Battle of Manila (50 Minutes)
Documentary - Available

The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941. They attacked the Philippines the next day and soon reached the outskirts of Manila.

The city of Manila was declared an ‘Open City’ by General MacArthur in order to spare human suffering and life. But the advancing Japanese army paid no heed.

General MacArthur retreated to the island of Corregidor were he held out for several weeks He was ordered by President Roosevelt to escape to Australia and mount an offensive to retake the Pacific region. General Wainwright held a few weeks longer before surrendering.

MacArthur began his steady advance across the Pacific, removing Japanese forces island by island until he got to the Philippines. After the Leyte landings and the Battle of Leyte Gulf MacArthur pressed onto to Manila.

The Battle of Manila was the most destructive attack on a city other than Dresden. Street to street fighting was ferocious and bloody.

This is the story.