Forgotten Breakout: World War II's Largest Prison Escape

The Cowra breakout, which took place in 1944, remains one of the most significant yet overlooked events in World War II history. On August 5, 1944, over 900 Japanese prisoners of war (POWs) attempted to escape from the Cowra prisoner-of-war camp in New South Wales, Australia.

The breakout began at around 2 a.m. when a Japanese man in distress climbed over a fence at the camp. He was weeping and appeared to be in great fear, prompting a guard to fire two shots to signal that something was amiss. However, before the guard could investigate further, a bugle call pierced the night air, and more than 900 prisoners stormed out of their huts, wielding baseball bats, gardening tools, and cutlery as improvised weapons.

The Cowra breakout initially left 231 Japanese POWs dead and another 108 wounded. Three men later succumbed to their injuries, bringing the Japanese death toll to 234. The uprising also claimed the lives of five Australians, two of whom were killed while sabotaging a machine gun to prevent the prisoners from using it. Among the dead was the man whose shouts and tears had first alerted the guards that something was amiss, his warning arriving too late to make a difference.

The Cowra breakout was the largest prison break in World War II history. It was also a testament to the unique position occupied by Japanese POWs, who viewed surrendering to the enemy as a shameful act that would humiliate their families and country.

## Japanese Wartime Culture

The Japanese prisoners' actions during the Cowra breakout can be attributed to Japan's wartime culture, which emphasized fealty to the emperor above all else. This nationalistic and militaristic society gave rise to a code of conduct known as the "Senjinkun," which instructed soldiers to "be determined always to sacrifice himself" for their army unit "without giving even the slightest thought to personal interest and to life or death."

The "Senjinkun" also offered a dim view of surrender, noting that "if alive, do not suffer the disgrace of becoming a prisoner; in death, do not leave behind a name soiled by misdeeds." This mindset was even stronger in the military, where soldiers were expected to prioritize their duty to the emperor over their own lives.

## Japanese Prisoners of War

The Japanese prisoners who were held at Cowra were treated relatively well by their Australian captors. They were permitted to play soccer and baseball, plant their own vegetable and flower gardens, and were even allowed to send letters home. However, the prisoners' material comfort did little to ease their emotional pain. Many struggled to come to terms with not only their imprisonment but also their very survival.

The prisoners' actions during the Cowra breakout were also influenced by their experiences as POWs. They had witnessed or heard about the mistreatment of Allied POWs by the Japanese government, and they believed that retribution and revenge would be the obvious response by their Australian captors. However, they were surprised to be treated fairly and afforded the same level of medical care as their Allied peers.

The Cowra breakout remains a significant event in World War II history, and it continues to be a subject of study and reflection today. It serves as a reminder of the complexities and nuances of war, and the ways in which cultural and societal factors can shape the actions of individuals and groups.

| **Event** | **Date** | **Location** | **Outcome** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Cowra breakout | August 5, 1944 | Cowra, Australia | 234 Japanese POWs and 5 Australians killed | | Japanese surrender | 1945 | Various locations | Japan surrenders to Allied forces | | Geneva Convention | 1929 | Geneva, Switzerland | POWs to be treated humanely and afforded certain rights |

| **Person** | **Nationality** | **Role** | | --- | --- | --- | | Yasuhiro Mitsuda | Japanese | Documentary filmmaker | | Joseph C. Grew | American | Former ambassador to Japan | | Mat McLachlan | Australian | Author | | Teruhiko Asada | Japanese | Author | | Hajime Toyoshima | Japanese | Naval pilot and POW | | Teruo Murakami | Japanese | Last survivor of the Cowra breakout |