A Mass for Humanity PTO (id:#67067)

(HASL 11 - Sword & Fire: Manila ID: SF21)   [next]   [previous]

Intramuros, Manila, Luzon, Philippines 1945-02-23 (9 others)

Overview:

Situated near the center and southeast comer of the walled city of lntramuros were the St. Augustine and Our .Lady of Lourdes churches. Heavy fighting erupted all through these areas. It was known through informants that there were many civilian hostages within these two churches, yet the buildings needed to be- cleared. As the A1nericans drew close, suddenly the Japanese stopped firing, and in a. surprising gesture allowed many of the hostages to go free. More than 3,000 women, children, and nuns filed out of the churches and adjacent buildings. Unknown to the Americans at the time, all of the male hostages had been executed earlier in the dungeons of Fort Santiago. Once the civilians were safe behind American lines, the fighting resumed.

Defender: Japanese (2nd and 3rd Provisional Army Battalions)  

Errata (source)