I am puzzled about the acts of revenge in some/many japanese camps at after the end of the war. It's been a while that I read books about these stories so i don't remember titles. But I can't understand/visualize how is that until the surrender of the Japanese...no POW would ever think of rebellion (even though in their thousands (weak, but thouasands nonetheless) facing 30 to 50 japanese(korean) camp thugs (in Burma/Siam/Indonesia/Philippines/Malaya/China) but once the news is spread over the radio/pamflets , all of a sudden (in a number of camps) the now 10 to 20 camp thugs still having their rifles and machetes (and that did not flee with the commanders) do get overrun by skinny , weak POWs and clubbed to death. How is that possible ? The same POWs could have done so before, but didn't . And the stayed behind Jap camp staff still have the same firing/aggression potential, but did not use it (to the fullest). This change in moral is that powerfull, that strong ?
Imprisoned in a craphole deep in Jungle, on Island or within fortified enemy area. Emaciated, malnourished, diseased. Rebel, even succesfully: 100% chance of death anyway from retaliation, disease etc. It's not like being imprisoned in Europe where a 'Home Run' seems within the realm of possibilities. News of Japanese surrender received: Rebel, take revenge, etc. - decent chance of rescue within time, and even more worth the risk to stop local guards refusing to surrender in the manner they have been indoctrinated into.
Yes exactly VP, all I can add is that most camps were planning how to stop the Japanese committing mass-murder and exterminating all the men in these camps, rather than surrender peacefully, which, let's face it, up until then the Japanese were famous for not doing. Escape was more or less impossible for white skinned soldiers in the SE Asia theatre.
Arnhem44 I know there is no shortage of books about life as a POW in Japanese hands, but you could do a lot worse than get hold of a copy of "Kept - The Other Side of Tenko" by L.L.Baynes AKA Snowy Barnes: http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/20019-welcome-aboard-snowy/ Then ask yourself again, if he, or his fellow prisoners, could have escaped Ron
Yes, no chance of fleeing successfully as some white guy in Asia, and even less than none after being starved/beaten/malaria-ed and all that. To give you an idea of what would happen you can look at the few examples of Japanese trying to break out of Camps in Australia; lots got shot and they all got rounded up quickly. The intent was to continue the fight rather than successfully escape- in one case several leaders hanged themselves to give the others the courage to escape (!). Laurens van Der Post's book 'The Night of the New Moon' is an interesting account of POW life under the Japanese and includes description of their plans for resistance if the Japanese tried to massacre them rather than give up the camp.
Arnhem44 You won't be puzzled if you read two examples of things perpetrated, which would make anyone seek vengeance on their captors and tormentors. I have removed the names of the people and dates in case relatives come across this thread.
Interesting post but yours Rob even though it was a long time ago has upset me . I do not understand how the japs could be so cruel were any of the japs brought to account after the war like some Germans were. Now here is one of my stupid questions ,why did none of the allied bosses organise getting them out instead of letting them suffer at the hands of the japs for years as I learn more of our lads treatment as prisoners of the japs I cannot believe how japan has been allowed to grow yet again to be powerful .it's frightening really. Elsie
There was one large-scale rescue of American POW's, 'The Great Raid' in 1945. But for most of the war it simple wasn't possible. Japan has indeed become powerful, largely as a result of American and general western investment post-war. It's worth noting that Japan fought as an ally to the UK in the boxer rebellion, WW1 and in the Russian Civil War, and Japanese troops have been involved in humanitarian missions in Iraq, Cambodia and Nepal. In Iraq they were escorted everywhere by coalition troops, often French, as they are still not allowed to fire their weapons even in self- defence. The writer and Japanophile Laurens Van Der Post, who was POW of the Japanese for 3 years, said that Japan fell into a 'dark night of the soul' in the 1930's. That seems as good an epitaph as any on that time. And yes, there were a few trialsexecutions after the war, as there were in Germany.
Also of relevance is the fact that during WW1 the Japanese captured many Germans in their Pacific colonies and, it seems, they looked after them very considerately. It seems they just lost it totally in the 30's and 40's. Another example of how the thin veneer of humanity can disappear quickly in the wrong circumstances. Regards Tom
