Why is the Thai Burma Railway called Death Railway?
It originated in Thailand and cut across to the Burmese war front to aid in the Japanese invasion of India. Originally called the Thailand-Burma Railway, it earned the nickname “Death Railway” because over one hundred thousand laborers died during its 16 month construction between 1942 and 1943.
How many died while building the Thai Burma Railway?
Between 180,000 and 250,000 civilian labourers and over 60,000 Allied prisoners of war were subjected to forced labour during its construction. During the railway’s construction, around 90,000 Southeast Asian civilian forced labourers died, along with more than 12,000 Allied prisoners.
Can you ride the Death Railway?
It is known as the Death Railway. Nowadays, you can ride it through beautiful landscapes to a place called The Hellfire Pass. Both places are a painful reminder of the atrocities committed by people during the darkest times of our history.
Does the bridge over the River Kwai still exist?
The real bridge on the River Kwai was never destroyed, not even damaged. It still stands on the edge of the Thai jungle about three miles from this peaceful town and it has become something of a tourist attraction. The bridge was erected by Allied pris oners during the Japanese occupation of Thailand in World War II.
Was bridge Over the River Kwai real?
The film “The Bridge on the River Kwai” dramatized the WWII story of the Thailand-Burma Railway, yet it was largely fictional. Over 65,000 Allied P.O.W.s battled torture, starvation, and disease to hack the 255-mile railway out of harsh jungle for the Japanese.
Where did the US keep Japanese POWs?
Repatriation of some Japanese POWs was delayed by Allied authorities. Until late 1946, the United States retained almost 70,000 POWs to dismantle military facilities in the Philippines, Okinawa, central Pacific, and Hawaii.