General Tomoyuki Yamashita, known as “Tiger of Malaya” and “the Beast of Bataan,” was an officer in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War 2. He also was the supreme commander of all Japanese forces located in the Philippines in which he would later soon be known for the most remarkable single victory of the entire (Pacific) war – the fall of Singapore. Leading the invasion of Malaya and Singapore for around two months ended with Winston Churchill, the former British Prime Minister, to claim that the shameful fall of Singapore was the worst calamity in all of British armed history. Unlike General Eisenhower or General MacArthur, little has been said about Yamashita. Many say that he did nothing, yet he was a person who did the impossible. And many could also claim that he was a man of weakness and ignorance. Due to that, he would later be sent to death, his last words being translated to “I will pray for the Japanese emperor and the emperor’s family, and national prosperity. Dear father and mother I am going to your side. Please educate well my children” (Helms).
Born to a local suburb doctor in …show more content…
He was pledged guilty on December 7, 1945 for not stopping wicked war crimes from his troops, proven from a two-month trial. During their time in Manila, eight thousand civilians were killed, five hundred women were raped, and the Manila Massacre took place. Some say that others’ actions are not his fault and shouldn’t be accounted for, but “…the atrocities were so widespread that Yamashita must have known about them and could have prevented them” (Jalloh 186). On February 23, 1946, Tomoyuki was hung from the gallows. With a kind soul just moments before. he confesses, “I have had good treatment and kindful attitude from your good natured officers, who all the time protect me. I never forget for what they have done for me. Even if I have died, I don't blame my executioners. I will pray to God to bless them” (The Advertiser
Born to a local suburb doctor in …show more content…
He was pledged guilty on December 7, 1945 for not stopping wicked war crimes from his troops, proven from a two-month trial. During their time in Manila, eight thousand civilians were killed, five hundred women were raped, and the Manila Massacre took place. Some say that others’ actions are not his fault and shouldn’t be accounted for, but “…the atrocities were so widespread that Yamashita must have known about them and could have prevented them” (Jalloh 186). On February 23, 1946, Tomoyuki was hung from the gallows. With a kind soul just moments before. he confesses, “I have had good treatment and kindful attitude from your good natured officers, who all the time protect me. I never forget for what they have done for me. Even if I have died, I don't blame my executioners. I will pray to God to bless them” (The Advertiser