World War II in the Philippines: A timeline

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Rather than risk the lives of thousands in fighting, Manila was declared an “open city” during World War II, meaning there would be no resistance to the invading Japanese around Christmas 1942. But it did see battle in 1945. (Catharine Hamm / Los Angeles Times)

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The Manila Hotel, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012, was the home of Gen. Douglas MacArthur for nearly six years. He had a suite at the hotel while serving as military advisor to the government of the Philippines. (Catharine Hamm / Los Angeles Times)

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The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial honors U.S. and Filipino war dead in its 157 acres. The cemetery about 12 miles from Manila also memorializes more than 36,000 missing WWII soldiers. (Catharine Hamm / Los Angeles Times)

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The Japanese used prisons and dungeons of Ft. Santiago for POWs during WWII. (Catharine Hamm / Los Angeles Times)

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On orders from President Franklin Roosevelt, Gen. MacArthur left Corregidor in March 1942, vowing, “I shall return,” which he did two and a half years later. (Catharine Hamm / Los Angeles Times)

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On Corregidor, an island now dedicated to remembering the defense of the Philippines in WWII, this memorial is dedicated to the “Filipino who knows how to die for love of freedom and liberty.” (Catharine Hamm / Los Angeles Times)

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American military, including Gen. MacArthur, took refuge in Malinta Tunnel while the Japanese bombed Corregidor. (Catharine Hamm / Los Angeles Times)

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Many of the island’s buildings stand in ruins today. (Catharine Hamm / Los Angeles Times)

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This site behind Balanga Elementary School is said to be the place where Gen. Edward King surrendered in April 1942 to Japanese Col. Motoo Nakayama. Some say the surrender occurred in Limay, and that King was brought to this spot for propaganda purposes. (Catharine Hamm / Los Angeles Times)

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This is a monument to the first line of defense against the Japanese in Dinalupihan, Bataan. (Catharine Hamm / Los Angeles Times)

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This marker notes the starting point of the Bataan Death March, following the surrender of American and Filipino troops, the largest in U.S. and Philippines history. (Catharine Hamm / Los Angeles Times)

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Visitors walk past a memorial at the Capas National Shrine in Tarlac, Luzon. The wall is inscribed with names of Filipino and U.S. soldiers who died as prisoners of war during the Bataan Death March. (Jeoffrey Maitem / Getty Images)

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A visitor looks at names inscribed on the Capas National Shrine. (Jeoffrey Maitem / Getty Images)

Nov. 28, 2012 5 PM PT

Dec. 7, 1941: Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Dec. 8, 1941: Japanese bomb the Philippines, destroying many aircraft at Clark Field

Dec. 22, 1941: About 43,000 Japanese troops begin the main invasion of Luzon; American and Filipino troops begin to amass on Bataan

Dec. 24, 1941: Manila declared “open city”

End of December 1941: Ground war in progress on Bataan

Feb. 8, 1942: Japan decides to regroup after its forces are repelled

March 1942: Having received reinforcements, Japanese strengthen attacks

March 12, 1942: Gen. Douglas MacArthur evacuated to Australia from Corregidor

April 9, 1942: Gen. Edward King surrenders Bataan; death march begins

March 1, 1942: Final Japanese assault on Corregidor begins

May 6, 1942: Gen. Jonathan Wainwright asks to surrender Corregidor

October 1944: MacArthur returns, coming ashore at Leyte in the southern Philippines

Feb. 3, 1945: Battle of Manila begins

March 4, 1945: Manila officially liberated, but the city is devastated by bombing and the Manila Massacre, in which about 100,000 people were killed.

Aug. 6, 1945: U.S. drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan

Aug. 9, 1945: U.S. drops atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan

Aug. 15, 1945: Japanese Emperor Hirohito announces Japan’s surrender

Sept. 2, 1945: Japan officially surrenders aboard the Missouri

December 1945: Japanese Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita sentenced to death for the Manila Massacre and other war crimes.

Feb. 23, 1946: Yamashita hanged in the Philippines

April 3, 1946: Japanese Gen. Masaharu Homma, who directed the battle for Bataan, is executed for his role in the death march and atrocities committed in prison camps. American and Filipino forces make up the firing squad.

World War II in the Philippines: A timeline

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