The Empire of Japan began its invasion of the U.S. territory of the Philippines only hours after its surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Due to lack of air cover, the U.S. Asiatic Fleet retreated to Java. Reinforcements for the Philippines had been in the war plans in the instance of a Japanese invasion, but Pres. Roosevelt's policy to take on the Axis in Europe first meant that no reinforcements were available to help the U.S. forces in the Philippines. U.S. and Filipino forces fought bravely for months against overwhelming odds. Gen. Douglas MacArthur was ordered out of the Philippines in March, 1942 and retreated to Australia to help mount a counter-offensive in the Pacific Theater. Before departing, Gen. MacArthur famously stated "I shall return". About a month later, 76,000 starved and sick U.S. and Filipino fighters surrendered at Bataan. These prisoners of war would undertake the infamous "Bataan Death March" in which the Japanese committed many atrocities/war crimes. On 6 May 1942, the rest of the U.S. forces in the Philippines, under the command of Gen. Jonathan Wainwright, would surrender to the Japanese.
The strategic position of the Philippines and the harbor at Manila Bay served as a new base of operations that would enable the Japanese to attack/supply other areas in the Pacific Theater.
The strategic position of the Philippines and the harbor at Manila Bay served as a new base of operations that would enable the Japanese to attack/supply other areas in the Pacific Theater.