Alexander Cekalaww II: The Sandakan Death Marches and POW's in Bo
I told a friend that I would do a post on the history of Borneo, as she is going there for a holiday. However, the first thing I came across was the Sandakan Death Marches, which I'm not sure whether she would be interested in and some people may find distrubing (although I have not presented it graphically at all - so you should be ok). Still, here goes:
World War II POW's
The Japanese government used POW's and slave labourers to build a military airstrip in North Borneo in 1942. The prisoners were mistreated and forced to work extremely hard, with very little food being provided.
This situation was maintained until 1945.
The 1st stage of marches
The camps commander decided to march more than 400 prisoners of war inland to distance then from possible allied landing. The going was hard, taking nine days through some difficult terrain, and the prisoners were given insufficient food.
Those who fell along the way were left to die or were killed and of the 140 who survived only 6 were alive in June of that year, the others having succumbed to disease.
They were marched to Ranau.
The 2nd stage of marches
In this period hundreds of POW's died in the Sandakan camp and in May it was closed down and destroyed. The final group of more than 500 POW's was then forced to follow the footsteps of the first group, and only about 180 survived.
In the next period 4 men escaped and the remaining POW's died, with the last survivors being shot after the end of the war.
Post War
About 6000 people died at the two POW camps in Northern Borneo and in 1946 the camp commander was tried and hung.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow I'm going to go for a bit of Cuban history by detailing the Bay of Pigs,
Adam
World War II POW's
The Japanese government used POW's and slave labourers to build a military airstrip in North Borneo in 1942. The prisoners were mistreated and forced to work extremely hard, with very little food being provided.
This situation was maintained until 1945.
The 1st stage of marches
The camps commander decided to march more than 400 prisoners of war inland to distance then from possible allied landing. The going was hard, taking nine days through some difficult terrain, and the prisoners were given insufficient food.
Those who fell along the way were left to die or were killed and of the 140 who survived only 6 were alive in June of that year, the others having succumbed to disease.
They were marched to Ranau.
The 2nd stage of marches
In this period hundreds of POW's died in the Sandakan camp and in May it was closed down and destroyed. The final group of more than 500 POW's was then forced to follow the footsteps of the first group, and only about 180 survived.
In the next period 4 men escaped and the remaining POW's died, with the last survivors being shot after the end of the war.
Post War
About 6000 people died at the two POW camps in Northern Borneo and in 1946 the camp commander was tried and hung.
Tomorrow
Adam
