1
00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:07,000
It's hard to comprehend the scale
2
00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:09,600
of the Pacific-Asian theatre of war.
3
00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:11,680
It stretches from Hawaii to Burma,
4
00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,240
from the Aleutian Islands
to Indochina.
5
00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:18,520
In 1942, the United States
sends fighting men
6
00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:21,840
to far-off places most
Americans had never heard of.
7
00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:24,800
They are soldiers, sailors,
airmen, and Marines
8
00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:26,960
from every town in America.
9
00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:29,960
They will confront
an enemy whose moral code
10
00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:31,840
does not permit surrender.
11
00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:36,280
All wars change the world.
12
00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:38,240
But none of them
changed the world
13
00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:39,760
like the Second World War did.
14
00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,080
Japan's on the march,
Germany's on the march.
15
00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:46,520
No one can imagine
the nightmare
16
00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:48,360
they're about to unleash.
17
00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,240
The most destructive war
in human history.
18
00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:53,960
Suddenly, the world
is turned upside down,
19
00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:55,560
and all hell is let loose.
20
00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:01,400
The West is stunned
by the speed of the advance.
21
00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:05,360
You get the Allies,
led by the big three...
22
00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:07,960
Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin...
23
00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:09,720
men who are dealing
24
00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:13,520
with immensely complicated
questions.
25
00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:16,760
It's the biggest military
operation of human history.
26
00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,200
The Allies have to come together,
27
00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,640
not just militarily,
but industrial scale.
28
00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:23,360
It's a global perspective.
29
00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:25,600
They have to fight
in every climate,
30
00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:29,280
from the Arctic to the
jungles of the Pacific
31
00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,240
to the deserts of Africa
and the depths of the ocean.
32
00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,280
But there was no
certainty of victory.
33
00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,040
It was going to be
a horrific bloodbath.
34
00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,680
We see humans
at their absolute worst,
35
00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,000
how they treat
other human beings.
36
00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:48,160
And we see them
at their absolute best,
37
00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:50,600
willing to give their lives
that others might live.
38
00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,080
World War II was a struggle
39
00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,720
in which there could be
one victor and one vanquished.
40
00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,320
{\an8}Hours after the attack
on Pearl Harbor,
41
00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,920
{\an8}Japan invades the Philippines.
42
00:02:29,640 --> 00:02:31,400
{\an8}They begin with a devastating strike
43
00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:33,640
{\an8}against the US air base
at Clark Field...
44
00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,520
{\an8}Then land 35,000 troops
and advance
45
00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:40,280
{\an8}on the capital, Manila.
46
00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,440
American and Filipino forces
are overwhelmed.
47
00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,320
{\an8}Within weeks, Manila is captured.
48
00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:04,320
There was
a Philippine war plan that,
49
00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:06,760
in the event
of a Japanese major invasion,
50
00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:09,840
{\an8}the forces would withdraw
to Bataan.
51
00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:16,680
Bataan is strategically
located next to Manila Bay.
52
00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:18,720
{\an8}It's this rocky peninsula.
53
00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,320
{\an8}It's got two dormant volcanoes that
are sitting in the middle of it,
54
00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:23,760
and so it's really good
defensive terrain.
55
00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:29,880
On December 23, 1941,
US and Filipino troops
56
00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:33,000
begin their retreat
to the Peninsula of Bataan.
57
00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:39,080
You have this chaotic retreat.
58
00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:45,040
About 100,000 US
and Filipino troops,
59
00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,960
and we should add
the 25,000 civilians,
60
00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,320
Filipino but also Americans,
now desperate to escape
61
00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:53,920
the attacking Japanese.
62
00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:00,080
As the troops retreat,
63
00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,560
the Japanese continue following
64
00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:05,040
a well-planned,
well-coordinated offensive
65
00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:07,640
aimed at British and Dutch colonies.
66
00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:15,760
They have already invaded
Burma, Borneo, and Malaya.
67
00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,640
They take Hong Kong
on Christmas Day,
68
00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:22,840
then move further into Malaya.
69
00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,800
Malaya is considered
difficult jungle terrain.
70
00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:31,000
But the Japanese,
71
00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:33,400
using bicycle infantry
and some tanks,
72
00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:35,920
manage to push south...
73
00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,160
...to the island of Singapore...
74
00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,680
...known as the Gibraltar
of the East.
75
00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,360
Singapore was our military base,
76
00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:52,000
{\an8}with its massive naval facilities...
77
00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,960
...guns facing into the sea
78
00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:57,600
so that it could protect
that position,
79
00:04:57,760 --> 00:04:59,800
and really a military HQ
80
00:04:59,960 --> 00:05:02,120
for the Empire in the Far East.
81
00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,480
They begin
their assault on February 8th.
82
00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:19,080
Winston Churchill, back in London,
is looking on in horror.
83
00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:20,480
{\an8}He's an Empire man.
84
00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,120
{\an8}He said many times,
he didn't come to power
85
00:05:23,280 --> 00:05:26,240
to oversee the liquidation
of His Majesty's empire,
86
00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:28,800
but it's crumbling before his eyes.
87
00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,640
Churchill cannot abandon
the defence of Britain
88
00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:35,320
and the Battle of the Atlantic.
89
00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,680
He cannot risk losing the
whole of the Mediterranean,
90
00:05:40,840 --> 00:05:43,480
North Africa, and the Middle East,
to Axis forces.
91
00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:45,960
{\an8}So what's got to go?
92
00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:47,880
{\an8}Unfortunately for Churchill,
93
00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,360
he's got to scrimp
and save when it comes
94
00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:51,840
to defence in the Far East.
95
00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,280
It's just too much
for Britain to handle.
96
00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:02,800
The Japanese take advantage
97
00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:04,680
of British military mistakes
98
00:06:04,840 --> 00:06:07,280
and capture the island
in only seven days.
99
00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:11,920
Tens of thousands
of Commonwealth troops
100
00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,200
are trapped and imprisoned.
101
00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,640
Singapore was
the granite foundation
102
00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,720
of the British Empire
in Asia, and, boom...
103
00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:27,760
...in the space of days, it falls.
104
00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,160
The idea that Japanese forces
could go into this historic place,
105
00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,800
{\an8}a real symbol of British power
and prestige in Asia,
106
00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,040
{\an8}and take it within such a short time
107
00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:47,520
is absolutely tremendous as
far as Japanese are concerned.
108
00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,400
This is Britain's
Fall of Rome moment
109
00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:52,880
in its Asian empire.
110
00:06:54,280 --> 00:06:56,880
{\an8}- Japan has plunged into the war
111
00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:00,320
{\an8}and is ravaging the beautiful,
fertile, prosperous,
112
00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,680
{\an8}and densely populated lands
of the Far East.
113
00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:06,520
The British Empire
now for centuries
114
00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,440
had been the most powerful
empire the world had ever seen.
115
00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,000
The Japanese had cracked it
like an egg.
116
00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:17,560
By the time the shock
of Pearl Harbor,
117
00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:18,800
you know, wears off,
118
00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:21,800
{\an8}the Japanese have
taken their empire
119
00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:23,840
and expanded it
seemingly overnight.
120
00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:32,320
Japan's Asian offensive
has two primary war aims.
121
00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:36,480
First, the seizure of raw materials
like oil and rubber.
122
00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:40,960
Second, to replace
the Western colonial powers
123
00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,480
who have long dominated
the region
124
00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:46,960
and establish an empire
of their own.
125
00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:53,160
This is one of the most audacious
offensives in military history.
126
00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:01,560
In late 1941, early 1942,
it's good news every week,
127
00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:03,360
almost every day, coming in.
128
00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:07,520
They are liberating Asia.
129
00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:10,360
They are pushing back
white Western colonial power.
130
00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:17,000
The speed and scope
of the Japanese offensive
131
00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:18,640
stuns the world.
132
00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,880
A year earlier,
General Tomoyuki Yamashita,
133
00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:26,840
the commander of the assault
on the Philippines,
134
00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:31,240
consults with Japan's
Axis ally, Nazi Germany.
135
00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:33,280
Japan is eager to adapt
136
00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:35,840
the Wehrmacht's blitzkrieg tactics
137
00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,360
to a very different theatre of war.
138
00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:43,560
{\an8}He was really admiring
the German blitzkrieg,
139
00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:45,360
{\an8}the German lightning war,
140
00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:47,800
and he took the German blitzkrieg
141
00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:52,560
as the role model for a future
Japanese war in Southeast Asia.
142
00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,440
So we must surprise the enemy.
We must be fast.
143
00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,560
It's always movement,
movement, movement.
144
00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:04,640
For the enemy, for their
enemy, for the Allies,
145
00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:06,600
it looks like the Japanese
aren't even thinking
146
00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:08,840
about what they're doing,
because they're moving so fast
147
00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,360
and they're moving constantly.
148
00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,560
But this has a kind of shock
effect on the troops there
149
00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:17,000
that are trying to defend
the peninsula.
150
00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:25,920
The Japanese
have learned to move quickly,
151
00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:28,960
move stealthily.
They fight well at night,
152
00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:31,760
which is what most armies
are not good at.
153
00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,280
{\an8}They are pretty good
at operational art;
154
00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:36,960
{\an8}don't attack strongpoints,
envelop the enemy,
155
00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:40,040
{\an8}put them in untenable positions
either in time or space.
156
00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:43,480
And, hence, it defines a lot of
their victories early in the war.
157
00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:47,920
The British
underestimate the Japanese.
158
00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:50,480
I think part of that was racism.
159
00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:52,760
I think they were astonished
160
00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:56,520
that a non-European race
could defeat Europeans in battle.
161
00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,720
They didn't consider
Asian people capable
162
00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:03,200
of what the Japanese are doing.
163
00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:06,240
After the Japanese land in Malaya,
164
00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:08,040
Singapore's governor,
165
00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:10,280
Sir Shenton Thomas, allegedly says,
166
00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,240
"Well, I suppose you'll have
to shove the little men off."
167
00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:20,040
But British hubris is no match
168
00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,040
for Japanese military prowess.
169
00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:26,120
There had always been this faction
170
00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:28,640
in the Imperial Japanese Army
called the Kodoha,
171
00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,760
the Imperial Way Faction,
whose belief was,
172
00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:34,520
because of Japan's
extraordinary fighting spirit
173
00:10:34,680 --> 00:10:36,840
in the blood of their soldiers,
174
00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:38,800
we can overcome the odds.
175
00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:41,160
And that really is drummed
into the soldiers.
176
00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,960
So there is this esprit de corps
within the Japanese Army.
177
00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:49,040
It's guided by this belief
in Bushido,
178
00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:50,240
the way of the warrior.
179
00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:55,720
Japanese military discipline is instilled
180
00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:57,440
by physically harsh measures.
181
00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,680
Officers abuse
non-commissioned officers,
182
00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:03,720
who in turn abuse the men.
183
00:11:05,560 --> 00:11:09,400
You can see in diaries
and in letters home people saying,
184
00:11:09,560 --> 00:11:10,880
"I got beaten up today.
185
00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:12,400
I got slapped. I got punched.
186
00:11:12,560 --> 00:11:14,720
I had a rifle butt
get me in the stomach."
187
00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:19,880
There is a fair amount
of ritualistic abuse
188
00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,320
that takes place
as they go through
189
00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:24,400
what they would refer to as lessons.
190
00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:27,920
It's all about self-sacrifice.
191
00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,520
They are all about suppressing
individual needs and desires
192
00:11:31,680 --> 00:11:33,680
for the sense of whatever
the nation needs,
193
00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:35,640
for whatever the emperor
might need.
194
00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:42,720
In just two months of fighting,
195
00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,360
Japan has achieved
most of its objectives
196
00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:47,680
and appears to be winning the war...
197
00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:50,960
...except in the Philippines,
198
00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:54,480
where US and Filipino troops
are fighting back.
199
00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:08,920
After more
than a month of fighting,
200
00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:10,360
US and Filipino forces
201
00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:14,640
continue to resist the Japanese
on the Bataan Peninsula.
202
00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:19,440
But supplies, food, and ammunition
203
00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:21,680
are running perilously short.
204
00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:24,720
{\an8}Supplies, provisions, ammunition,
205
00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,120
{\an8}they're strewn about
the Philippine Islands,
206
00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,400
and they're not where
the defenders need them.
207
00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,520
{\an8}The American forces
are now completely isolated
208
00:12:33,680 --> 00:12:34,680
{\an8}and surrounded.
209
00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,120
{\an8}They don't have what they need
to survive.
210
00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:46,960
The men spend a lot of their time
just foraging for food.
211
00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:49,200
Every snake, monkey,
212
00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:53,040
anything within the Bataan Peninsula
is fair game.
213
00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:57,000
The commanding officer
of both American
214
00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:59,280
and Filipino troops
in the Philippines
215
00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:01,520
is the charismatic
and controversial
216
00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:03,320
General Douglas MacArthur.
217
00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:07,080
MacArthur's the son
of a Civil War hero.
218
00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:11,800
He's confident, courageous,
a proven battlefield leader.
219
00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,680
MacArthur's begging
for more troops,
220
00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:17,480
for more supplies, for more ships,
221
00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:20,920
but none of those things are coming.
The US doesn't have them.
222
00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:24,880
The Japanese, of course,
they're coming
223
00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:26,360
after MacArthur's force.
224
00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:29,200
They know they can't leave an
army like this with MacArthur
225
00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,800
and consider the Philippines
have been occupied.
226
00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:40,840
In Washington,
President Roosevelt faces
227
00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:42,880
a very difficult situation.
228
00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:46,320
The American people expect
the troops to be supported,
229
00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,360
but he knows resupplying
and reinforcing Bataan
230
00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:50,840
is impossible.
231
00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:54,680
Also, for both political
and symbolic reasons,
232
00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:58,280
he must retrieve General MacArthur
from the Philippines.
233
00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:02,200
You couldn't afford to let
MacArthur be captured.
234
00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:03,720
You couldn't do it
235
00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,680
because it was bad
for the American spirit.
236
00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,920
You can't let a man
like this go down.
237
00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:11,240
He's a figure of history.
238
00:14:15,680 --> 00:14:17,680
MacArthur does
everything that he can
239
00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:19,600
to inspire his troops in Bataan,
240
00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:21,800
and he's prepared
to go down with the ship.
241
00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:27,280
But FDR orders MacArthur
to leave the Philippines.
242
00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,320
Three weeks later,
he sends a rescue operation,
243
00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:38,040
and MacArthur,
with his wife and young son,
244
00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:40,760
leaves the Philippines
on a small torpedo boat.
245
00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:46,640
He promises, "I will return."
246
00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:50,880
And this is his commitment
to the American people,
247
00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:52,760
but, more importantly, to himself.
248
00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,200
Knowing that
America must make a stand,
249
00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:01,960
General MacArthur issues
a final order to his men.
250
00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:07,640
MacArthur orders the garrison
to fight to the last,
251
00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:09,600
which is completely unrealistic.
252
00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:16,840
Soldiers are dying
in medical tents
253
00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,240
{\an8}merely because there's not
enough medicine to save them.
254
00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:21,000
{\an8}So everybody's
in a weakened condition.
255
00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:22,680
But the defence is quite heroic.
256
00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:31,000
But the soldiers on Bataan
realise they're being sacrificed.
257
00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:37,240
So "The Battling Bastards
of Bataan" is written
258
00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:38,880
by a journalist named Hewlett.
259
00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:41,040
"The Battling Bastards of Bataan...
260
00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:43,680
"no mamas, no papas,
no Uncle Sam,
261
00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:47,240
"no aunts, no uncles,
no cousins, no nieces,
262
00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:49,560
"no pills, no planes,
no artillery pieces.
263
00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:51,240
And no one gives a damn."
264
00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:53,440
For all the people left in Bataan,
265
00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:55,680
I'm sure that's exactly
what they thought.
266
00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:06,760
After four months
of fatigue, hunger, and disease...
267
00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:10,640
...the Bataan garrison surrenders.
268
00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,600
But their ordeal is just beginning.
269
00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:21,000
The Japanese didn't expect
270
00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:23,800
{\an8}that so many Allied defenders
of the Philippines
271
00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:26,520
{\an8}would actually surrender
and become prisoners of war.
272
00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:35,080
{\an8}One of the things you're
taught in the Japanese military
273
00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:37,400
{\an8}is you don't surrender.
274
00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:39,160
You're disgracing your family.
275
00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,760
You're disgracing
your home, your village,
276
00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:43,240
your country, the emperor.
277
00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,800
Surrender is dishonourable, not
only to yourself but to your family.
278
00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:49,640
Anybody who surrenders
is inherently dishonourable.
279
00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:55,200
The idea that you would surrender
280
00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:57,840
and that you would expect
to be treated with respect
281
00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:02,320
having done so really is disgusting
to a lot of the Japanese soldiers.
282
00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:08,320
The Japanese
march the 75,000 American
283
00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:10,000
and Filipino troops
284
00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:14,000
to a POW camp
65 miles north of Bataan.
285
00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:18,960
These men are exhausted.
They're malnourished.
286
00:17:19,120 --> 00:17:21,080
The Japanese,
they line them up,
287
00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:22,400
and they march them out.
288
00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:28,640
In 110-degree heat
with no food, no water,
289
00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,640
{\an8}and Japanese guards just beating you
290
00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:33,720
{\an8}and kicking you and stabbing you
the whole way.
291
00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:39,400
And so, if you're
a recruit out there
292
00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:41,200
and you've received
umpteen beatings
293
00:17:41,360 --> 00:17:43,320
from your own senior officers
on the way
294
00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:46,000
to where you are now,
then it's a very short hop
295
00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:48,320
to having a Westerner in front
of you, asking for food,
296
00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:50,520
asking for water,
and slapping them,
297
00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:53,440
punching them,
perhaps even shooting them.
298
00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:59,560
The Japanese
will drink their canteens
299
00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:02,960
and then dump the contents
out on the roadside.
300
00:18:03,120 --> 00:18:05,400
Wounded troops
will fall to the ground.
301
00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:07,600
They will be instantly
bayoneted or shot.
302
00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:13,320
They have been taught
to regard Western soldiers,
303
00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,320
and I think white Western
civilians generally,
304
00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:18,640
with really no respect at all.
305
00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:21,080
These people are lesser,
almost to the point of being
306
00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:23,000
a slightly lesser species.
307
00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:30,080
Thousands die
on what will become known
308
00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:31,720
as the Bataan Death March.
309
00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,720
The loss of the Philippines
will cripple
310
00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:41,560
America's military capability
in the Pacific for months.
311
00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:44,960
It's also a serious blow
to morale at home.
312
00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:47,680
In a matter of just a few months,
313
00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:49,960
the Japanese
have conquered an empire
314
00:18:50,120 --> 00:18:52,360
of 500 million people.
315
00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:56,800
The Japanese have
the upper hand in the Pacific.
316
00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:59,920
It's not clear what
or who can stop them.
317
00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,040
Spring in Tokyo...
318
00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:18,880
...Japan controls vast areas of
the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
319
00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:21,520
To protect this growing empire,
320
00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:24,280
Japan will consolidate
its new territory
321
00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:26,760
and push into various island chains
322
00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,120
to create an even stronger barrier
323
00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:30,880
against the United States.
324
00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:36,720
The Japanese saying,
we got to consolidate
325
00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:38,000
our position quickly.
326
00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:40,400
We have to create
a defensive bastion
327
00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:42,560
between the United States
and Japan.
328
00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:46,120
So all these island chains
threaded like pearls,
329
00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:48,240
{\an8}they have got to be strengthened.
330
00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:51,280
{\an8}They've got to be fortified into
some kind of defensive perimeter.
331
00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:55,320
Japan deploys
thousands of troops
332
00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:58,400
to outposts stretching
far into the South Pacific.
333
00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:03,800
{\an8}The Japanese are making
absolutely sure
334
00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,720
{\an8}that what they've got,
they will hold.
335
00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:17,200
In the US,
war production accelerates.
336
00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,200
FDR calls for 60,000 planes
337
00:20:21,360 --> 00:20:24,000
and 125,000 tanks
338
00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,840
to be produced in 1942.
339
00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,040
And in June, the US Navy
340
00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:33,920
defeats the Japanese
at the Battle of Midway.
341
00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,040
It's Japan's first decisive defeat.
342
00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:42,520
The victory at Midway
has taken place in June 1942,
343
00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:44,040
but this is a naval victory.
344
00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:46,560
It's only directed
against Japanese warships.
345
00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:48,160
Eventually, the Americans know
346
00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:50,320
they're going to have
to retake real estate.
347
00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:53,000
They're going to actually
have to capture islands.
348
00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:57,080
The Japanese plan
in the South Pacific
349
00:20:57,240 --> 00:20:59,320
is to build a lot of airstrips,
350
00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:01,960
which are going to allow them
to use air power
351
00:21:02,120 --> 00:21:04,880
to defend
these stronghold positions.
352
00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:10,080
To counter,
America sends in the old breed;
353
00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:12,240
the 1st Marine Division.
354
00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,840
{\an8}Marine Corps was always
"soldiers from the sea,"
355
00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:19,400
{\an8}back in the Revolution
when we invade Nassau, right?
356
00:21:19,560 --> 00:21:21,400
We are meant to come
from the sea.
357
00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:24,280
That's the mission,
in support of the navy.
358
00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:25,840
That's their purpose.
359
00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:28,360
After World War I,
what they really start to do
360
00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:31,440
is turn their attention to, what
does the next war look like?
361
00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:33,120
And what they start to realise is,
362
00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:35,200
Japan is becoming
a power in the Pacific.
363
00:21:35,360 --> 00:21:37,320
If we're going to fight
in the Pacific,
364
00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:41,120
then we need to figure out how
to conduct amphibious landings.
365
00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:44,480
Amphibious landings
on this scale are unprecedented.
366
00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:47,680
Well, there's no sneaking up
on an island.
367
00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:49,440
They can see ships coming.
368
00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:52,400
So everything across a beach
is a frontal assault...
369
00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:54,160
machine guns, rapid-fire artillery.
370
00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:56,840
It's suicide, terrible idea.
371
00:21:57,000 --> 00:21:59,760
And the Marine Corps goes,
"Got it, we'll take that one."
372
00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:03,000
And that's how they get
into amphibious operations,
373
00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:05,160
because that would be
what was necessary
374
00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:07,800
to operate in the Pacific.
375
00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:09,640
The training for
the US Marine Corps
376
00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:12,880
is probably the toughest in
the US armed forces at this point.
377
00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:16,240
{\an8}They are designed
for amphibious warfare
378
00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:18,560
{\an8}but to travel relatively lightly,
379
00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:21,560
{\an8}because, of course, if you
attack a coast from the sea,
380
00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:23,600
you can't take much
heavy equipment with you.
381
00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:26,600
Their job is
as an elite assault force.
382
00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:29,120
But don't leave them
in a campaign for too long,
383
00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:31,480
because they don't have
all the heavy weapons
384
00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:34,880
to be able to do the job over
a considerable period of time.
385
00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:40,920
The Navy has ships, and the
Army has tanks and artillery.
386
00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:43,400
What does the Marine Corps have?
It has culture.
387
00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,040
So if you join the Marine Corps,
388
00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:48,720
it's because maybe you
can be one of those elite.
389
00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:51,080
You know you get to go fight
the Japanese.
390
00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:58,040
The majority are new recruits.
391
00:22:58,200 --> 00:22:59,720
They are relatively inexperienced.
392
00:22:59,880 --> 00:23:02,240
They've had some
pretty hurried training.
393
00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:04,200
And now all of a sudden,
in 1942,
394
00:23:04,360 --> 00:23:06,080
they're going to go into action
395
00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:08,280
against what they know and fear
396
00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:10,120
is a very formidable opponent.
397
00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:12,360
They've read a lot of the stories
398
00:23:12,520 --> 00:23:15,520
about how the Japanese
are almost supermen.
399
00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:19,680
Until we actually face them
in close combat,
400
00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:22,720
we'll never know if we're good
enough to take on these guys.
401
00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:29,280
In the summer
of 1942, an American B-17
402
00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:33,120
on routine patrol reports
that the Japanese are building
403
00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:36,240
an airstrip on the largest
of the Solomon Islands...
404
00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:38,400
...Guadalcanal.
405
00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:44,640
If the Japanese are successful,
406
00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:46,520
they will build
an airbase on Guadalcanal
407
00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:48,000
and potentially sever
408
00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:50,080
the lines of communication
with Australia,
409
00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:51,800
which is meant to be
a jumping-off point
410
00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:53,960
for any campaign
that's going to come
411
00:23:54,120 --> 00:23:55,520
from the Southern Pacific.
412
00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:57,160
We cannot let that happen.
413
00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:01,840
The Americans know
that Australia is crucial
414
00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:05,040
to their hold over the Pacific.
415
00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:09,720
What's at stake, certainly for
the United States Marine Corps,
416
00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:12,680
is, they've hitched their horse to
this idea of amphibious operations.
417
00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:15,040
Now they actually
have to go execute it.
418
00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:20,360
If the Americans
are going to roll back
419
00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:22,160
Japanese power in the Pacific...
420
00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:25,160
...it's going to have to be
boots on the ground,
421
00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:27,440
and boots on the ground
it will be in Guadalcanal.
422
00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:40,960
Early on August 7, 1942...
423
00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:45,680
...the 1st Marine division
approaches Guadalcanal.
424
00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:53,800
They are the first US troops to
take the offensive in World War II.
425
00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:58,240
What's interesting
about all amphibious landings
426
00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,040
{\an8}is that if they're opposed
and you don't really understand
427
00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:02,920
{\an8}the terrain you're getting into,
428
00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:05,560
there's always
the possibility of disaster,
429
00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,120
and that was absolutely
the case at Guadalcanal.
430
00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:21,880
After the naval
bombardment, the Marines will land
431
00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:25,040
and attempt to capture the airfield
and secure the island.
432
00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,800
The intelligence for the landings
at Guadalcanal is so thin
433
00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:32,040
that they don't know
what the interior looks like,
434
00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:33,960
and they certainly don't know
435
00:25:34,120 --> 00:25:36,720
how many defending troops
are there.
436
00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:02,000
10,000 Marines reach the shore.
437
00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:09,520
To their relief,
the landing is unopposed.
438
00:26:11,360 --> 00:26:14,200
There are no Japanese
defending the beachhead.
439
00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:20,160
The Japanese have only
2,500 men on the island,
440
00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:23,720
most of them conscripted labour
to build the airfield.
441
00:26:25,360 --> 00:26:28,280
The Marines are astonished
at how easy it is.
442
00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:32,240
They move inland and then very
quickly capture the airfield.
443
00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:37,560
The Marines
build a defensive perimeter
444
00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:39,480
around the airstrip,
445
00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:42,440
which they name Henderson Field,
446
00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:44,560
after a Marine dive bomber
447
00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:46,720
killed at the Battle of Midway.
448
00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:51,880
Supplies for the Marines
on Guadalcanal
449
00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:56,240
are being held just offshore
by a US Navy task force
450
00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:58,400
anchored in Savo Sound.
451
00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:05,640
But two days after the landing,
452
00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:09,200
the calm of Savo Sound
is shattered.
453
00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:20,680
It's the middle of the night.
454
00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,320
These American cruisers
are asleep.
455
00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:25,840
They don't come
to battle stations quickly.
456
00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:36,200
In the space of 25 to 30 minutes,
457
00:27:36,360 --> 00:27:39,480
the Japanese have sunk
four Allied cruisers,
458
00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:41,840
killed more than
1,000 Allied sailors.
459
00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:48,920
So it's a disastrous defeat
for the Americans,
460
00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:51,840
the worst naval defeat
since Pearl Harbor.
461
00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:54,600
You've got bodies
washing up on the shore.
462
00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:56,160
It's grisly.
463
00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:02,080
So many
American ships are sunk
464
00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:06,040
that Savo Sound is christened
Ironbottom Sound.
465
00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:14,440
Vulnerable to air attack,
the task force pulls out
466
00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:17,640
before they've unloaded all the
Marines' food and ammunition.
467
00:28:21,120 --> 00:28:23,000
General Vandegrift
is the commander
468
00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:24,800
of the 1st Marine Division.
469
00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:28,040
He's understandably upset
that the Navy have skedaddled.
470
00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,280
But it's absolutely vital also
471
00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:34,280
that he gives a sense
of confidence to his men.
472
00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:37,080
We're going to get through this.
We are US Marines, after all.
473
00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:42,040
The first wave
of Japanese troops land east
474
00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:45,520
of the Marines' defensive
perimeter on August 18th.
475
00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:49,160
Their objective...
Henderson Airfield.
476
00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:55,280
The airfield is in a key position
477
00:28:55,440 --> 00:28:59,800
to maintain the shipping lanes
from America to Australia.
478
00:28:59,960 --> 00:29:03,560
{\an8}That supply line is like
the Allied sciatic nerve.
479
00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:05,760
So this is
a very serious development.
480
00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:11,240
It must have been
very spooky for the Marines.
481
00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:13,200
They are abandoned on the island.
482
00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:15,560
They can hear the Japanese ships
coming in.
483
00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:17,960
They know there must be
trouble ahead.
484
00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:22,280
What options do
ground forces have?
485
00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:25,520
You can attack, you can defend,
and you can retreat.
486
00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:28,720
Well, guess what.
The Marines can no longer retreat.
487
00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:31,640
So, no matter what,
we're going to have to fight it out.
488
00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:37,560
The untested Marines
are about to face
489
00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:40,560
Japanese soldiers
for the first time.
490
00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:08,920
On Guadalcanal,
the 1st Marine Division
491
00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:11,280
is dug in around Henderson Airfield,
492
00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:13,520
bracing for a Japanese assault.
493
00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:20,720
Commanding the Japanese troops
494
00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:23,760
is the veteran colonel
Kiyonao Ichiki.
495
00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:28,800
The Marines know that
all the Japanese have done
496
00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:30,120
up to this point is win.
497
00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:34,920
They start to almost have
these superpowers.
498
00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:37,760
They're quiet at night.
They're all snipers.
499
00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:40,320
They don't require any rest.
They're fanatical.
500
00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:45,400
All of these things start to build
almost a super-samurai adversary.
501
00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:49,440
On August 21st,
502
00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:52,280
Ichiki's troops attack
the Marine lines.
503
00:30:57,640 --> 00:30:59,840
The Marines respond
with rifle, mortar,
504
00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:01,640
and machine gun fire.
505
00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:13,240
The Japanese have
got about 200 guys
506
00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,280
trying to get across this sandspit,
and they're mown down.
507
00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:21,640
Ichiki just sloughs that off.
He'll launch two more attacks.
508
00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:27,280
The Marines will beat them back.
509
00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:30,000
The fighting is brutal...
510
00:31:33,520 --> 00:31:35,040
Often hand-to-hand.
511
00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:42,800
Some Japanese soldiers even
use ancestral samurai swords.
512
00:31:50,160 --> 00:31:53,200
The battle doesn't end
until 5:00 that evening.
513
00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:56,560
44 Marines are dead...
514
00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:02,000
But nearly 900 Japanese soldiers
are killed.
515
00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:06,640
The Marines are stunned.
516
00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:10,760
{\an8}How could a battalion commander
throw 900 men away?
517
00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:13,040
Who would do that?
518
00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:18,440
After the battle,
519
00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:21,400
Colonel Ichiki commits suicide.
520
00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:26,440
Just a single Japanese soldier
surrenders.
521
00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:31,040
They may look dead,
but if they've got a weapon,
522
00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:33,120
they're going to shoot you
when you go past.
523
00:32:33,280 --> 00:32:35,440
If they've got a grenade,
they may blow themselves up
524
00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:38,640
with a grenade to kill you.
This is a different kind of enemy.
525
00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:43,760
The US Marines
on Guadalcanal realise
526
00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:46,960
{\an8}that to combat that
and to protect themselves,
527
00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:49,480
{\an8}they're going to have
to be equally ruthless.
528
00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:52,880
And this produced an incredibly
brutal form of warfare
529
00:32:53,040 --> 00:32:55,560
that I think was unequalled
in the Second World War.
530
00:32:56,600 --> 00:32:59,600
The Marines now
understand what will be required
531
00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:01,200
to defend Guadalcanal.
532
00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:06,880
The island has become
a proving ground
533
00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:09,200
for a generation of young Americans.
534
00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:16,920
The Japanese conduct regular
airstrikes on Henderson Field...
535
00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:25,120
And continue to move
men and supplies
536
00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:26,600
into attacking positions.
537
00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:30,600
Every night the Japanese
are using fast transports
538
00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:33,800
and depositing troops
and supplies on Guadalcanal,
539
00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:37,840
via what's going to be known
as the Tokyo Express.
540
00:33:40,320 --> 00:33:42,880
They are absolutely determined
to retake this island.
541
00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:44,520
Their whole strategy
542
00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:47,600
for moving forward
in the Southern Pacific
543
00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:50,320
is based on recapturing
Guadalcanal,
544
00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:52,200
and they're going
to pretty much send
545
00:33:52,360 --> 00:33:55,360
as many troops as they can
to make sure that they do the job.
546
00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:02,000
Vandegrift and his staff start
taking preventative action
547
00:34:02,160 --> 00:34:03,800
in case they're overwhelmed,
548
00:34:03,960 --> 00:34:06,400
so they start burning
vital intelligence papers.
549
00:34:07,240 --> 00:34:09,120
By October, the Japanese force
550
00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:10,880
has more than doubled its size.
551
00:34:13,080 --> 00:34:16,240
But the US Navy is able
to resupply the Marines
552
00:34:16,400 --> 00:34:18,600
from newly constructed
supply bases.
553
00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:23,000
Guadalcanal is now
a battle of attrition...
554
00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:25,600
...who will give in first?
555
00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:30,080
The Japanese are very good
at night attacks,
556
00:34:30,240 --> 00:34:31,800
and so nights are horrific.
557
00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:37,840
Imagine being a 19-
or 20-year-old American kid,
558
00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:40,360
{\an8}and you're in a foxhole, maybe
with one other person, right?
559
00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:42,280
{\an8}One guy sleeps.
The other is on watch.
560
00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:45,280
{\an8}and you can hear the other
foxholes with your compatriots,
561
00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:46,720
but they're not visible in the dark.
562
00:34:46,880 --> 00:34:49,360
Remember, these islands
are really black as night.
563
00:34:49,520 --> 00:34:51,720
And you hear screaming
from another foxhole.
564
00:34:56,480 --> 00:34:58,600
This is life or death.
565
00:35:00,080 --> 00:35:03,440
You go to sleep,
you may not wake up.
566
00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:07,240
{\an8}This man was with you
24 hours ago.
567
00:35:07,400 --> 00:35:10,080
Now his throat's cut
in the foxhole next to you.
568
00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:18,160
This is a war
of man against man.
569
00:35:18,320 --> 00:35:19,560
This is personal.
570
00:35:21,520 --> 00:35:24,360
And as darkness
comes down every night,
571
00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:27,400
the fear grows deeper and deeper.
572
00:35:31,160 --> 00:35:33,320
Even though
they're deprived of sleep,
573
00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:36,560
lack sufficient food,
574
00:35:36,720 --> 00:35:39,160
and battle tropical diseases,
575
00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:41,960
the Marines maintain their morale.
576
00:35:43,240 --> 00:35:46,720
But their casualty rate is climbing,
577
00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:50,640
and they begin to suspect
they're being abandoned.
578
00:35:53,360 --> 00:35:56,600
A lot of people are
catching malaria, dysentery.
579
00:35:56,760 --> 00:35:58,480
They don't have enough food.
580
00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:02,160
They're just becoming
increasingly incapable
581
00:36:02,320 --> 00:36:03,640
of functioning.
582
00:36:05,560 --> 00:36:08,520
General Vandegrift
estimates that less than half
583
00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:10,960
his force is fit enough to fight.
584
00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:14,040
The Japanese are still coming.
585
00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:16,600
Guadalcanal is going to be
where the Japanese teach
586
00:36:16,760 --> 00:36:19,040
the Americans the cost
of punching a hole
587
00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:20,560
in that defence perimeter.
588
00:36:20,720 --> 00:36:23,080
{\an8}They'll say,
look at the effort it took.
589
00:36:23,240 --> 00:36:25,840
{\an8}Look at the number of men
you lost on Guadalcanal.
590
00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:27,840
How long do you think
it'll take you
591
00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:29,840
to batter your way
across the Pacific?
592
00:36:34,960 --> 00:36:37,280
One night,
two months into the battle...
593
00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:41,280
...the Japanese deliver
a bombardment designed
594
00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:43,320
to crush the Marines' spirits.
595
00:36:44,840 --> 00:36:48,560
But the Marines just dig
their foxholes deeper.
596
00:36:51,040 --> 00:36:53,880
1,000 shells are sent over
in 80 minutes.
597
00:36:54,040 --> 00:36:55,640
We're talking about 14-inch shells,
598
00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:58,920
described by some of the guys
like the weight of small cars.
599
00:37:02,120 --> 00:37:05,080
Most of the Marines'
planes at Henderson Field
600
00:37:05,240 --> 00:37:06,920
are destroyed in the bombardment.
601
00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:15,760
The US reinforces the Marines...
602
00:37:18,080 --> 00:37:20,960
...but the Japanese reinforce
their troops as well.
603
00:37:22,520 --> 00:37:24,160
Control of the island
604
00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:28,120
and the entire US campaign
in the Pacific is at stake.
605
00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:32,640
All eyes are on Guadalcanal.
606
00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:47,760
In America, Guadalcanal
is front-page news.
607
00:37:49,080 --> 00:37:51,520
It's on everyone's minds.
608
00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:53,360
It was observed,
609
00:37:53,520 --> 00:37:56,920
Guadalcanal is not a name,
but an emotion.
610
00:37:58,840 --> 00:38:02,800
You young Americans today
are conducting yourselves
611
00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:06,160
in a manner that is worthy
of the highest,
612
00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:08,360
proudest traditions of our nation.
613
00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:11,480
All the attention
of the American public
614
00:38:11,640 --> 00:38:14,280
is focused on this island.
Roosevelt knows
615
00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:17,280
{\an8}this is the first big American
ground offensive of the war.
616
00:38:17,440 --> 00:38:18,960
It's going horribly wrong.
617
00:38:20,480 --> 00:38:22,560
They have to hold on
to Guadalcanal.
618
00:38:24,400 --> 00:38:27,280
Roosevelt sends a note
to the Joint Chiefs and says,
619
00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:29,200
"I want to be sure of something:
620
00:38:29,360 --> 00:38:32,520
{\an8}that every available man,
ship, and plane
621
00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:35,160
is being devoted
to the struggle on Guadalcanal."
622
00:38:36,560 --> 00:38:41,120
We here at home
are supremely conscious
623
00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:43,840
of our obligations to you.
624
00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:47,320
We will not let you down.
625
00:38:49,080 --> 00:38:51,880
The campaign
gets a new commander,
626
00:38:52,040 --> 00:38:54,560
Admiral William "Bull" Halsey.
627
00:38:56,120 --> 00:38:58,400
{\an8}Halsey's coming
into this campaign
628
00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:00,440
is like a defibrillator
on the heart.
629
00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:02,080
Halsey looks the part.
630
00:39:02,240 --> 00:39:04,160
Halsey is this leathery,
old commander
631
00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:05,600
who's been successful.
632
00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:07,320
{\an8}He's a can-do, combative guy.
633
00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:09,280
{\an8}He can't wait to get
to the Japanese.
634
00:39:09,440 --> 00:39:11,840
His line was, "You hit 'em
hard, you hit 'em fast,
635
00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:13,760
and you hit 'em often."
636
00:39:13,920 --> 00:39:15,880
{\an8}This is entirely
in keeping with the mentality
637
00:39:16,040 --> 00:39:17,200
of your average Marine.
638
00:39:20,080 --> 00:39:22,520
Admiral Halsey
promises the Marines
639
00:39:22,680 --> 00:39:25,440
all the support they need
on Guadalcanal.
640
00:39:25,600 --> 00:39:29,520
In just a few weeks, he gets
the chance to demonstrate it.
641
00:39:31,480 --> 00:39:33,400
A large Japanese fleet
642
00:39:33,560 --> 00:39:35,880
carrying 14,000 troops
643
00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:38,040
is approaching Guadalcanal.
644
00:39:40,040 --> 00:39:42,680
This body of water is
the size of a bathtub.
645
00:39:42,840 --> 00:39:44,640
So risking your battleships
646
00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:46,520
to send them up
to Ironbottom Sound,
647
00:39:46,680 --> 00:39:48,480
I mean, it honestly
makes the hair stand up
648
00:39:48,640 --> 00:39:50,200
on the back of my neck even now.
649
00:39:50,360 --> 00:39:53,840
But Halsey is determined
that he is going to fight
650
00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:55,240
with everything that he's got,
651
00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:58,680
and so he pushes all his chips
into the middle of the table.
652
00:40:04,800 --> 00:40:07,680
Halsey instructs
the US Navy task force
653
00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:09,960
to attack the Japanese fleet
in the sound.
654
00:40:19,520 --> 00:40:23,160
For two days,
American and Japanese warships
655
00:40:23,320 --> 00:40:24,400
battle in Savo Sound.
656
00:40:32,240 --> 00:40:33,680
The fighting is fierce.
657
00:40:37,320 --> 00:40:40,200
It's ship-to-ship combat
at its most intense.
658
00:40:49,880 --> 00:40:52,040
Nearly 2,000 Americans are killed...
659
00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:55,680
...but the Japanese
are only able to land
660
00:40:55,840 --> 00:40:57,520
a quarter of their force.
661
00:41:02,040 --> 00:41:06,280
Bull Halsey and the US Navy
have turned the tide...
662
00:41:07,520 --> 00:41:10,680
...and the Japanese begin
to withdraw from Guadalcanal.
663
00:41:15,280 --> 00:41:19,480
Most of the Marines on Guadalcanal
are relieved by the US Army.
664
00:41:21,400 --> 00:41:23,920
A generation of Americans
have proven to the world
665
00:41:24,080 --> 00:41:27,120
that they're capable
of fighting this war.
666
00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:31,240
But Guadalcanal
has also revealed
667
00:41:31,400 --> 00:41:34,880
how long and difficult
this conflict is going to be
668
00:41:35,040 --> 00:41:37,760
and how steep the price of victory.
669
00:41:45,040 --> 00:41:47,040
It was the first clash of arms
670
00:41:47,200 --> 00:41:49,560
between the Japanese Army
671
00:41:49,720 --> 00:41:52,160
and American Marines
and soldiers.
672
00:41:52,320 --> 00:41:55,320
And in that victory,
the Americans came out ahead.
673
00:42:00,560 --> 00:42:03,720
Halsey put it best when
he said, prior to the battle,
674
00:42:03,880 --> 00:42:06,920
the Japanese advanced at their will.
675
00:42:07,080 --> 00:42:09,960
After the battle,
they retreated at ours.
676
00:42:11,720 --> 00:42:13,320
It's a long road to Tokyo,
677
00:42:13,480 --> 00:42:15,440
but Guadalcanal is the first step.
678
00:42:21,760 --> 00:42:24,920
The Marines who hold the line
for months on Guadalcanal
679
00:42:25,080 --> 00:42:27,960
are sure their country
has forgotten them.
680
00:42:28,120 --> 00:42:31,040
But when the 1st Marine Division
is relieved by army units
681
00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:33,600
and sent to Australia to recuperate,
682
00:42:33,760 --> 00:42:36,320
they learn
that they're actually heroes.
683
00:42:37,760 --> 00:42:40,160
That year, in 1942,
684
00:42:41,160 --> 00:42:43,760
Hitler escalates his campaign
685
00:42:43,920 --> 00:42:46,160
against the Jews of Europe
686
00:42:46,320 --> 00:42:48,120
to an unimaginable level.
687
00:42:48,280 --> 00:42:50,960
Subtitles by Sky Access Services