Podcast
Questions and Answers
What did 'B Niju Ku' mean that Louie saw written on a building?
What did 'B Niju Ku' mean that Louie saw written on a building?
- B-29 (correct)
- B-24
- B-17
- B-50
What was the name of the B-29 bomber plane Louie saw for the first time flying over his camp?
What was the name of the B-29 bomber plane Louie saw for the first time flying over his camp?
Tokyo Rose
What did the Bird hit Louie with to take him down in chapter 25?
What did the Bird hit Louie with to take him down in chapter 25?
His belt with a brass buckle
What did the piece of paper brought in by the two strangers say?
What did the piece of paper brought in by the two strangers say?
What was the show called that the Radio Tokyo men wanted Louie to come speak on?
What was the show called that the Radio Tokyo men wanted Louie to come speak on?
Who first heard about the radio broadcast stating Louie was alive?
Who first heard about the radio broadcast stating Louie was alive?
What happened to Sylvia's husband Harvey while he was stationed in Holland?
What happened to Sylvia's husband Harvey while he was stationed in Holland?
In Louie's broadcast, what did he ask his father to take care of while he was a prisoner?
In Louie's broadcast, what did he ask his father to take care of while he was a prisoner?
Did Louie read the second radio broadcast message that Radio Tokyo wrote for him?
Did Louie read the second radio broadcast message that Radio Tokyo wrote for him?
What did Louie realize after he read the transcript they wanted him to read?
What did Louie realize after he read the transcript they wanted him to read?
How many B-29 planes flew into Tokyo on November 24?
How many B-29 planes flew into Tokyo on November 24?
Where did Phil get transferred to?
Where did Phil get transferred to?
In December 1944, what did Phil's family receive?
In December 1944, what did Phil's family receive?
What did Cecy do when she found out Phil was alive?
What did Cecy do when she found out Phil was alive?
What were the Japanese guards doing with the relief packages being sent to the camp from the Red Cross?
What were the Japanese guards doing with the relief packages being sent to the camp from the Red Cross?
What did the POWs do for entertainment at Christmas when they found a trunk full of theatrical props?
What did the POWs do for entertainment at Christmas when they found a trunk full of theatrical props?
What play did they perform?
What play did they perform?
What happened to the Bird right before the new year in Chapter 26?
What happened to the Bird right before the new year in Chapter 26?
What did the officers do to the Bird at his going away 'party'?
What did the officers do to the Bird at his going away 'party'?
What did they find in the Bird's office after he left?
What did they find in the Bird's office after he left?
Who was the new POW that came to Omori from Ofuna that Louie recognized?
Who was the new POW that came to Omori from Ofuna that Louie recognized?
What happened to the 150 prisoners held at Palawan Islands when an American convoy was spotted?
What happened to the 150 prisoners held at Palawan Islands when an American convoy was spotted?
How many prisoners escaped the Philippines burning?
How many prisoners escaped the Philippines burning?
What was the name of the next camp Louie was transferred to at the end of February?
What was the name of the next camp Louie was transferred to at the end of February?
Who was the person in charge at Naoetsu camp?
Who was the person in charge at Naoetsu camp?
What was in the small boxes in the barracks of the new camp?
What was in the small boxes in the barracks of the new camp?
What did the Australians nickname the Bird?
What did the Australians nickname the Bird?
How many miles did Louie and the others walk to the labor jobs every day?
How many miles did Louie and the others walk to the labor jobs every day?
What did the Bird tell the prisoners on April 13?
What did the Bird tell the prisoners on April 13?
After Louie got hurt at the coal job, what job did he beg the Bird for to get his full rations back?
After Louie got hurt at the coal job, what job did he beg the Bird for to get his full rations back?
How many new POWs were brought into the camp to join the already 300 prisoners?
How many new POWs were brought into the camp to join the already 300 prisoners?
What news did the new POWs bring with them?
What news did the new POWs bring with them?
How did the Bird get sick?
How did the Bird get sick?
What happened to Louie and the other officers after the Bird found out someone stole some fish?
What happened to Louie and the other officers after the Bird found out someone stole some fish?
How many punches did they estimate they received?
How many punches did they estimate they received?
What does emaciated mean?
What does emaciated mean?
What did the Bird tell Louie about the goat?
What did the Bird tell Louie about the goat?
What did Louie have to do when the goat died?
What did Louie have to do when the goat died?
How long did Louie hold the beam above his head?
How long did Louie hold the beam above his head?
Who was the pilot of the plane that dropped a bomb on August 6, 1945?
Who was the pilot of the plane that dropped a bomb on August 6, 1945?
Where did they drop the big bomb?
Where did they drop the big bomb?
Where was the next atomic bomb dropped?
Where was the next atomic bomb dropped?
What happened to the Japanese guards on August 15?
What happened to the Japanese guards on August 15?
The Japanese guard told the prisoners he hoped that the prisoners would help Japan fight the 'red menace.' Who was he referring to?
The Japanese guard told the prisoners he hoped that the prisoners would help Japan fight the 'red menace.' Who was he referring to?
While bathing in the river, what did the American plane flying over signal to the prisoners?
While bathing in the river, what did the American plane flying over signal to the prisoners?
What did an American plane drop first over the camp?
What did an American plane drop first over the camp?
Where was the Bird when the war ended?
Where was the Bird when the war ended?
In Phil's camp, what did they find when they hiked down to the nearest villages the next day?
In Phil's camp, what did they find when they hiked down to the nearest villages the next day?
What two words did the POWs paint on the ground for the American fighter planes to see?
What two words did the POWs paint on the ground for the American fighter planes to see?
How many days did the Japanese guards deceive the prisoners and not tell them the war was over at Naoetsu?
How many days did the Japanese guards deceive the prisoners and not tell them the war was over at Naoetsu?
What fruit spilled all over the ground when the cargo boxes broke open?
What fruit spilled all over the ground when the cargo boxes broke open?
How many prisoners had Japan held during this war?
How many prisoners had Japan held during this war?
What percentage of Americans held as POWs by the Japanese died during the war?
What percentage of Americans held as POWs by the Japanese died during the war?
What happened on September 2, 1945?
What happened on September 2, 1945?
What happened to the men's stomachs after gorging on so much food?
What happened to the men's stomachs after gorging on so much food?
What did Commander John Fitzgerald do to the train station manager that refused to send a train?
What did Commander John Fitzgerald do to the train station manager that refused to send a train?
Who stays behind at camp to make sure the really sick prisoners get liberated?
Who stays behind at camp to make sure the really sick prisoners get liberated?
What was the last thing Louie saw at camp as the train pulled away?
What was the last thing Louie saw at camp as the train pulled away?
Study Notes
Events and Characters
- Louie witnessed "B Niju Ku" on a building in Tokyo, indicating the presence of B-29 bombers.
- The first B-29 bomber Louie saw was named "Tokyo Rose."
- The Bird attacked Louie with a belt that had a brass buckle in Chapter 25.
- A transcript revealing Louie's death was presented to him by two strangers brought in by the Bird.
Radio Broadcasts and Propaganda
- Louie was invited to speak on the Radio Tokyo show named "Postman Calls."
- Linda Moody at the Office of War Information first learned about the broadcast announcing Louie's survival.
- Louie's broadcast included a message to his father asking him to care for his guns while he was imprisoned.
- Louie refused to read the second radio broadcast message that the Radio Tokyo men prepared for him.
Experiences and Conditions in POW Camps
- On November 24, 111 B-29 planes flew over Tokyo.
- Phil was transferred to a camp named Zentsuji, and his family received news of his survival in December 1944.
- The Japanese guards were known to steal relief packages sent by the Red Cross, taking food and cigarettes meant for the POWs.
- For Christmas, prisoners used theatrical props to perform "Cinderella" as a form of entertainment.
Notable Incidents and Changes in Camps
- Following a New Year's incident, the Bird was ordered to leave Omori camp.
- As a parting gift, officers served the Bird a concoction made from poop samples and gravy.
- Louie recognized new POW Bill Harris among the prisoners transferred from Ofuna to Omori.
- In February, Louie was transferred to a new camp called 4B or Naoetsu, where the Bird was in charge.
Abuse and Survival Tactics
- New barracks contained cremated remains of 60 Australian POWs.
- The Bird was nicknamed "Whatabastard" by Australian prisoners.
- Daily labor involved a six-mile trek each way, while Louie endured a degrading job of cleaning a pigsty to regain his full food rations.
- On April 13, Louie received news of President Roosevelt's death from the Bird.
Final Days of War
- Following a theft of fish, Louie and other officers were beaten for two hours, estimated at 220 punches.
- Emaciated prisoners faced harsh conditions, with the Bird threatening Louie if a goat died.
- Louie held a beam above his head for 37 minutes as punishment when the goat passed away.
Atomic Bombs and Aftermath
- The first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima by pilot Paul Tibbets on August 6, followed by another in Nagasaki.
- August 15 marked the day Japanese guards abandoned the camp, and prisoners were told to assist Japan against the "red menace," referring to the Soviet Union.
- American planes signaled the end of the war by dropping chocolate and cigarettes over the camp.
- POWs painted "Food smokes" on the ground for American planes to spot.
Post-War Conditions
- Japanese guards delayed informing prisoners of the war's end for five days at Naoetsu.
- A shipment of luxury fruit, specifically peaches, spilled when cargo boxes broke open during POWs' liberation.
- Japan held around 132,000 prisoners during the war, with a 37% mortality rate among American POWs.
- On September 2, 1945, Japan officially surrendered, leading to chaotic but joyous scenes among the liberated POWs.
Final Considerations
- Commander John Fitzgerald exhibited authority by physically confronting a train station manager who refused to send a train for the POWs.
- Fitzgerald remained at the camp to ensure the sick prisoners could also be liberated.
- Louie’s last sight as he left the camp was the staff and Japanese guards giving them a salute.
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Description
This quiz focuses on key events and characters from the book 'Unbroken', including Louie's experiences with B-29 bombers and his time in POW camps. Test your knowledge on significant moments and the impact of radio broadcasts during the war. Dive deep into the resilience and challenges faced by Louie Zamperini.
