What is the battle of Bataan?

Answer 1

The Battle of Bataan represented the most intense phase of Imperial Japan's invasion of the Philippines, in the early stages of the World War II. The capture of the Philippine Islands was crucial to Japan's effort to control the Southwest Pacific, seize the resource-rich Dutch East Indies, and protect its Southeast Asia flank.

Answer 2

The significance of the "Battle of Bataan" which apparently led to the "Fall of Bataan" is considered one of the key moments in WW2. Simple and yet very profound was that, it served to delay Japan's timetable in the course of war, which could have an undesirable effect for Australia itself, if things went the opposite. Bataan had proved not too easy for Japanese, despite Japan's expectation that Bataan could fall in a single day. However, the fortress in Corregidor Island also known as "The RocK", which also served as the last refuge of the USAFFE consisting of Americans, Filipinos, Australian, British, took a long time for the Japanese Imperial Army to crush. If not Lt. Gen. Wainright decided, going against Gen McArthur's wishes, to surrender the fortress in time. Wainright, in all unselfishness, thought more about his people dying and starving than his sworn military duty. But nevertheless, the surrender and Fall of Bataan destroyed Japan's timetable for about 2 weeks and which in a way took a toll on its Imperial Army's strength and resolve. It also took a toll on their equipment, since it took time to pound the Corregidor. Thus Australia was in a way spared. Consequently, this had given Australia a breather and the Allies in the U.S. and Europe to reorganize, plan, and motivate. However, Philippines bore the greater sacrifice with the war's atrocities. Lt. Gen. Wainwright's speech when he surrenders really catapulted and described the bravery and heroism these soldiers had put on during the siege of Bataan, until its fall.