The Battle of Manila: 75 years after one of WWII's deadliest battles 

The 105-year old veteran looks remarkably fit and healthy for his age considering he fought in one of the most brutal battles of the Second World War.

Manila never recovered from this battle, nowadays I dont think anyone can still call it the Pearl of the Orient

Manila is second to Stalingrad as being the city with the fiercest urban fighting during the war.

"The loss of cultural and architectural heritage is today considered a national tragedy." Pearl of the Orient😢 Still mourning.

I see pictures and read accounts of prewar Manila and it sends shivers down my spine: the cafes, the Portuguese and German quarters, the Chinese-Filipino architecture, the theaters, the boulevards, the tramlines. No wonder it was seen as a world city then. Sadly, we never fully recovered.

As a Filipino, this is hurting to watch. My country has never fully recovered from the war. And up to this day, much of the history is unknown to the rest of the world. Manila was the second worst hit city after Warsaw, the whole city just went into rubble and was never fully restored. Lost of lives, too, the Manila massacre of civilians about 100 thousand people that cannot be replaced by amount of money or reparations. We only received apologies from both the United States and Japan. If WWII did not happen and my country was not turned into a bloodbath in the pacific, things would have been totally different by now.

The second most destroyed city after Warsaw....it has been forgotten.

It was the rape of Manila. Choosing Manila as the battle ground has left a big scar in the Philippines. We never fully recovered as a nation after the war. Manila was never the same after the bombs and guns had rampaged its streets. We lost a big part of our national identity because of these attrocities, and the trauma that we had from that experience was just covered with layers of unhealthy coping mechanisms over the years. Until this day, we suffer the consequences of WWII. 😥

They say that the slums in Tondo was supposed to be a temporary settlement and the residents were supposed to be relocated after the city was rebuilt. In the end, the supposedly temporary settlement became a permanent one.

My maternal grandparents was murdered by the Japanese kempeitai, leaving my then one year old grand father under the care of his elder siblings.

The liberation of Manila or the Battle of Manila was one of the bloodiest and worst scene of urban fighting in the Pacific theatre and also during World War II. Hundreds of thousand innocent civilians died and it destroyed lots of historical architectures dated back Spanish colonial era. And also Manila was one of the devastated cities after the war.

What makes more sad is that many Japanese poeple forget thier country even participated in ww2 which is very insulting for the poeple who died and families destroyed in the war

My grandfather is now 86 years old, I am still grateful and lucky to gather information about his history for my school researches, in exchange for my care for him every day.

My grandparents spoke of how beautiful pre war Manila was. The city was filled with historical landmarks, tree lined avenues were clean and had no traffic, the air was fresh, and people were stylishly dressed yet polite and well mannered. It was so safe in the city, people could leave their homes without locking the doors. After the war, things were never the same. Centuries old medieval architecture burned to the ground, infrastructure completely destroyed and corruption became rampant due to the loss of morality. The city never truly recovered to this day. This is not just a national tragedy but a tragedy to human civilisation as well.

What hurts more is that this part of history is mostly ignored and forgotten

As a Filipino, the Largest Naval Battle in history and one of the Largest Land Battle outside of Europe being mostly washed over and forgotten by most Westerners is trully heartbreaking.

It's so sad to know that these kind of things about my country aren't being taught thoroughly in our schools.

As a filipino, it makes me sad to recall everything that happen in my country. My grandmother told me about her life during the war. They lost everything. She even said to us that our culture was lost.

Salute and Respect to our FILIPINO War Veterans ... Thank you so Much For your Service , Sacrifice and Bravery to Defend our Country... The Freedom that We Have Know is the Fruit of Your Bravery and Sacrifice... Proud to be Pinoy.. LAND OF THE BRAVE!!❤❤🔥🔥🔥

A salute to the veterans! Thank you for your service.

Japan has always played the victim card because they where bommed. But they themselves has committed alot of atrocities during the war.

Manila will never recover. Japan's cruelty will forever be buried in Manila's very core of memories.

My Great Grandmother, who is still alive, told stories of how the Japanese occupied Mindanao. They talked about how they had to hide in holes and caves and go on for days without food before seeing fellow Filipinos also hiding. Man I can only imagine what they went through.

I’ve met really old people who said they will never forgive the japanese.

My grandfather was a POW in the Death March and managed to escape just merely being lucky and being a native of the area. I never knew him well, but I am proud to have that history within my family. Despite all the terror that were brought upon the Japanese and even our previous colonizers, I hope we don't harbour ill feelings towards the people of these races. Educate the masses to try to prevent history from repeating.

People who lived that time in the Philippines especially those who fought the war. Almost all of them reached the age of 90 or more before passing away in this world so maybe that is the gift of God that was given to them

Thats why my grandfather still angry to japan.

I HOPE THIS HERO RECEIVED HIS 100,000 PESOS FROM THE GOVERNMENT ON HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY AND A SUCCEEDING 100 THOUSAND AGAIN EVERY YEAR FOR EVERY ADDITIONAL BIRTHDAY AS PASSED BY LAW. GRANDPA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY. YOU ARE TRULY A HERO!!!🙏🏼👏👍

This is why the hiroshima and nagasaki happened. Pure justice.

Brave men. My late father served in the South Pacific during WWII and was involved in the liberation of the Philippines and we have a picture of the guerrilla fighters rowing out to my father's ship. They would tell the Americans the Japanese troop strength and position, under great risk.

My dad was a WWII in the Philippines, New Guinea and Manila.. I have hundreds of pictures probably around 1942 before the bombing started.. My dad was in a tank battalion I have pictures of him and his buddies in New Guinea and Manila standing there getting pictures taken very beautiful all the pictures that I have.. my grandfather fought in World War 1 in Paris France.. I fought in Vietnam from 1970 to 1973 we have a long history of military veterans..🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

I hope Hollywood would make a movie about this.

U.S. government screwed these poor soldiers - allies. Sometimes it's better to be our enemies than friends, what a shame.

4:04 Hits so hard.

I have half the age of that veteran and i feel twice as old...

Listening and knowing this part of modern history makes me appreciate and decided to keep the peace we’ve achieved. There may be hiccups on our society today, but what they’ve experienced is waaay much worse.

Greed for power and money have brought a lot of tragedy in this world. May we not forget the sacrifices made by these brave souls, and the lives lost.

Sana magawan to ng film, dedicated para sa mga nagsakripisyong filipino at mga amerikano ❤️

THANK YOU! ❤

This needs more views

Yes, we can all agree that many parts of Manila are still "damaged"to this very day. But is there any possibly way that we can fix those "damaged" parts of the city?

the beauty of the Pearl of the Orient vanished 💔🥺🇵🇭

Admittedly, I had never really heard of the Battle of Manila until the recent events involving my own country and Gaza. I heard some vague comparisons so decided to do some research. A terrible tragedy such a horrific event has been so ignored by history. RIP to the victims and brave soldiers who fell there.

My great grandmother still remembers that war even today.

as my grandfather, a native of Manila who grew up during wwii recalls, "after the war, the US gave more aid to the enemy, an enemy we fought for them while they were gone (Japan), than to the people and country they abandoned, the ones they swore to protect"

Its just sad watching the so-called 'Europe of Asia' at its downfall just because of a war and colonization i hope Manila recover its a beautiful diverse city

thank you for documenting on manila during war

thanks DW for featuring this forgotten heroes

I Salute!!!!! He has seen so much, endure so much!!!!! America and Philippines!!!!!! Friends Forever......💞💞💞

And now we have different conquerors today. Hiding behind a mask of “friend” and people choose to look past it

We need this especially in this troubled times...

Someone's cutting onions. 😭

Hirohito still had the testicular fortitude to beg for his survival and live up to 87 years old as emperor. I think he should have taken the same fate as that failed painter from Braunau.

Queen city of the pacific, pearl of the orient spanish 🇪🇸 american 🇺🇲 structure buildings. In 1938 before the war manila is the most beautiful and modern city in the asia ❤️ european style buildings. On this day original structure of manila never recovered after the darkest and deadliest WW2.

The soldiers died but the battlefield where they fought will be there for ever😔

Some correction, it was the Americans who turned Manila into rubble. It was the only way to corner the Japanese. Japanese snippers were hitting Americans and taking them one by one.

After escaping the Death March my grandfather had to fight this battle as well. After the war he drank heavily became an alcoholic and beat my father and Grandmother causing internal problems in my father as well that I inherited. as well as like many Filipino families like us. Pain and suffering is also our legacy to bare/ bear.

My grandfather fought during japanese-american war. As a kid, i was amazed by his stories. Too bad, his compensation of being a soldier was released 10 years after his death.

Manila used to be the Paris of Asia but all we have now in Manila is the broken landmarks like Baluarte De San Diego and some parts of repaired intramuros like Jones Bridge

My grandfather was in this war. He was in charge of running communication lines across the battle field. Armed with just a pistol. He said he was a moving target.

*The most destroyed cities in WWII was Warsaw and Manila, and over 400,000 civilians were killed.*

PLEASE READ THIS: For the record, the Battle of Manila is the sin and fault of General Douglas McArthur. The Philippines would have been spared these horrors but McArthur wanted to keep his promise: "I shall return". Instead of invading Formosa (now Taiwan), and cutting off Imperial Japan from the rest of its conquered territories, McArthur was hellbent on reclaiming the Philippines. Mind you, at this point, Japan was already losing the war. But since, it was the election period in the US. Bypassing the Philippines would tarnish Roosevelt's candidacy, thus, FDR gave in. The destruction of Manila rest squarely on the pride of Douglas McArthur. 400 years worth of culture, traditions, structures, history - gone in a month. Manila, and the Philippines, will never be the same after the "Rape of Manila".

I salute all WW2 US-FILIPINO Veterans. You risked your life for the freedom we have today. Thank you is never enough to pay for what you had given us. May God give you better health and better life. I'm a proud Daughter of WW2 FIL-AM Veteran!

Sad Fact: This wont have happen if MacArthur ate his pride and accept that he failed the Philippines months before Japanese attacked the Philippines. Now you must be asking why? Wasn't MacArthur the one who saved the Philippines from the Japanese oppressors? Yes but the "battle of manila" isnt needed to win a war. Defeating the Japanese forces in the Philippines is not a strategic area that is needed to be capture to win the war. It was solely due to MacArthur's promise that he shall return and liberate it. Had he accepted Marshall and Nimitz's plan which is to island hop until they could bomb Tokyo then Manila wont have been destroyed, thousands of allied soldiers and civilians wont be killed due to bombings. As a young student I was thought that MacArthur was this great general who saved the Philippines but now that I've grown up I've learned that he discarded the ideas of fortifying Philippines months before pearl Harbor (the tension between USA and Japan during the 30s and early 40s is high). His chief of staff is already pleading him to fortify Philippines as a war might erupt between the US and Japan but he did nothing until all was too late. For me he is one of the most overrated ww2 generals.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET OUR HEROES!!!

My grandmother is 6 years old during the pre war and she always tells to my mother how beautiful and glorious Manila way back then ,those old big hispanic inspired mansions ,vintage cars ,big theatres ,busy city ,beautiful architectural designs of church that was built during Spanish era and diversity of people from different cultural backgrounds few are european and americans haystt good old times.

My grandpa is old now.

It will happen again if we forget our history.

What made any of you believe that the Americans would keep their promise to pay you. Philippines people are a great people but to trusting .

I hope the ww2 Memoirs would see this

my grandfather grew up in manila, he was ten years old when his family had to flee from the japanese, his father, my great grandfather, was captured and tortured to death, i remember him describing the event

How come the americans helped japan more in rebuilding rather than giving its ally the Philippines the help it needed in rebuilding the nation after the war🙄🙄🙄

I'm born in late 90s but still, seeing Manila before and comparing it today, it aches my heart. Our city's architectural heritage was never restored and were left to rot and be replaced by generic looking buildings with no soul or appeal that would make the city distinctly Manila.

My great grandpa who was also a guerilla resistance fought with american troops during ww2 he was a paratrooper he jumped in coregedor he told us he lost 50+ of his comrades he has also forgot the names but he had never forgot the faces we even let him discribe what they looked like and let an artist draw it we had the sketch pasted in my grandpa's wall in his room he is 102 right now turning 103in december 18

No more wars🙏🏻🙏🏻

Manila is one of the most iconic and beautiful cities in Asia back then. It has so many remarkable pre spanish architectural buildings . It was also known as "Paris of Asia" because of that European-touch-Architecture .When the war broke out, the Philippine Government tried to replicate what France did. France declared Paris as an "Open City" to preserved and prevent their beloved city from the wrath and destruction of the German Forces. Unfortunately, despite being an "Open City", Manila was not spared by the Japanese Air Force. Destruction of the city followed soon after when the Japanese planes reached the archipelago. It became even worse when the Americans made a come back several years later. Their offensive to regain the capital city from the Japanese forces sealed the fate of that historic city as they're pushing back the Japanese out of the city, it resulted to a massive bombardments by the American Bombers and Military Artillery that destroy the remaining buildings . It was never recover since then, now the City of Manila was just an indicator of a failed city leading by corrupt politicians . The glory of the city is no more there and far from what it is before. Such a tragedy.

My lovely philippines

God bless his soul...😭🙏

My grandfather was in this battle though he died in 2013

Hes doesnt looks like a 105 years old he just looks like 70 - 80 years old

Incredible: I did not know about this part of the northern battle for the Phillipines.... Thanks for uploading. I understand it was the rape of Nanking essentially repeated but with civilian losses of 100,000 civilians... and now we are friends with Japan, against the Chinese. The more they change the more they are the same.... Brave Phillipinos, I salute you !!

yet it is sad that we never make Feb 3 to March 3 a holiday or a national day to remember those who fell to liberate Manila city, and as a filipino it's such a sad sight to see something like this isn't being remembered well

My grandfather was in the battle of manila he passed in 2004 but i still have a medal he was awarded from the Philippine government for liberating the country. He never really talked about it

As a Manileño living in Hamilton, Ontario it grieves my heart that Manila, that Spanish city in the Orient, was wrecked to the ground, bringing down its Spanish heritage and architecture into the ground, never to be restored again to their former glory.

Kung di nag ka WW2 maganda yang Manila, lalo na yung mga Architectural heritage, mag dudulot yan ng maraming turista 😭

my grandfather EMILIO GUINTO born 1909-2003 world War 2 veteran fought against the Japanese strong army together with commander taruc in tarlac and Pampanga.

In the End .. They end as Friends WWII will never forget and never repeat again...

War is not good acdng.to my mother she said my father tell to her that the Japanese soldier are crying and young too...pd

The forgotten war.

this is crazy!!

Wow! It's is really very sorry and very sad stories/ I can remember my father tell about what's happening during the 2nd world war he was 7 years old/ ### Yes we dont want this happened again never again/ God will protect our country our lives and everythings✓ ### And now another big probleme this happened now the Pandemic situations✓ i hope that it will be soon end with God help!++ ##lets as pray brothers and sisters/ that God the spirit of God is always with us✓✓ ## Thanks for the old pilipino veterans I wish him you Sir good luck!

My grandmother told me when they where teenagers they fled to the mountains and climbed trees and or dug bunkers, The reason being that the japanese dont want to go in the mountains as they where superstitious

It is heartbreaking to see the devastation that war brings.Japan was fighting the United States, which had colonized the Philippines, not the Filipino people. The Japanese considered the Filipinos to be their Asian brethren. That is why Japan abolished the military government in 1943 and supported the independence of the Republic of the Philippines.The Greater East Asia Conference was held in Tokyo, and President Laurel attended the conference as a representative of the Philippines. The cause of the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere was to liberate Asia from the colonial rule of the Western powers and to promote the self-reliance of each ethnic group. The U.S. military had a "barrier troop," in which Filipino soldiers were sent to the front and urged to "go, go, go" from the rear. If they run away and retreat, they were to be shot and killed as fleeing the enemy. Americans tied Filipino soldiers to trees to prevent them from retreating or running away. The U.S. military fought in a way that respected the lives of whites and not the lives of people of color. The U.S. military indiscriminately bombarded Manila with no regard for civilian lives. And after the war, they attributed the massacre of 100,000 Manila civilians to the Japanese military.

😢😢😢

My grandfather's grandfather was actually part of the war. Lolo told me he was an ammo carrier during the war, he would run towards his comrades carrying a box of ammo

The question is... why does america help japan to raise its economic rather than us the philippines whom theyre allies in war.?

Japan was indeed the most brutal, but America is the reason why our country was made into a battleground between this 2 giants. And they're not innocents either after taking us from Spain.

My country has not fully recovered up this days... horrible happend to us still now still hurt when we seen like this vids

And to think that im just shuffling around here

To the people of the Philippines , trust no one but yourselves, only us can changed Philippines . Don't let history repeat itself, we been used by other countries multiple times for their own benefits, it's time for all Filipinos to stand up and let our voices be heard. Sulong Pilipinas ,Mabuhay Pres. Du30.