Schlacht um Manila

The Manila post office building under attack by U.S. troops, 26 February 1945. When photo was taken, the American soldiers were rushing Japanese positions in the post office. Note extensive fire damage to buildings in the area, and wrecked bridges.

Filipino survivors of the assault on the walled city area, after their liberation by U.S. troops, 23 February 1945

Stretcher party brings out a wounded U.S. soldier, following an attack by U.S. troops to liberate Filipino prisoners in the walled city, 23 February 1945. Note wrecked buildings.

Destruction at the Walled City (Intramuros district) of old Manila in May 1945 — after the Battle of Manila.

Battle of Manila a U.S. Army M4 Sherman tank enters old Fort Santiago through a somewhat enlarged gate, 26 February 1945. Note crest carved over the gate, and extensive damage.

U.S. infantrymen make a house to house search for Japanese inside the ruins of the walled city, from which they had liberated hundreds of Filipino prisoners, 23 February 1945.

Classic pincer movement with the Sixth Army advancing from the north, and Eighth Army from the south to capture Manila.

Battle of Manila (1945) map at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial

Battle of Manila Historical Marker installed in Freedom Triangle Plaza, Manila City Hall

Scope and content: Complete demolition of the Legislature Building in Manila, P.I. One of the finest government buildings in the Far East, it was the pride of the Philippine Government. Filipino citizens pass the building and look in abject wonderment at the results of total war.

Damage to the Manila Post Office 1945

Destroyed during the Battle of Manila of 1945. Photo taken from archived of F.K. Ellington, Army Photographer during WWII, serving in the Pacific Theatre for 15 months. He was discharged from Camp Atterbury, Indiana December 28, 1945

Damage to the Manila Post Office 1945
![Injured POWs (MAMAS D45-457-90), National Museum of Health and Medicine
Description: Two injured POWs [prisoners of war] near hte Bilibid Prison Camp. Manila, Philippine Islands.
During Japanese occupation, Bilibid Prison was used as a camp, hospital, and transit center for POWs. Many of the thousands of POWs processed here throughout the war were American. It was liberated during battle in February 1945 and 1,200 internees were freed. It now serves as a penitentiary.
Date: circa 1945
Photo ID: MAMAS D45-457-90
Source collection: OHA 220.1: Museum and Medical Arts Service (MAMAS) Photographs
Repository: National Museum of Health and Medicine, Otis Historical Archives
Rights: No known restrictions upon publication, physical copy retained by National Museum of Health and Medicine. Publication and high resolution image requests should be directed to the NMHM (http://www.medicalmuseum.mil/" rel="nofollow">www.medicalmuseum.mil/)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Injured_POWs_%28MAMAS_D45-457-90%29%2C_National_Museum_of_Health_and_Medicine_%283390876128%29.jpg)
Injured POWs (MAMAS D45-457-90), National Museum of Health and Medicine Description: Two injured POWs [prisoners of war] near hte Bilibid Prison Camp. Manila, Philippine Islands. During Japanese occupation, Bilibid Prison was used as a camp, hospital, and transit center for POWs. Many of the thousands of POWs processed here throughout the war were American. It was liberated during battle in February 1945 and 1,200 internees were freed. It now serves as a penitentiary. Date: circa 1945 Photo ID: MAMAS D45-457-90 Source collection: OHA 220.1: Museum and Medical Arts Service (MAMAS) Photographs Repository: National Museum of Health and Medicine, Otis Historical Archives Rights: No known restrictions upon publication, physical copy retained by National Museum of Health and Medicine. Publication and high resolution image requests should be directed to the NMHM (http://www.medicalmuseum.mil/" rel="nofollow">www.medicalmuseum.mil/)

Japanese Imperial forces wounded surrender to US and Filipino soldiers under the United States Army and Philippine Commonwealth Army in unidentified city in Manila, May 1945. Note the American troops on the right foreground carrying two M1 Garand rifles.

L5-B air evacuation (MAMAS D45-416-24K), National Museum of Health and Medicine Description: Patient in a cast being loaded onto L-5B for evacuation by air. On nose of plane: "Angel of Mercy sponsored by the students of Keating School, Detroit, Michigan." 98th Evacuation Hospital, Manila, Philippine Islands. Date: February 1945 Photo ID: MAMAS D45-416-24K Source collection: OHA 220.1: Museum and Medical Arts Service (MAMAS) Photographs Repository: National Museum of Health and Medicine, Otis Historical Archives Rights: No known restrictions upon publication, physical copy retained by National Museum of Health and Medicine. Publication and high resolution image requests should be directed to the NMHM (http://www.medicalmuseum.mil/" rel="nofollow">www.medicalmuseum.mil/)

Map for the Capture of Manila

U.S. troops at the Rizal Baseball Stadium, Manila

U.S. troops entering Walled City, Manila

Destroyed Legislature Building, Manila

Aerial view of Manila: Bilibid Prizon at lower left; note roadblock on Quezon Boulevard, left center

Citizens of Manila run for safety from suburbs burned by Japanese soldiers

U.S. troops fighting in the Walled City, Manila

Scope and content: Complete demolition of the Legislature Building in Manila, P.I. One of the finest government buildings in the Far East, it was the pride of the Philippine Government. Filipino citizens pass the building and look in abject wonderment at the results of total war.
Scope and content: Complete demolition of the Legislature Building in Manila, P.I. One of the finest government buildings in the Far East, it was the pride of the Philippine Government. Filipino citizens pass the building and look in abject wonderment at the results of total war.
Historische Übersicht
Die Schlacht um Manila fand im Februar und März 1945 zwischen japanischen und US-amerikanischen und philippinischen Truppen um die philippinische Hauptstadt Manila statt. Manila war am 2. Januar 1942 von der Kaiserlich Japanischen Armee während der Schlacht um die Philippinen erobert worden. Im Zuge der Befreiung der Philippineninsel Luzon im Januar 1945 waren amerikanische Truppen der 6. US-Armee unter Generalleutnant Walter Krueger am 9. Januar 1945 im Golf von Lingayén auf Luzon amphibisch gelandet. Während die 270.000 Mann starke japanische 14. Regionalarmee unter dem Befehl von General Yamashita Tomoyuki sich nach Baguio und dem Norden der Insel zurückzog, blieben etwa 14.000 Marinesoldaten, die von Vizeadmiral Sanji Iwabuchi befehligt wurden, in Manila zurück. Sie wurden durch 6.000 Armeesoldaten sowie etwa 4.000 versprengte Soldaten, die ihre Einheit während des Kampfes verloren hatten, ergänzt. Am 2. Februar erreichte die 1. US-Kavalleriedivision die Stadt. Etwa 8.000 amerikanische Fallschirmjäger der 11. US-Luftlandedivision waren inzwischen in Nasugbu gelandet und marschierten schnell in Richtung Manila. Am 4. Februar kam ihr Vormarsch ins Stocken, da etwa 12.000 Japaner den Süden der Stadt verteidigten. Heftiger Beschuss durch MG und Artillerie hielt die US-Truppen etwa zwei Kilometer vor Manila, auf den Tagaytay-Hügeln, fest. Die Verluste waren sehr hoch, und die japanischen Soldaten griffen zwei Mal mit Artillerieunterstützung die Positionen der 11. Luftlandedivision an. Der Teil der 2. japanischen Panzerdivision, der die Stadt verteidigte, unterstützte den Angriff. Für die Amerikaner war es jedoch leicht, beide Banzai-Angriffe durch schweres Abwehrfeuer zu brechen. Etwa 800 japanische Soldaten wurden dabei getötet. Mehrere japanische Panzer griffen an und konnten, da die Luftlandetruppen keine Panzerabwehrwaffen besaßen, nicht zurückgeworfen werden. Nach heftigem Beschuss durch Maschinengewehre traten sie jedoch den Rückzug an. Am 6. Februar wurden sechs Panzerabwehrkanonen (PaK) eingeflogen, und kurz darauf zerstörten die GIs damit drei Panzer. Ein weiterer japanischer Angriff wurde in der Nacht durch massives Gegenfeuer gebrochen.
Fakten auf einen Blick
USA/Philippinen
- Befehlshaber: Douglas MacArthur
- Truppenstärke: 35000
- Verluste: 1010
Japanische Marine
- Befehlshaber: Sanji Iwabuchi †
- Truppenstärke: 17000
- Verluste: 16000
Strategischer Kontext
Befreiung der Philippinen von japanischer Besatzung.
Weiterführende Literatur



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Die Schlacht um Berlin und das Ende des Dritten Reichs 1945

Hunde, wollt ihr ewig leben: ein Stalingrad-Roman

Roter Hunger: Stalins Krieg gegen die Ukraine


Söldner ohne Sold: Die deutschen Freikorps 1918–1923

Vom Massensturm zur Stoßtrupptaktik: Die deutsche Landkriegtaktik im Spiegel von Dienstvorschriften und Publizistik 1906 bis 1918

Wir Wehr-Wölfe: Erinnerungen eines Freikorps-Führers

Zweiter Weltkrieg Erlebnisbericht Apokalypse Stalingrad: Untergang der 6. Armee 1942-1943
Walter Mönch
Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich
William Shirer
Historische Orte
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