Found the wreckage of a ship sunk by the Americans with 1,000 prisoners on board
The sinking of the Japanese ship SS Montevideo Maru is a tragic event that occurred over 80 years ago, but its impact still resonates today. Recently, the ship was discovered in the South China Sea off the coast of the Philippines, providing closure to families who lost loved ones on board.
On July 1, 1942, the Montevideo Maru was transporting over 1,000 prisoners of war (POWs) from Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, to Hainan, China, when it was torpedoed and sunk by an American submarine, the USS Sturgeon. The ship was unmarked as a POW transport, and the Americans claimed they did not know the prisoners were on board.
The sinking of the Montevideo Maru was a tragedy that should never have happened. The POWs were not combatants, and they were being transported in violation of the Geneva Convention, which stated that POWs should not be used as forced labor. The Japanese government had ignored these rules and had forced the POWs to work on various projects, including the construction of airfields.
The discovery of the Montevideo Maru is significant for many reasons. Firstly, it provides closure for the families of the POWs who lost their lives. For decades, these families have been left wondering what happened to their loved ones, and now they finally have an answer. It is a somber reminder of the high cost of war and the sacrifices made by so many.
Secondly, the discovery of the Montevideo Maru highlights the importance of remembering the past. As time goes by, it is easy to forget the sacrifices made by those who came before us. The sinking of the Montevideo Maru is a reminder of the atrocities committed during World War II and the need to work towards a more peaceful world.