Rural Australian town marks 80th anniversary of Japanese POW breakout

IN NZ 49 Japanese POW's were killed when they staged a revolt after refusing to work.

Wow, never even heard of this. I wonder where they thought they were escaping to? Was the plan to leave the prison compound then all commit ritual suicide?

I bet they were being treated better as POWs than the way they treated theirs. Lest we forget.

"Die like the Carp"

For the uninformed down voter:

https://archive.org/details/dielikecarp0000gord

it was a WW2.

this have happened at both sides and tens of millions of people have died.

lets hope this madness will not repeated again-even at bigger scale.

This incident is a damning indictment on the Japanese military commanders and mentality that they forced on their soldiers during WW2. 230 men died completely needlessly, for no net result whatsoever. Another war crime.

Japan's Great Escape. How about a movie about it?

Until very late in WWII it was a crime under Japanese law to be captured and taken prisoner. You have to try to think like they thought at the time, not how we think now.

At least they were treated with some degree of humanity, which is more than can be said for the Jp military, which treated all enemies, especially POW's as inhuman and worthless except for slave labour and cruel punishmnets and torture.

The version I have read if anyone is interested in the history: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4676319-die-like-the-carp

Really is a very interesting story of how the soldiers thinking was that they would rather die like the carp, swimming beautifully against the current, than sit and feel the shame of a POW.

Haunting but beautiful.

I have visited Cowra to pay my respect to the fallen a few times while in the area.

Japan's Great Escape. How about a movie about it?

There was a mini-series about it, which is quite good.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0135848/

Today Japanese soldiers are not trained and brainwashed to die for country and Emperor. This article is evidence of the strong friendship between Australia and Japan in the face of a mutually shared regional threat.

And on the treatment of Aussie POW's....they were given rice at a similar ration as soldiers.

If you read more, you will encounter much Aussie time spent on amusing themselves with various theatres etc.

I'm an Aussie, not a post WW2 refugee offspring , and I changed my mind by reading facts.

A Jesuit priest taken prisoner by the IJA in Korea told me about witnessing American marine POWs being mistreated by the IJA. The image seared into my brain is not a pleasant one.

Guru, I really do think we are a match made in heaven matey. So now we are saying Japanese prisoners of war were fair dinkum fair treated. The Burma railway workers may disagree, but always love your input. You are consistent, I’ll give you that fella! All in the past now of course, but really mate. Come on.

Ever ask yourself why so few Japanese POW camps existed Ricky ?

No prisoners taken....could be an answer.

And if you read actual accounts of Aussie POW's, you'll see lots of references to putting on "shows ", burlesque and the like, to keep "the boys " amused.

I didnt dispute widespread mistreatment, but the "horror show "narrative needs some adjustment

I didnt dispute widespread mistreatment, but the "horror show "narrative needs some adjustment

A little over 27% of Allied prisoners held in Japanese POW camps died during captivity while less than 4% of Allied prisoners held by the Germans died during their captivity.

Ever ask yourself why so few Japanese POW camps existed Ricky ?

The Japanese had over 130 POW camps spread out across east Asia.

No prisoners taken....could be an answer.

The Japanese held almost 150,000 Allied prisoners during WWII

Read and learn.

https://historycollection.com/20-horrific-details-about-japanese-pow-camps-during-world-war-ii/

POW's died of mostly tropical diseases when in captivity.

Why would the Japanese Army kill their workforce. ?

I've read and learnt not to embrace victors histories.

Now, about those atom bombs and napalm bombing of major Japanese cities when military personnel were mostly overseas

Check how many died in one night of napalm bombing of Tokyo....more than Nagasaki actually.

One death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic , said someone.

Thats how the west narrative of the Japan conflict goes.

Pacific War and European/Russian war NOT THE SAME WAR either.

Someone who gets this wrong shouldnt accuse another of misreading history.

US records state US POW's of the Japanese died from

Malaria

Dysentery

Diseases bought on by low calorie intake.

I would assume the same would apply to Australian POW's.