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Treatment of POWs in World War II
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Treatment of POWs in World War II

Created by
@AudibleFresno2256

Questions and Answers

What happened to the former POWs that were in Kwajalein?

They were executed

How were Louie and Phil treated at Kwajalein?

Very little food and water, beaten, harshly interrogated, biological warfare was tested on them.

What was happening to Louie when he grabbed a stick away from a guard?

Losing his will to live

How were the Japanese hurting Phil and Louie besides physical torture?

<p>Mentally and emotionally.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the statement: 'In places like Kwajalein, degradation could be as lethal as a bullet.'

<p>You could kill a man by getting to him heart/mind/spirit.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who was Kawamura and how did he help Louie and Phil?

<p>Christian guard; became a friend; gave them candy and beat up a guard who had beaten Louie.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What else were Louie and Phil used for besides gathering information?

<p>Medical experimentation</p> Signup and view all the answers

What lie did Louie tell the Japanese soldiers at the end of Chapter 18?

<p>He said things about location of planes and air bases, but all those locations are fake.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What worried Louie upon arriving at the new POW camp?

<p>The other prisoners were starving.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Louie realize about the purpose of the Ofuna camp?

<p>Secret interrogation camp, not POW camp.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What were the two most common characteristics of the Japanese guards at Ofuna?

<p>Really stupid, cruelly murderous</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why would Japanese soldiers fight to the death or commit suicide rather than surrender?

<p>Because to surrender or be held captive was considered disgraceful to the family.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain Japan's 'kill-all' rule.

<p>If the Allies have a chance to rescue POWs, kill all the POWs and leave no trace.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe Lieutenant William Harris.

<p>Photographic memory; well-educated; spoke Japanese; survivalist: swam 8 1/2 hours across Manila Bay.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the prisoners find ways to communicate despite being forbidden to talk?

<p>Morse Code, talk to guards but would really be talking to each other.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why was keeping a diary important to Louie?

<p>So people would know what happened to him.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the other prisoners help out Louie?

<p>One gave him a coat; others who worked in the kitchen got food for him.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What similarities did Fred Garrett and Louie share?

<p>Both from L.A.; Same cell in Kwajalein.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happened to Phil at the end of this chapter?

<p>Was sent to another POW camp where POWs were enslaved and forced to work in copper mines.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effects does Louie's disappearance have on his family?

<p>They still hoped but they also still grieve.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What commonality did the Zamperini and Phillips families share?

<p>They still believed their sons are alive.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens on June 27, 1944, thirteen months after the Green Hornet crashed?

<p>Families get telegram declaring G.H. crew is dead.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What important information does Louie find from stealing a newspaper from a guard?

<p>Americans are closing in on Japan.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What caused Louie, Harris, and Tinker to cancel their escape plans?

<p>If someone escapes, captives will be shot. If the escapees are captured, they would be executed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Quack beat Harris so severely?

<p>He caught Harris with his (the Quack's) map.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where is Louie sent to at the end of this chapter and how does he feel about it?

<p>POW camp in Omori; he feels euphoric.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the statement, 'Louie had met the man who would dedicate himself to shattering him,' refer to?

<p>The corporal would try to break his spirit.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe Mutsuhiro Watanabe's background.

<p>He became a lowly corporal at a POW camp, not an officer; rich; well-educated; graduated from a Japanese university; has a long line of high-ranking military officials in family.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Watanabe treat the prisoners?

<p>Psychotic demeanor; brutal; sadistic; inconsistent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What two things separated Watanabe from other war criminals?

<p>Love for emotional torture; his inconsistency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the 1929 Geneva Convention?

<p>It gave more rights to POWs and allowed POWs to work but they had to be paid, well-fed, and could not work toward the war effort.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What nickname did the prisoners give Corporal Watanabe?

<p>The Bird</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did The Bird force the officers, including Louie, to do?

<p>Clean out the beings of the waste of 900 diarrhea-stricken men.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the POWs at Omori secretly fight back?

<p>Stealing and sabotaging packages and rail cars.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the University of Thievery?

<p>It was a school of stealing taught by the best of thieves.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Treatment of POWs

  • Former POWs at Kwajalein were executed.
  • Louie and Phil faced severe abuse: minimal food, water deprivation, beatings, and harsh interrogations.
  • They experienced both physical and psychological torture designed to break their will and extract information.

Psychological and Physical Degradation

  • Louie's act of grabbing a stick from a guard illustrated his declining will to live under continuous humiliation.
  • Emotional and mental degradation was equated to lethal physical harm, aiming to destroy captives’ honor and dignity.

Key Relationships and Support

  • Kawamura, a sympathetic guard, provided friendship and occasional treats, even defending Louie from abuse.
  • Prisoners were also subjected to medical experimentation, in addition to being interrogated.

Deception and Survival Strategies

  • Louie fed false information to Japanese soldiers to protect vital intelligence.
  • Prisoners employed Morse code and subtle communication to maintain connections despite strict rules against talking.

Insights on Camps and Conditions

  • Upon arrival at a new POW camp, Louie was alarmed by the sight of starving fellow prisoners.
  • The Ofuna camp served primarily as a secret interrogation facility, not a legitimate POW camp.

Brutality and Mindset of Guards

  • Japanese guards were characterized by ignorance and a murderous attitude; survival often meant fighting to the death rather than surrendering due to shame.
  • The "kill-all" rule mandated the execution of POWs to prevent Allied rescues.

Individual Profiles

  • Lieutenant William Harris possessed a photographic memory, was well-educated, and demonstrated remarkable survival skills.
  • Louie's secret diary held personal significance as a means of sharing his story and experiences.

Family Impact and Communication

  • Louie's disappearance deeply affected his family, marking both hope and grief.
  • Families, including the Zamperinis, maintained belief in their sons’ survival until official notifications of death.

Important Events and Escapes

  • On June 27, 1944, families received telegrams reporting the deaths of crew members from the Green Hornet crash.
  • Louie discovered through a stolen newspaper that American forces were advancing towards Japan.

Final POW Experiences and Oppression

  • Louie's escape plans were canceled due to the threat of severe repercussions for escaping or for those who helped.
  • Corporal Mutsuhiro Watanabe, known as "The Bird," became infamous for his sadistic treatment of prisoners, including humiliating tasks like cleaning waste.
  • The University of Thievery was established among prisoners to teach skills of stealing to cope with scarce resources.

International Law and Treatment of POWs

  • The 1929 Geneva Convention aimed to improve POW rights by ensuring fair treatment, including proper compensation and provisions for labor.

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Description

This quiz explores the harrowing experiences of POWs during World War II, specifically focusing on the treatment of Louie and his comrades in captivity. Topics include psychological and physical abuse, key relationships that provided support, and strategies for survival amid dire conditions.

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