Yamashita Surrender Day in Philippines ― Date, History, and Details
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History of Yamashita Surrender Day in Philippines and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
In the Philippines, Yamashita Surrender Day is commemorated on September 3. It marks the day in 1945 when General Tomoyuki Yamashita surrendered to Allied forces, effectively ending World War II in the country.
Yamashita was the commander of Japanese forces in the Philippines during the war. He oversaw the brutal occupation of the country, which included the massacre of Filipino civilians and the forced labor of prisoners of war. In 1944, as Allied forces began to retake the Philippines, Yamashita withdrew his troops to the mountains of northern Luzon.
The Battle of Luzon lasted from January to August 1945. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the war, with heavy casualties on both sides. On September 2, Yamashita met with Philippine president Manuel Roxas and agreed to surrender. The next day, he formally surrendered to General Douglas MacArthur.
MacArthur ordered that Yamashita be tried for war crimes. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was hanged on February 23, 1946.
Yamashita Surrender Day is a public holiday in the Philippines. It is also known as Victory Day and Liberation Day.