeer I graduated HS in 1985 and knew nothing of the atrocities committed by Japan. In the army I was in Korea and was lucky to interact with Koreans who told me the truth about the Japanese Empire. All we were taught was US bad because of the use of atomic weapons, nothing on the murder of millions of Chinese and Koreans. At that time, 1986, the animosity felt about Japan was very very strong.

[@bigblue6917]

The reverse is also true. Manilla is on the opposite side of the world to Europe. I have met people who fought the Japanese in India and Malaya None of my family were out there. I saw aware of what happened in the Philippians but never to this detail.

[@nutzeeer]

@@TarTw45 yea basically like nazi germany. just that japan was not rebuilt like germany was, so they still have (more) problems with their past. would be a move for germany today to help japan cope with what they have done and find a brighter future.

[@gaufrid1956]

Mark, another excellent video! I was born in Australia but I live in Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao with my Filipina wife. The harbor here was where General Douglas MacArthur landed when escaping to Philippines and traveling to Australia in 1942. My wife's maternal grandfather was a Filipino guerilla fighter in this area. Coincidentally, his father, who he never knew, was Japanese! The Japanese torched a large portion of the city here before 200 of them escaped to the mountains in Bukidnon when the Americans arrived in May 1945 to liberate Cagayan de Misamis, as it was then known. There had been atrocities like rape and murder of civilians, and locals here speak of the Japanese soldiers throwing Filipino babies into the air and catching them on their bayonets. If that wasn't bad enough, the Japanese troops that escaped to Bukidnon hunted, killed and ate 70 Higaunon tribespeople. The Higaunon people are my wife's tribe. The Battle of Manila was terrible, but not the only example of the atrocities of war in the Philippines. Extra kudos for the correct pronunciation of "Yamashita".

[@k-studio8112]

We will also never forget how Australians help in liberating the Philippines.

[@gaufrid1956]

@@k-studio8112 nor will we forget the bravery of Filipinos who time and again throughout history stood up for their people against foreign invaders, or when called to fight. Mabuhay sa Pilipinas!

[@cdw194]

My paternal grandfather was part of the American force that landed at Mindanao in 1945. Don’t know a lot about his war experience, because he never talked much about it but I’ve been looking into it recently. It turns out he had 2 Bronze Stars for his time in the Philippines

[@gaufrid1956]

@@cdw194 I guess that he would have been in Cagayan de Misamis, as it was called then, because the city here has the largest port in Northern Mindanao, and of course Douglas MacArthur returned, as he said he would. You can find photos online of the monument to MacArthur here in Barangay Macabalan on the dockside. It's in the shape of his distinctive cap and there is a scale model of the Elco 77 foot Motor Torpedo Boat on which he arrived there in March 1942. My wife's mother was born in 1946. I don't think many returned soldiers spoke much about their experiences.

[@swagemoji5620]

@@gaufrid1956 after the war the Philippines still managed to become the second richest country in asia. From 1986 to now the presidents have been the most useless people. It's really sad to see the old rich Philippines to now

[@pdreidenbach]

Many of the civilians died due to starvation. My mom was a teenager and she remembers they only survived by eating sweet potatoes (kamote) planted in their back yard. She was so tired of kamote but she knew that was all they could eat. She also had stories about the dreaded Kempeitai who would execute anyone even slightly suspected of resisting the Japanese occupation.

[@philipwillardpayot6906]

camote or.camoteng kahoy mao rana kan on sd nila sa akng mga lolo lola papa panahons ww2

[@BrettonFerguson]

In 1898 the Americans were executing civilians in the Philippines. The US occupation forces also sent 300,000 civilians to concentration camps where many died of disease and starvation. Three years later after an anti american uprising in 1901, US Brigadier General Jacob H. Smith ordered his subordinates to kill every Filipino male "able to bear arms". When asked to specify what this meant the general clarified every male over the age of ten.

[@joecanteen7428]

@@BrettonFerguson So what every nation committed a war crime, The thing is japanese and germany committed a war crime in regular basis in ww2. Without them you will be under communist/fascist or even islam rule.

[@jmbrosendo]

It is good we have videos like these, the Pacific Theater is largely forgotten.

[@JDP2104]

Definitely. The Nazis get all of the attention but Japan was arguably even more brutal

[@ReezikiSharr]

Except for Pearl Harbor

[@osamabinladen824]

@@JDP2104 Exactly.

[@booradley6832]

I mean, I agree and disagree in some respects. Yes, Germany gets all the mention because their political movement was a large scale thing that had an impact all over the world. Japan was insular and uninterested in involving anyone else so their leaders dont stand out like Hitler and his cabinet. To anyone interested in the military history of the war however the pacific is often glorifed with among many, many others the huge aircraft carrier battles at Coral Sea and Midway, Iwo Jima, retaking the Philippines, Okinawa, etc being some of the most filmed and best covered actions of the war. The Germans had more of a cultural impact that makes them significant today. The Japanese had arguably a larger military impact, with the massive conquering of territory, lengths they were willing to go to to defend in the dying days of the war, and spontaneous large scale atrocities. As such, those are the legacies we're left with.

[@omgitsjoetime]

How is it forgotten

[@Jay-kn6qv]

My dad works within Intramuros, and for the past years i can still see the scars of the War during the liberation of the city. I'm glad Manila is being featured on this channel.

[@jimvanderpoel4467]

Manila is such a beautiful city I love intramuros and fort Santiago

[@alwayscurious3357]

Yeah. It think some parts of the wall there still have battle damage from 45 I think...

[@fritzbautista5933]

@@alwayscurious3357 kept it like that ever since since my school is infront of the wall

[@BenZedrene]

Apparently, some sections of the city were never rebuilt.

[@jimvanderpoel4467]

When I was a kid... maybe 4 or 5 my grandfather, a WWII veteran had a old time magazine about the war in the Pacific. In it was a Arial photo of Manila after it was retaken from the Japanese. I remember the city was totally destroyed, the only buildings still standing were Manila City Hall and the walls of intramuros and Fort. Santiago. I was always amazed at the deviation in that photo. I would look at it for hours. Years later in 2016 I would marry my maganda asawa in Manila City Hall...... ironic.

[@hairlesscat6458]

Is it just me or were the Japanese war crimes just kinda ignored. I never learned about any Japanese war crime trials ever until I watched a video on it.

[@supermuskelmann8557]

Is it just me, or has it, until this day, always been completely ignored in any given incidence where Amricans performed war crimes? I never learned about any American war crime trials ever until....well I'm still waiting.

[@ethanmcfarland8240]

Stop playing whataboutism. The crimes of Japan will not go unnoticed

[@dubstepXpower]

@@supermuskelmann8557 yeah bombing of dresden was a war crime arguably the nuclear bombs because the goal to kill innocent civilians. Had the allies lost it would have been judged differently.

[@peterjasonbobis6219]

Japan did pay war reparations, and until this day, still donates equipment to the armed forces.

[@obiwankenobi3574]

@@dubstepXpower the atom bomb was by no means a war crime, not only did it save millions of lives by preventing a bloody invasion of japan but Hiroshima and Nagasaki were important military centres, bristling with factories, army bases and naval facilities

[@petertomasetti3338]

I get stuck on this channel. I have to literally take a break sometimes. Great channel, high quality, real footage, great narration and accurate information. Great job. I've been a subscriber for a while now. 👍

[@tuberaider]

An elderly Philippine woman I knew in NYC was an eyewitness to the atrocities. She told me that the Japanese soldiers would go from house to house, pillage, murder and rape, then throw babies into the air and stab them with their bayonets as they fell. She survived by hiding, but her family didn't make it. War is an uncontrollable monster of depravity. We should not forget these lessons from history, but as Santayana aptly stated, I know _only the dead have seen the end of war_ ...

[@Spalbeert]

Wow were they really that cruel?

[@rigormortiz5357]

@@spaceartist1272 lol i'm gonna throw babies and no one will believe me because it's all " bla bla blaa western propaganda bullshit"

[@missouripatriot6926]

@@spaceartist1272 they did

[@u.f.5224]

Lol you think that is fake my elementary history teacher told us the exact same story terrorizing the civilians , rape and killing babies with bayonet . Im from the PH. Btw if that is not enough sources for you guys

[@Oline1756]

As a Japanese myself. I could agree about the war crimes our fellow Japanese had done. If they didn’t do that, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and also Burma and China could’ve been a better country like ours. And Manchuko Empire would still exist.

[@miguelygoa5295]

There’s a book called “It Took 4 Years for the Rising Sun to Set”, written by Joachim Garcia which is an eyewitness account of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. It describes in great detail what happened, especially when the Americans returned. There’s another school called De La Salle College in Manila where the Japanese occupied one end of the campus. As the Americans came closer to the city, a lot of families were forced to evacuate their homes by the Japanese. These families moved into the other end of the campus. As the Americans got closer, the Japanese slaughtered the families. That school has all years from prep through to tertiary level. As a kid, I can remember in the mid-60’s walking past a certain wall of the that school that had bullet holes from the fighting. It was years later that I realised the significance of it. Thanks Mark for your video account.

[@limeybean3967]

Christ Almighty When are you gonna fall out the fukkin sky? What THEE HELL is it gonna take?

[@limeybean3967]

@MultiBagram 'spose ain't got nuthin to do widdit

[@jojopingpong]

My family knew one of the families that were slaughtered at the De La Salle campus. My aunt said those families were gunned down in the chapel of the school. I graduated from that same school decades later.

[@carpetclimber4027]

@MultiBagram I hate to tell you, but praying is in itself meaningless.

[@THEBIGGAME683]

My mama said no one care becaused you never care too becaused you're heavily influenced by greedy foreigners.

[@culbered]

My Filipina wife confirmed my understanding that Filipino soldiers also formed a vital part in liberating Manila, an important fact this video neglected to mention. Otherwise, very helpful presentation. Thank you.

[@cameronsprague101]

Amazing historical source... word of mouth from something someone else was told lmfao. Great job...

[@benfrank9622]

@@cameronsprague101 True, it's not that much of a reliable source. What's reliable tho is that Philippines is a Filipino country, which strongly means that the locals (Filipinos) did help greatly in providing directions, supplies, and comfort.

[@hairglowingkyle4572]

@@cameronsprague101 regardless, it's common fact that Filipino soldiers fought alongside the Americans during the occupation. Nothing wrong with stating the obvious right?

[@dann547]

Good point. In the book, “ Ghost Soldiers” one does indeed learn of the Invaluable assistance and bravery of Filipino soldiers during the Japanese occupation and help during the American landing.

[@jacaredosvudu1638]

​@@hairglowingkyle4572 one thing is fighting there, another one is being vital for the battle

[@SlayerrBoii96]

The beautiful “Pearl of the Orient Seas”, Manila, was raised to the ground along with countless architectural and cultural entities. The most beautiful city in Asia at that time. 😭

[@WallNutBreaker524]

It was indeed tragic 😔🇵🇭

[@badcornflakes6374]

Imagine if the Japanese won... Terrifying thought

[@thomashartman1998]

Interesting fact: when the Japanese looted MacArthur's former apartment in Manila, the only items they left alone were two vases gifted to the MacArthur family by Hirohitos grandfather.

[@thimpage651]

The correct verb is given. Try to do better.

[@thomashartman1998]

@@thimpage651 Thank you.

[@thomashartman1998]

@Bobby Sands I have a thick skin, no offense taken. Besides, grammar was never my strong point. Thanks for the thought though.

[@tansanbotilya1443]

How ironic

[@LordVader1094]

@Lord Gaylord Ondor No it isn't. He could've corrected him perfectly well without being snide. Politeness is a virtue.

[@AllecJoshuaIbay]

I live just southeast of Manila. It is rather sad that this once magnificent and beautiful city is more like Gotham now.

[@livingnystripsteak8427]

Your an a avgeek

[@livingnystripsteak8427]

Why did you watch this video

[@AllecJoshuaIbay]

@@livingnystripsteak8427 I also have an interest for the war.

[@pixelmidknight5407]

@@AllecJoshuaIbay Some people just doesn't appreciate history anymore, as if it isn't important for their lives. Don't worry there's still a lot with the same interests for war and history.

[@oliversmith9200]

Yes Allec, where is the prosperity in Manila that American allied nations are supposed to enjoy? Where is that prosperity in America itself? I suppose in both, it has been gathered into the hands of private property elites. What to think of all this Freedom, and so-called Democracy, and this wonderful, famous, economic system for which so much fighting is done?

[@SwisstedChef2018]

Mark ! Nobody and I mean nobody does these details videos better than you. Thank you. My wife is Filipina. Much too young to know this. But how detailed and precise your history research is, great Mark - keep going.

[@johnschuh8616]

Right on!

[@williamgunnarsson]

My gunsmith Rudy Crumbly took part in the battle for Manila, among other battles. After seeing what the Japanese had done there and elsewhere, he said he felt no remorse for killing as many of them as he could. He passed away age 83 and never got over his hatred of the Japanese.

[@deftone1]

Mark makes learning fun. Always something new I’d never heard about.

[@joeyjamison5772]

Well, I don't know that I would call it 'fun' (particularly after seeing a video like this), but he does make it interesting.

[@buntags2621]

11:15 it's not Malacalang,, it is malacañang (malacanyang), Im fillipino by the way

[@franciscoj.lopezperez5544]

@@buntags2621 Do you use the "ñ" in Filipino? I'm Spanish and I thought it's only used in Spanish.

[@Psychol-Snooper]

@@joeyjamison5772 Are you accusing Deftone of being somewhat tone deaf? Perhaps I'm doing the same, but I did find the video wrenching, and in no way fun.

[@georgebenta3435]

@@franciscoj.lopezperez5544 Yes we use "ñ", its part of our alphabet. Spain colonized us for 300+ years until the Spanish-American war.

[@TheBrainSpecialist]

One of the most iconic images of the battle is the mini-battle over the baseball stadium. A place that would've brought so much joy to both sides during peacetime, turned into a bloodbath

[@covertops19Z]

Indeed.

[@hornetobiker]

What a bizzare but typical merkincentic comment.

[@TheBrainSpecialist]

@@hornetobiker Pardon?

[@petesperandio2572]

@@hornetobiker Did you mean to say American centric?

[@petrolekh]

WHat a stupid comment.

[@vascoapolonio2309]

I'm so happy I'm still learning. At the age of 50, I'm glad to be back in School.

[@MrPossumeyes]

I'm 66 and still in school.

[@divewithderek]

We really love and appreciate your documentaries Mark!! Keep em' coming!!

[@johnmichaelboy6375]

Finally a video about the darkest days of my home city, Manila, during WWII. Thank you for featuring this piece of history that not all Filipinos actually have an idea about the severe brutality and the massive destruction it had brought out. Btw, I am an avid fan of your documentaries. More power to you.

[@johngillon6969]

John Michael Boy: I was 18 years old in the navy in 1968, and i was so in love with the philippines. I had friends in Olongapo City and would stay at their house when we were in port. I couldn't believe how beautiful the culture is , and the way the families took care of each other. i went back many times on vacation after i got out of the navy. I would go on vacation and just ride my bicycle thru the countryside without any schedule or plan, just following what happened and relying on the hospitality of people i would meet. Never did i not receive or reject the hospitality some one offered. Had such wonderful adventures and never had any trouble with anyone. I think filipino people are the most beautiful and kind folks on earth. I thank them all.

[@ToddDavey]

John Michael Boy How would you compare the battle depicted here to the Battle of Marawi?

[@NEOSCISSORSJAGUARPRIME]

@@ToddDavey ALMOST THE SAME LEVEL OF DESTRUCTION😭😭😭... DAMN ISIS!!!

[@ToddDavey]

@@NEOSCISSORSJAGUARPRIME just awful. Marawi is a story that far too few people know

[@NEOSCISSORSJAGUARPRIME]

@@ToddDavey IT CANT BE HELPED...ITS EITHER A FEW MONTHS OF WAR, OR AN INFERNAL FOOTHOLD FOR THE BLASTED EXTREMISTS WHICH MIGHT EXPAND GEOMETRICALLY...

[@richiecuzzz1]

My grandpa on my moms side (Filipino) fought against the Japanese with the Americans. He has a Japanese Katana wrapped in a rising sun flag with bloodstains on it. Also, my grandpa on my dads side of the family was in the 76th Infantry Division Combat Engineer Battalion, Company C. He went from England, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czechoslavakia, Austria, and finally Germany. We recently got pictures of him during his service in WW2. The pictures are awesome! He has a picture of himself and his buddies in the snow during the Battle of the Bulge. Kinda cool to think both sides of my family fought in WW2 on both fronts. Another amazing video, Mark!

[@herrderr1921]

Your ancestors were chads

[@richiecuzzz1]

BlissGore My grandpa on my moms side was a gorilla fighter for the Filipino resistance. It wasn’t just officers that carried Katanas. Almost every Japanese soldier carried them. @Herr derr Nice try though smart ass, can’t say anyone in your family has done anything to help your country during war time. I also have proof of everything I’m stating in my comments. Sad that little kids would disrespect people like this but when you’re safely behind a screen, that’s pretty easy to do.

[@No1Poop]

@@richiecuzzz1 Im pretty sure chad is a complement Or was Herr derr being sarcastic? Idk

[@nrx-hack3528]

I love katana 🗡️

[@RaitoYagami88]

@@richiecuzzz1 Damn he was a gorilla fighter? Does that mean the Japanese deployed gorillas? Also, rank and file soldiers did not have katanas. It's certainly not true that "almost every soldier carried them"

[@mtgusa]

Fascinating. Thank you for these amazing videos! Reminds me of the glory days of the history channel back in the day!

[@strongerandwiser2023]

Love all your video's. So informative and professional. A real credit to you. Great work Mark

[@kamikazestryker]

I am a German Filippino. I can relate to this. My German Grandfathers older Brother fell in Stalingrad, he was only 20 years old. My Filippino Grandparents were hiding in the jungle because of Japanese ocupying their village. Now its all in the past and we should never forget and never repeat this madness of war.

[@continualvariability3345]

Eh?

[@jarhocordero885]

Eh?

[@jarhoxph5509]

Eh?

[@cgndnm]

oooo... german filipino... can you teach me german?

[@kamikazestryker]

@@cgndnm ja aber mit Aufpreis= yes but it will cost extra money :p

[@georgehunter323]

My father fought in the Pacific Theater and in the Battle of Manila. He never spoke of his war experiences, as they brought back painful memories. He only wanted to forget the war. He did confess to my mother that in this battle, which was fought block by block, he turned a corner and came face-face with a younger-looking Japanese foot soldier. They stared at each other and my father had to shoot him. It pained him as he stated that they boy looked fifteen (my father was 19). War is tragic and cruel, but sometimes necessary. God's blessing on all those who suffered from this battle, Filipino, Japanese and America.

[@avakiin6614]

@michael boultinghouse Liberate yet oppress? Liberate yet slaughter? Is that liberation to you? Even if you say yes, why would the Japanese do that? If their aim was to liberate the Filipino people, why invade them? If you know basic history, the Philippines would have been independent by 1946 as per the Tydings-Mucduffie Act of 1935. If the Japanese hadn't invaded, Manila and the rest of the Philippines, along with its population, would have been intact.

[@chaosXP3RT]

@michael boultinghouse Troll

[@KG84C]

@michael boultinghouse In a town of assholes, you fit right in.

[@cccycling5835]

@michael boultinghouse lol Japanese “liberation” hhahhahahahhahahahhahahahhahhahahhahahhahahahaha

[@counterfan90]

@The Philippines was literally a US colony since 1898. They took it from Spain because they saw the remnants of the Spanish Empire as an easy target.

[@Glen.Danielsen]

@12:36 - Hold on here: MacArthur initially was extremely reluctant to use artillery or tank rounds on buildings. He gave orders that those weapons were not to used against habitable structures. Only when American casualties resulted did he reverse that policy.

[@828enigma6]

My Father was there on army business. He was part of a headquarters unit but not in combat. He went up to the artillery line, said the arty was lined up virtually wheel to wheel as far as he could see in both directions. He requested and received permission to pull the lanyard a few times. His original training was in the Artillery Corps, and he wished to be able to say he had taken part in the siege of Manila. I believe he was either a 1st Lt or Captain at that time.

[@justpassinthru1191]

I am 63 years old and my father told us about this landing. He was in the 3rd wave and directed communications for his group. He was granted a Bronze Star for what he did. He only spoke of it once with few details and we did not know about the Bronze Stars (He had more than one) until after his passing. We found them and all the paperwork and accommodations in a shoe box. The war really screwed his nerves up and was harsh and jumpy most of the time but he made us three brothers into men.

[@supermuskelmann8557]

Like all the others who ever died or got injured in any war for "America", this could've been avoided by staying home, enjoying your beautiful country and having a nice whisky.

[@Sammyli99]

@@supermuskelmann8557 If they did stay at home: Europe would be German and Asia Japanese and by default, You would be "SS-USA" too, so we REALLY have to thank all ALLIED war participants for their sacrifice.

[@bbryant2485]

God Bless your Dad.

[@jasondifelice1559]

@@supermuskelmann8557 "Evil triumphs when good men do nothing." Fortunately for the entire world, good men stood up and fought for "America" and did not just have a freaking whisky. "Men" like you are the reason the world is going to hell. Smdh.

[@jamesricker3997]

Sounds like he had a case of PTSD

[@gianlozano102]

I remember in 5th grade about a decade ago, my classmates would laugh at me for knowing too much about WWII history. Made me think that Filipinos are indeed in need of learning history with proven and in-depth content.

[@wolfthequarrelsome504]

They'll turn on the Americans if they do.

[@thegiantratthatmakesalloft9415]

Nerd

[@JuggerKnight717]

It's sadly a part of the Filipino culture for some (not all) to mock those who are intelligent and knowledgeable. Really sad, honestly

[@thegiantratthatmakesalloft9415]

@@JuggerKnight717 Nerd

[@cindycristobal8738]

@@thegiantratthatmakesalloft9415 troll is what you are.

[@anjengdelatorre1947]

Thank you Mr. Felton from manila Philippines

[@angelguzman8737]

In a matter of one week I’ve watched more than 60 of your videos some many times , this is a remarkable channel thank you for all your hard work

[@chrisstrebor]

I watched them all up until recently and thumbs upped every single one. Incredible information gathered by Mark

[@rupertmcnaughtdavis3649]

Thanks for not playing down Japanese atrocities. Lest we forget.

[@Aunzo91]

"Lest we forget" is it a movie?

[@JRobbySh]

It is ironical that the Nazis are remembered as devils, while as a kind of reverse racism, the Japanese are not. This though their brand of racism--toward all non Japanese-- was more inbred than than of the Germans.

[@rupertmcnaughtdavis3649]

@@Aunzo91 Google.those words.

[@steelydan146]

It's worth mentioning the large cemetery in Ft. Bonifacio, Manila. The final resting place of American (and Filipino?) soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice to free the Philippines.

[@marklewis4024]

I’ve been past there and noticed it while passing. I told myself next time I’m in Manila I’ll go there. I was staying in BGC at the time.

[@IAmSwatchingYou]

@Jonathan Williams No they were not. While they may have considered each other kindred spirits (especially during the war), the Filipinos were not treated equally and I don't think it'd be fair to characterize them as American.

[@ChinaPower1]

@Lord Gaylord Ondor Many veterans here in PH have delayed pensions or being deprive receiving pensions most of them are Huks not include under american guerilla forces campaign.

[@emirvmendoza]

@Lord Gaylord Ondor The problem was due to the Rescission Act of 1946 (38 U.S.C. § 107), not Philippine independence. "Service before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, while such forces were in the service of the Armed Forces of the United States pursuant to the military order of the President dated July 26, 1941, including among such military forces organized guerrilla forces under commanders appointed, designated, or subsequently recognized by the Commander in Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, or other competent authority in the Army of the United States, shall not be deemed to have been active military, naval, or air service for the purposes of any law of the United States conferring rights, privileges, or benefits upon any person by reason of the service of such person or the service of any other person in the Armed Forces ".

[@loidaabuan9261]

Jonathan Williams Filipinos back then were considered American nationals and not citizens as the Philippine Islands were converted as an American commonwealth (previously unincorporated overseas territory of the US)

[@ThePeteriarchy]

I'm glad to see history channels with as much dedication to facts and attention to detail as yours covering the Pacific Theater, Dr. Felton. Thank you. Even in Filipino secondary education, very little was taught about WWII apart from the broadest of events, not nearly enough to have students really grasp the horrors and sacrifices that went down back then. During my university years, it was always surreal to walk into Baker Memorial Hall for PE classes and concerts after I found out that it was once an internment camp under the Japanese that held American and Filipino prisoners of war.

[@jamesireland6606]

The music you use and your voice make this channel priceless my favorite for sure

[@jjt1881]

The most disgusting thing is that most of the war criminals who bore responsibility for these atrocities were never charged; their crimes erased from Japanese history books, their deeds sworn to secrecy for decades, and their names enshrined in Shinto temples.

[@Qwertmant]

History in a nutshell.

[@johnclarencemercado4218]

You probably didn't know about the Manila Trials.

[@thomaskositzki9424]

As a German, I don't like the Japanese very much. I am disgusted by the way they deny their war crimes in WW2. Germany has an extensive remembrance-culture focused on our war crimes, an honesty that I am actually proud of.

[@Qwertmant]

@@thomaskositzki9424 bless your country's honesty.

[@scotty9086]

Shouldn’t have let them surrender after the atomic bombs. Should of just killed every last one of them

[@thomasmaloney843]

Dad had a childhood friend in the army who was involved earlier in the Luzon campaign than what he was. They actually met during the war. The friend told him the Japanese occupation was just brutal towards civilians. The stories of all the atrocities were true.

[@z54964380]

iSHALLRETURN What a load BS you’re spilling

[@veyolaski4324]

iSHALLRETURN What planet are you living on?

[@AB-or1uz]

@@poikoi1530 citation or source? I see this sometimes said by Filipinos (on social media usually). But I never could find an actual source that supports it. I did find a journal years ago titled "The Koreans in Second World War Philippines: Rumour and history" which dispelled this myth as unsubstantiated rumors, but I haven't seen other prominent research articles in this area (which is probably why this rumor persists). More knowledge about this would be good. Edit: the person I was replying to seems to have deleted their comment. For context, they said that (as I remember) Koreans committed the war crimes in the Philippines and the Japanese commanders tried to control them because the Japanese told the Koreans that Asia is for Asians and America is the enemy.

[@timothysoh1507]

@@poikoi1530 Come on, that is revisionist history, even if it was Korean troops, who taught them? The Korean culture was pretty much suppressed under Japanese occupation.

[@snowieshriel8637]

Not all are true there is a well documented japanese occupation in the provinces here in the Philippines that the commanding officer of his place of jurisdiction tended to be be lenient and generous to the natives of that province

[@pinckney1897]

My Grandfather was part of the push into Manila. He at the time was a 1st Lt charged with clearing out Zig Zag pass. The battle was one of the worst ones he had been apart of ending with him and several of his men receiving the bronze star.

[@scotniver7180]

Hey ! Thanks for these Great Pod casts.. Narrator is the Best.. I'm way more informed now watching these..

[@SIDHAKTHEGUYY]

School is bad with history, thanks to this guy he makes it better.

[@JRobbySh]

Textbooks are the worst of all sources of real knowledge. They are all written by hacks.

[@midimusicforever]

This part of history doesn't get taught in Swedish schools. The Asian part of the war is brushed over very quickly. Kinda like, Japan invaded stuff, then Pearl Harbor, then the US fought back, then they dropped the bomb twice, and game over. If lucky, the Nanking massacre might get mentioned, at least.

[@DK-gy7ll]

Not much different here in the USA. Most WW2 movies and documentaries are about the war with Germany. Comparatively few about the Pacific War and most of it is only about a few key battles. Kids in school are taught nothing aside from Pearl Harbor and the Atomic Bomb.

[@davrosdarlek7058]

The Pacific war is completely brushed over in the England other than a mention of Pearl Harbour, how the US funded penicillin production to help its soldiers on the pacific front and how the atomic bombs were/weren't justified and how they contributed to the cold war.

[@josepiscano2757]

@@davrosdarlek7058 not surprised. The UK was humiliated by the loss of Hong Kong, Singapore, and all of Malaya. Even Hitler didn't know how to react to it, on the one hand he was ecstatic his ally dealt Britain, one of his greatest rivals, a decisive defeat, but then he realized this completely challenges his notions of a "superior" white race. I believe that meme with Steve Harvey laughing and then subsequently staring blankly in disbelief best describes Hitler's reaction to the Japanese victories.

[@ElGrandoCaymano]

@@DK-gy7ll Nah not true. Midway's covered, Coral Sea, Guadalcanal, some islands are recaptured (Guam, Phillipines & Okinawa) and the marines storm Iwo Jima. If anything it's China, Manchuria and Burma which are neglected.

[@ElGrandoCaymano]

@@josepiscano2757 Also not true. Burma campaign is quite celebrated in UK and Wavell, Mountbatten and Slim very respected. While Singapore was a major defeat, HK was never considered defensible. Humiliation more around loss of PoW and Repulse, but Imphal, Kohima and Merryll's raids in the Arkan box are viewed more positively.

[@joeyb68]

Another top documentary by Mark Felton, great watching and highly interesting. Thanks.

[@zimr3157]

i think you are only the one english speaking i hear that has a good pronunciation of Philippine Locations

[@JRobbySh]

He is a superb narrator. Very to the point and succinct.

[@Chrisamos412]

Indeed! As well as German, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mark speaks German

[@koukimonzta]

Maybe hed been to Philippines? You sometimes need to visit the historical places ,interview natives and knowing its root history while in it not just opening books and hanging out at your local libraries.

[@Chrisamos412]

@@koukimonzta I agree….I fortunately did a lot of traveling, as a youngster we lived overseas and as an adult was in the Navy and traveled a lot….. what I said about him having an accent was a joke

[@adbp473]

Well that was a grim 22 mins description of misery and destruction. The war in the east has always taken a backseat to the European theatre. A very disturbing but necessary re-telling. Thank you Mark.

[@ralpjosephjavelosa7451]

Proud to be a Filipino listening to another masterpiece of Dr. Mark Felton

[@Inderastein]

True

[@walhalladome5227]

Married to my Filipino wife and knowing Manila rather well it is heartbreaking to see how beautiful Manila really was and then seeing it destroyed. Thanks for the story!

[@MrGoogleChill]

Need to teach me some of that Jason Bourne Sayoc Kali

[@bbeen40]

The Filipino people have a lot to be proud of. There are many stories of their bravery during WW2.

[@marcoAKAjoe]

Beer.

[@williambarrett70]

I certainly learned something today. Thank you, Dr. Felton.

[@DougCaldwell]

👌Well done again, Mark. Covering another forgotten battle of WWII. Next time just add some maps to go along with the description of which unit was going where at what stage of the battle.

[@frankenkevinmorgia9591]

16:42 salute to that Filipina woman who's helping the exhausted liberators by giving water.

[@dubstepXpower]

@FlickeRRing Lightswitch Filipinos are such great people even in the midst of trials, they deserve better honestly.

[@wheeliewheelie1]

Even smiled for the camera. 😁

[@WeCube1898]

Little contributions made the greatest differences in the War, it tipped the scales . Japanese soldiers are ready to die during the siege, why? They are being killed one by one by Filipino Guerillas . Farmers, peasants and ordinary men by day ( being victimized/murdered Filipino had no resort but to fight but they fought back guerilla style ) Guerilla Commandoes by night.

[@cccycling5835]

Filipino hospitality is legendary.

[@charlesplayzeverything4386]

@@WeCube1898 Tbh no, The Japanese would rather die than to surrender because they see surrendering as a dishonorable act and would bring shame to their Family Name, There are lots of Battle where the Japanese fought to the death outside of the Philippines such as the Brutal Battles of Tarawa, Peleliu (Which is arguably more brutal than Manila if we remove the Civilian Casualties), Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Saipan and Guam

[@mybrotherisnotapig6750]

All of those places, buildings, landmarks. I live in Manila all my life and recognize them all. Thanks you Mark I was able to imagine the large scale of the battle that took place. It was quite an enlightening experience Sir Mark Feldon.

[@danieladkins9227]

My step father.. fought in this campaign. I'm now almost 60 he was a Master sargent during this time period.

[@cyberpimp29]

Luzon - this is where my grandfather would end up fighting in WW2. He said that there was no water to be found anywhere and it took too long for it to be brought up. He told me they fought the Japanese over a tiny pond of water for an entire day. One of the men under his command had his tongue swell up and nearly died from dehydration. I only note this because he told me so few stories. He said that when they finally forced the Japanese to leave, that the tepid stagnant jungle water from the pond was the best water he ever tasted in his life.

[@johannvon-shindayo4913]

So nice to see battles. That happened in my country that is rarely talked about

[@LuvBorderCollies]

Somewhere in the Philippine islands is a Japanese sub below the surface. My father in law's minesweeper was on patrol when they caught the sub on the surface probably to resupply their troops. They sank it with their one 3" gun. He was really proud of that accomplishment. I've been having a hard time finding the ship's books to pin down the exact location but the logbooks remain elusive, if they still exist anyway.

[@CRM_UmbrellaCo2166]

Ur a Filipino too me I am

[@DEADG6D]

@@LuvBorderCollies thats crazy

[@justanormaluserlol9005]

@Cpl. Rook it means there's no Filipino or pinoy to discuss it

[@osamabinladen824]

@@LuvBorderCollies What's the name of the sub?

[@benjamindover2601]

No matter who wins a battle civilians always loose.

[@admiralgoodboy]

As the saying goes, kings do the fighting peasants do the dieing

[@SL4PSH0CK]

Grave of the fireflies strengthens this statements.

[@SL4PSH0CK]

@@admiralgoodboy aye

[@theunholysoul]

If the Allied forces lost all the battles of the second world war the whole humanity would have been the biggest loser of them all. People must remember the Alliance were fighting cruel racialist totalitarian nations who committed barbaric atrocities to others who they deemed racially lower class. We of the new generation will find it very difficult to comprehend the experienced of the past hence the reason why we humans tend to repeat it. The Second World War-era the Greatest Generation fought in was simply good against evil.

[@PorWik]

theunholysoul ngl i would probably like it better under a postwar nazi regime than communist or capitalist

[@stalag14]

Amazing history lesson Sir. Thank you for this one.

[@kurtdoowee9282]

Hi Dr Mark Felton, I hope you notice me. I'm from the Philippines I want to suggest another video from you. I hope you can make a video of Hiroo Onoda. The Japanese soldier who hid in the jungles of the Philippines and did not surrender not until 30 yrs after the war was over. Thank you for all you informative and historical videos about the wars that changed our world.

[@Generalfund]

My grandfather was fighting in the less glamorous but equally brutal Luzon - scaling mountains and digging the Japanese out of heavily defended positions...

[@Len1977gt]

My grandfather fought at Guadalcanal

[@bryanitza-chulopez1658]

My gramps was at Luzon, served in the 158th Combat Regiment. Arizona Bushmasters stand tall with their motto being "Cuidado!"

[@Yuudachi_Pois]

I dont know what my grandpa did during those times he never spoke of it to me until he died

[@thomasmitchell4128]

@@Yuudachi_Pois So...after he died was when he began talking with you ?

[@Yuudachi_Pois]

@@thomasmitchell4128 no he never spoke of it at all

[@Tamburello_1994]

Thank you Dr. Felton for another history lesson.

[@ontariofirs7347]

La Ciudad Española de Manila- preciosa y gloriosa, siempre en nuestra corazones. ♥️

[@allananderson1906]

Thank you Mark .Another informative vid!

[@junyisang8672]

My wife’s grandfather fought the Japanese as a guerrilla fighter for years until the end of WW2. He almost never spoke about it and never really spoke ever again after the War. He died and we never got to fully hear his story until after letters started to come in from old friends about how brave and fearless he was. They sent photos and wrote memories of him and my wife never knew most of these things about him. All of his sons served in the US military and became Americans, deciding to fight for the country that fought so hard with them against the Japanese. We always remember him.

[@gabrielhuin]

It’s crazy because I was in Manila in 2009 and you can still see remnants of blown up tanks and vehicles Outside of the city

[@xXxSkyViperxXx]

what? where? in the museums? or resorts or hacienda tour places? those were the only places i remember seeing them

[@gabrielhuin]

xXxSkyViperxXx There’s a couple places outside the city where the river crossings I’ve seen blown up tanks I forgot exactly where at I’m looking more into it to see if I can find it again

[@PyroFTB]

@@gabrielhuin probably been removed but I'd love to see some in-person

[@dipaculao1960]

Get back to reality. You may still be dreaming. LImit watching WW2 films.

[@wolfthequarrelsome504]

Most Ive seen are some bullet holes in the walls of IntraMurros which may have been from the filipino spanish or filipino american wars.

[@TriggeringOpinionsandFacts]

IVe watched so many of your videos yet never subbed. Looking forward to being notified of your content rather than being at the will of the algorithm

[@sonyavengeance]

This channel is brilliant! Ez sub

[@bigp3006]

Great work! I've been studying this war for nearly 50 years, my dad, gone since 2014, was in the Philippines 42-45. He saw the Japanese cruelty and always kept 1 bullet for himself having stated; I wouldn't let them take me alive.

[@LionKing-ew9rm]

It was more like Asia's Warsaw though...

[@cjanoel]

good point

[@canaanclb]

Yeah I'd say Guadalcanal was the Stalingrad of the Pacific War.

[@HaloFTW55]

I’d say that Shanghai is more of Asia’s Stalingrad considering how much of a bloodbath it was there.

[@kemejaputih2128]

@@HaloFTW55 don't take it seriously...this guy just click baiting with the word Stalingrad for views

[@karlosmaximus2910]

Yeah, it's the Asian Warsaw, I also compare Nanking to Berlin (too much rape)

[@briankorbelik2873]

I had a friend at work for many years and grew up in Manila. He was lucky and lived in North Manila, north of the Pasig river. He was 5 when Manila was liberated. He tld me that the fighting in North Manila wasn't too bad, but he told me about his relatives in South Manila. That branch of his family,were nearly all wiped out by the Japanese.

[@coolspot18]

Great video, the Pacific, Chinese, and South East Asian WWII theaters are often neglected by many WWII documentaries and historians.

[@cutterPillow01]

This is too heartbreaking, having lived in Manila for the past 10 years, I see everyday the scars of war, the remnants of the old glorious Manila, and sadly its present state of decay, not only architecturally but socioeconomically as well.

[@joshuakevinserdan9331]

"old glorious Manila" There's a bit of truth right there but even if it was not destroyed, It would not mean that Manila would be really good to live in right now. The Manila the video was talking about had just a 700k population. Lower population means it would be easier to manage it. And even if it was not destroyed, Manila would still not be in a good shape in the modern world, it would just be a capital with a lot of old buildings and an aging infrastructure. The problem is the government itself. Philippines was not politically and economically stable when it became independent from US until recently.

[@cutterPillow01]

@@joshuakevinserdan9331 The elites of the country are pragmatic, it would be easier for them to build the likes of Ortigas and the Makati CBD from scratch, rather than rebuild war torn Manila. Plus the fact that war reparations were not enough, and much of that money, well, went inside the pockets of officials.

[@joshuakevinserdan9331]

@@cutterPillow01 My opinion is that they should not rebuild the pre-war Manila. Manila is way bigger than the pre war Manila. Manila should be built in the international standard with good public transportation, and other public services.

[@cutterPillow01]

@@joshuakevinserdan9331 well we are way past rebuilding old Manila. They can't even save those architectural gems still standing at Escolta. You mean Metro Manila? Because the City of Manila is only a part of that, and rehabilitating Manila is never a bad idea, it still has its history to attract tourists, and you know so students don't have to contend with Manila's urine and puke smelling, rat infested streets.

[@cplpetergriffin1583]

gio fuellos Things are looking up though, the Philippines is rapidly industrializing bringing in lots of investment and jobs. More money is flowing in than ever before, hopefully some of that gets distributed to Manila. Also is the traffic in metro Manila really as bad as they say?

[@BillMorganChannel]

First off...I love the Marines, I am in awe of their efforts at Iwo Jima, Pelelieu, Guadalcanal, Okinawa and others...and they were great at communicating their greatness...nothing wrong with that. Sadly, few recognize the U.S. Army in the Pacific "silently" did incredible things as well.... little is heard or known of the Army in the Phillipines, New Guinea, Burma, the Aleutian Islands and others....again I am not the slightest anti-Marine...they were amazing, but the Army's efforts are sadly unknown....Great job Mr. Felton!

[@leemichael2154]

More light needs to be shone on this theatre of WW2 , my grandad fought there, needs more attention

[@jetsrule09]

My grandfather was in New Guinea and the Philippines with 6th Infantry Division. He was wounded outside of Manilla in February 1945. The Army is really overlooked in some parts!

[@dimitrikissov4947]

Yes, as the SF guys say, the reason their are more people assigned to SEAL and Marine units is because they are there to record the action for the media.

[@LuvBorderCollies]

@@jetsrule09 It certainly is overlooked in the Pacific. A lot of Philippines action was overlooked because of Iwo Jima, IMHO any way.

[@edl617]

In the pacific theatre I had an Uncle in the Marines, an Uncle in the Navy and my Dad in the Army. Two uncles in the ETO and one uncle running around in the CBI doing stuff that I later learned was classified. Bonus. They all came home alive.

[@manz7860]

Thank you for the video. Insane footage

[@douglasljdunn]

This could have been avoided had Yamashita declared Manila an "Open City" as happened when the Japanese first captured Manila. He deservedly paid the ultimate price as a war criminal

[@navblue20]

The problem was the Japanese Navy would not have obeyed his orders which they didn't anyway.

[@NikoChristianWallenberg]

No. Yamashita was the nominal commander of Japanese forces, but Japan's military command structure was so that the navy forces attached to Yamashita's army acted independently from the army, the navy forces having their own commanders with their own orders. Simply blame the general even if he didn’t authorize or order the crimes committed - no, that’s not good: by that account ALL Allied generals whose troops committed crimes should have been trialed. Yamashita was not even an advocate of the war - he had called for Japan to end the war in China and he had been vocal in his call for peace with Britain and America - which made him unpopular with the pro-war faction and led to him being reassigned to Manchukuo away from the frontlines, despite his victories and being one of Japan’s most talented generals, before being sent to the Philippines. Yamashita was made the scapegoat.

[@Urlocallordandsavior]

For stuff like raping and pilliaging the Philippine countryside, as well as his actions during the Malaya campaign, I would agree, to a certain extent, but you can't deny he was a bit of a scapegoat for the crap the Japanese Navy did in the Battle of Manila.

[@jerryrichards8172]

If he did that todays social media wouldn't have something to complain about how the Americans are bad.

[@isaiahscobel]

TLDR IJA IJN rivalry fucked it up again

[@Collateral0]

Rod Serling was a paratrooper in the Army who landed in the Philippines and was one of the first troops to fight at the Battle of Manila, his unit sustained a 50% casualty rate, in which Serling himself was wounded. However he volunteered to go back and did stating he had to “clean up”. He often would run into the line of fire and showed true capability in combat.

[@ChrisHustonphoto]

The twilight zone guy? The purple testament episode was set in the Phils.

[@firemangan2731]

No way!? The host of The Twilight Zone landed in my country!? I’m amazed...

[@chrispierce1739]

@@firemangan2731 I believe that Rod Serling went back to Philippines years later after the War and was honored there during his visit.

[@myballs24]

In a photo of Rod Serling in the 50s you can see him with a silver ID bracelet that has his jump wings on it.

[@johnschuh8616]

@@myballs24 A man of high intelligence and character. May he rest in peace.

[@PaperclipClips]

Some of the locations in the video: 00:54 - Rizal Baseball Stadium, Malate 1:00 - Manila City Hall, Ermita 9:55 - Monumento, Caloocan 13:46 - San Juan de Letran, Intramuros

[@Kabutoes]

Could you imagine a Rising Storm game where the map features baseball field with Japanese navy and US army troops battling? It would be insnae

[@retrovirus_exe]

The Beatles' only tour in the Philippines held at Rizal Stadium in 1966.

[@theHerathrig]

@@Kabutoes Hey yeah, why don't ww2 have battle of manila as a level? It would make an interesting urban warfare map.

[@blitzwing7545]

10:57 - University of Santo Tomas - Main Building

[@ianhomerpura8937]

3:24 - Pangasinan Provincial Capitol, Lingayen

[@skleem4871]

Beautiful footage and narration

[@Zerojquan]

Once again, Dr. Felton has proven to be effective communicator in bring a much sensitive topic into a well research and narrated piece. I am honored to have watch this video. Thank you.

[@freda8586]

Thank you very much, sir. I was born in Manila and few of the buildings in the videos are still there, although rebuilt. Fortunately, my parents weren't trapped in Manila during the battle (they left for their province). All what you stated were well known among Filipinos who took time to read our history. One of my late uncles was actually pressed by the Japanese to dig entrenchments for them -along with other male civilians taken by force- and then fed one bowl of rice after. That night, the Japanese left one guard, so he was able to escape. He was quite sure that if he hadn't escaped, he would have been executed the next day with the other civilians pressed into forced labor. Once again, thank you for featuring this battle.

[@planetkc]

As a filipino, we never learned anything this in-depth.

[@ablanuza76]

That's what libraries are for. You can't fit all of the details of the Pacific theater of war in a few lessons. I learned most of what i know about WW2 in our country from my grandfather who was a guerrilla fighter during the Japanese occupation.

[@planetkc]

@@ablanuza76 bro our strict parents in the Philippines don't even permit us to go outside anywhere even tp important events we're invited to.

[@theoheinrich529]

@@planetkc Truly a bruh moment for the Filipino youth.

[@sethleoric2598]

I guess it's only because it's heavily summarized as in >invasion>colonisation>war crimes> death march > Mcarthur's return>we win but i get why, i mean i guess telling 1st graders about all the war crimes would be pretty bad but yeah i kinda wish they'd get more in -depth

[@Dog.soldier1950]

Planet KC that’s sad

[@furdiebant]

How is this not better known about? Thank you for this

[@markfriedrichgruber5325]

Love your videos bro! Keep it up! Greetings from Manila 🇵🇭

[@ComboSlicer]

Always brings a smile to my face when Mark Felton has uploaded a new video

[@paulklee5790]

ComboSlicer. Not exactly a smile I hope...

[@ddrennon]

Thanks for telling the story: My father was there and spoke often about how brutal the fighting was in Manila.

[@isaacdestura7495]

I see the markers for the Bataan death march every time I visit my grandparents and a statue commemorating the first line of defence held at Bataan by the American-Filipino force. Thinking about it now, it might’ve been what got me into history

[@jerryumfress9030]

The buck stopped at Yamashitas table. He was fully aware of the thousands of pows that died or were murdered by his men, without remorse. Many hundreds of American citizens in Manila as well as The British and other nationalities there when the Japanese invaded were mercilessly slaughtered by the Japanese, and their bodies were never found. When I was a small child in the 1950s, my dad's close friend was a corpman, he was there during the massive cleanup and said it was the worst thing he'd ever seen

[@insanedestiny5164]

2:27 Holy hell, the fact they were having to spray down their platforms with sea water shows how long and how consistent they were firing.......

[@joachimguderian4048]

Insane destiny- not platforms, spraying down gun barrels. You fire that many rounds that fast and without cooling the barrels can and will warp, which ruins them.

[@SunnyIlha]

Yes, the naval guns are seen blast-steaming off the water upon contact.

[@ttboy2004]

Interesting the Japanese have an amnesia when you ask them about the atrocities their military committed during WW2 they are taught they were the victims not aggressors

[@Swearing0000]

Fridolf måne I’m interested in hearing more about these atrocities...tell me more. Got any examples?

[@michaelholton700]

Fridolf måne totally man! People act like the US didn’t plan a preemptive strike for months on Japan to disable their naval power in an effort to quickly expand our sphere of influence in Eastern Asia. Wait...

[@danielpark8492]

Same for Americans. You calls others idiots but ill ask you about the atrocities from your military during ww2. Let me guess you dont know any lol which means your the bigger idiot

[@StephenJennings-es2iu]

@@fridolfmane1063 your like the person who wants the woman who beats up a rapist to he brought up on assault

[@CasualNotice]

@@danielpark8492 In the South Atlantic, our navy took to destroying civilian tankers and freighters shipping supplies to European Axis nations and colonies. We put 100,000s of our own citizens in holding facilities based on a fear that they might betray their nation of birth (or choice) because they resembled people across the ocean. We joined Great Britain in firebombing Dresden and other German industrial targets. We firebombed Tokyo, Kyoto, and other Japanese targets (conceivably worse than the European bombings, since those cities had huge amounts of ancient wooden structures). We refused to assist Ho Chi Minh against the Japanese (because he also wanted to be free of French control). There are other, less obvious issues, which I'm probably missing, but yes, we teach them in our schools and we discuss them when the subject comes up. The US isn't the greatest nation in the world. We're not a magic utopia. We are free, however, and, for the most part, we are unafraid to discuss our failures in an effort to be better.

[@d3vilmaycry25]

Times has changed and Philippines and Japan are friends, but we will never forget. So that it won't ever be repeated again.

[@WeCube1898]

Japan just paying his debts to the Island Nation, that once before the pre-colonial era was once of its major trading partner. Japan would never again dare to do War against the Philippines, they know they will loss again.

[@d3vilmaycry25]

@escorpiuser They did. Well... most of them.

[@d3vilmaycry25]

@escorpiuser Some were rebuild like Manila Cathedral, some are rubble, but are historic sites, I believe we got the largest share in reparations 500 million (5.5 billion today) if I remember it right.

[@voldemortthenoselessfreak2126]

@escorpiuser It's pretty hard to rebuild some, especially most of those historic buildings has "Bahay Na Bato" style. and it's evident on the old architecture of Ateneo de Manila. it's pretty hard to mimick its original architecture especially the marvelous design of its doorway entrance.

[@freedomisfromtruth]

How do you do that, Russia and Poland will never be friends when a country does atrocities.

[@patrickjfitzmorris]

Mark, maybe a piece on the Battle of Tarawa. Keep up the good work! Amazing videos!

[@OffGridSupplies]

I knew that Manila was bad in 1945, but didn't realise the true scale of what happened. Thanks for putting together this analysis.

[@KiddKoalaz]

I'm a Filipino American born and raised. My grandpa said he and my grandma ran so many miles away from the Japanese through farms and jungles of the Philippines. I should ask about this time frame and show my grandpa this video! Such an awesome KZbin channel! Thank you!

[@vacysmotuzas4267]

Great video Mark. Very informative ...

[@primosquash3741]

Mark. Even GOIN back a YEAR.. I still look forward to your videos