world war 2 in the Philippines Jun. 2014 | Page 5

P a g e 5 C O M PA R I S O N h a p p e n e d i n O F t h e E V E N T S : o t h e r W h a t C o u n t r i e s ? Netherlands - World War II began in the Netherlands in with its invasion by Nazi Germany on 10 May 1940. On 15 May 1940, one day after the bombing of Rotterdam, the Dutch forces surrendered and the country was in the hands of Germany. Following the defeat, the Netherlands was placed under German occupation, which endured in some areas until the German surrender in May 1945. The Germans deported the majority of the country's Jews to concentration camps, with the cooperation of the Dutch police and civil service; 75% of the country's Jewish population were killed during the conflict; a much higher percentage than comparable countries, like Belgium and France. Philippines - Japan launched a surprise attack on the Philippines on December 8, 1941, just ten hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Initial aerial bombardment was followed by landings of ground troops both north and south of Manila. The defending Philippine and United States troops were under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. The aircraft of his command were destroyed; the naval forces were ordered to leave; and because of the circumstances in the Pacific region, reinforcement and resupply of his ground forces were impossible. Under the pressure of superior numbers, the defending forces withdrew to the Bataan Peninsula and to the island of Corregidor at the entrance to Manila Bay. Then Manila declared an open city to prevent its destruction, and then it was occupied by the Japanese on January 2, 1942. The Philippine defense continued until the final surrender of United States-Philippine forces on the Bataan Peninsula in April 1942 and on Corregidor in May. Most of the 80,000 prisoners of war captured by the Japanese at Bataan were forced to undertake the infamous "Death March" to a prison camp 105 kilometers to the north. It is estimated that as many as 10,000 men, weakened by disease and malnutrition and treated harshly by their captors, died before reaching their destination. MacArthur was ordered to left Philippines and went to Australia, where he started to plan for a return to the Philippines. The two countries in world war 2 was invaded by Germany and Japan, both from Axis forces. Also, both of them suffered great devastations during the war.