Rampage

MacArthur, Yamashita, and the Battle of Manila

By: James M. Scott

Narrated by: Jesse Einstein

The definitive history of one of the most brutal campaigns of the war in the Pacific.

Before World War II, Manila was a slice of America in Asia, populated with elegant neoclassical buildings, spacious parks, and home to thousands of US servicemen and business executives who enjoyed the relaxed pace of the tropics. The outbreak of the war, however, brought an end to the good life. General Douglas MacArthur, hoping to protect the Pearl of the Orient, declared the Philippine capital an open city and evacuated his forces. The Japanese seized Manila on January 2, 1942, rounding up and interning thousands of Americans.

MacArthur, who escaped soon after to Australia, famously vowed to return. For nearly three years, he clawed his way north, obsessed with redeeming his promise and turning his earlier defeat into victory. By early 1945, he prepared to liberate Manila, a city whose residents by then faced widespread starvation. Convinced the Japanese would abandon the city as he did, MacArthur planned a victory parade down Dewey Boulevard. But the enemy had other plans. Determined to fight to the death, Japanese marines barricaded intersections, converted buildings into fortresses, and booby-trapped stores, graveyards, and even dead bodies.

The 29-day battle to liberate Manila resulted in the catastrophic destruction of the city and a rampage by Japanese forces that brutalized the civilian population. Landmarks were demolished, houses were torched, suspected resistance fighters were tortured and killed, countless women were raped, and their husbands and children were murdered. American troops had no choice but to battle the enemy, floor by floor and even room by room, through schools, hospitals, and even sports stadiums. In the end, an estimated 100,000 civilians lost their lives in a massacre as heinous as the Rape of Nanking.

Based on extensive research in the United States and the Philippines, including war-crimes testimony, after-action reports, and survivor interviews, Rampage recounts one of the most heartbreaking chapters of Pacific War history.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 James M. Scott (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Bloody Nightmare

Do not attempt to eat anything when u listen to this. You may upchuck. This is a tale of TOTAL WAR!
The

EXCELLENT story that will open your eyes!

I thoroughly enjoyed Rampage. This story will open your eyes to the history of what truly took place in the Philippines after the Japanese invaded. This book will enlighten the reader to the truth of a horrible time in history when many innocent women, men and children where callously executed. You should read ALL of James M Scott’s books!

Good but , hard to listen to in some parts.

While this book discusses the Battle of Manila, it is mainly centered on the Japanese treatment of the resident of the city, during the course of the battle, and the Japanese action are discussed for approximately 100 people, including a description of the number of bayonet wounds and other wounds, that each person received. These details are very hard to listen to for hour after hour. I had to put the book away numerous times because of the detail provided. IMHO A better title in my mind for this book would have been the MacArthur , Yamashita and Rape of Manila!

The most vivid example of a war on foreign land

Everything about this book made me feel like I was a 3rd person among those who fought on this horrific war and made me appreciate much more the Philippines especially those who leave among me

Something not taught in schools.

I knew a bit about what happened through reading articles, but this was an eye opener. I had never really heard how brutal. We have always heard about the Germans but think the Japanese got off easy...