Map Description

History Map of WWII: Luzon, Philippine Islands


Illustrating:

Final Operations on Luzon

3 February - 20 July, 1945

After landing at Lingayen Gulf in January, American and Filipino forces launched a series of coordinated offensives to recapture Luzon from entrenched Japanese troops. The campaign began in earnest with the entry into Manila on February 3, 1945, leading to intense urban combat and the eventual liberation of the city by early March. The battle for Manila was particularly brutal, resulting in significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction due to both Japanese atrocities and the ferocity of the fighting.

Following the liberation of Manila, Allied forces turned their attention to clearing the rest of Luzon, which involved overcoming Japanese defensive positions in mountainous and jungle terrain. The campaign required persistent infantry assaults, artillery bombardments, and air support to dislodge well-fortified Japanese units, many of whom fought to the death or retreated into remote areas to continue guerrilla resistance.

By July 20, 1945, organized Japanese resistance on Luzon had largely collapsed, though isolated pockets of Japanese soldiers remained at large until the formal surrender in August.

Credits

Courtesy of the United States Military Academy Department of History.

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