In April 1942, the Japanese army forced over 70,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war to make an arduous march. In the burning sun, they were made to walk one hundred kilometres to reach a train that was to take them to a prisoner-of-war camp. The journey took one week. The prisoners received too little food and drink and were severely beaten by the guards. Thousands of prisoners died on the way.
Prisoners of war and internment camps in Japan
April 10, 1942 Philippines
The Japanese were cruel in their treatment of the prisoners of war and civilians in the occupied territories.
They had to do forced labour under terrible conditions. Throughout East Asia, the Japanese set up internment camps, also called 'Jap camps'. In the Dutch East Indies, the Japanese detained approximately 42,000 soldiers and 100,000 civilians. Families were separated; the men were placed in different camps from the women and children.
Malnutrition, disease, and abuse caused tens of thousands of casualties.
More than ten percent of the allied citizens in Japanese captivity, mainly British, American, and Dutch people, died.
