An exhausted father and his wounded child make their way to the American lines to find shelter and medical attention.
An exhausted father and his wounded child make their way to the American lines to find shelter and medical attention.
Marianas islanders were placed in a difficult position due to being forced to co-occupy fortifications and strong-points with Japanese troops. Japanese military officials instructed the use of deadly force if any of the civilian population attempted to surrender to US personnel.
Japanese propaganda also informed the civilians of potential cruelty the US forces would inflict causing some individuals to throw themselves and their children off cliffs into the ocean. Caught between two opposing forces in rugged terrain and no where to hide the losses among the civilian population was significant.
Over 15,000 civilians on the island of Saipan would be killed through mass suicides, executed by Japanese troops, or killed due to co-located with Japanese soldiers by US personnel.
Each cave, fortification, and position held by the Japanese often had civilians intermixed which caused US Marines and Soldiers to use deadly force which resulted in civilian losses.
World War II. Pacific Theater of Operations. Island of Saipan. Marianas Island chain. South Pacific. 15 June 1944.
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