'Life' in a Japanese POW Camp Trivia Quiz

Answer: sign pledges not to escape

Upon internment, the first thing the Japanese forced the POWs to do was sign pledges not to escape. This is contrary to the rules of war and everyone knew it. However, because the Japanese threatened to execute anyone who did not sign, the men signed.

This was the begining of the prisoners' woes because the Japanese did not respect what they perceived as cowardice or buckling under pressure.

Answer: being forced to kneel in the sun

The 'sun cure' was being forced to kneel in the tropical sun without water for several hours or several days, depending upon the offense. For men who were sick with malaria or dysentery, this could be a death sentence.

Answer: rice only

The Japanese fed the POWs rice and nothing else the majority of the time. As the war went on, Red Cross parcels were available, but the Japanese refused to hand them out.

Answer: the British

The Japanese were extremely wary of British POWs because of their discipline and ingenuity. The majority of the hidden homemade radios were found in British camps.

Answer: red hair

The Japanese hated red haired POWs. Even surviving prisoners of the Japanese could never figure this one out. Red headed POWs were beaten often for no reason except for that fact alone.

Answer: Koreans

The Japanese used Koreans as guards in POW camps. Their conduct was no better than their Japanese masters. Some were even tried as war criminals at the conclusion of the war.

Answer: speedo!

Japanese guards were notorious for screaming that one dreaded word: speedo! If the pace did not satisfy them a brutal beating with whatever was at hand was sure to follow.

Answer: they did not believe they had the courage to try

The major reason the Japanese did not fear an escape attempt is they believed the POWs lacked the courage to try. After all, they were defeated enemies and had dishonored themselves by surrendering.

Answer: the same as POWs

Civilians of nations the Japanese were at war with were treated the same as captured POWs. The only difference is they were considered interned, not prisoners of war. Many of them were executed for 'offences' and were subject to the same martial law that was applied to POWs.

Answer: the Americans

The Japanese considered the Americans the most dangerous of their prisoners. Oddly enough, this opinion was formed by viewing gangster movies that featured James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart!